Soda Blonde are the refreshing future of alt-pop, combining expertly crafted hooks and instrumentals with a charismatic sense of authenticity that comes through even more strongly in a live setting. Their stunning and high-energy set on the Hot Press Lockdown Sessions Y&E series, supported by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht only further cemented their status as one of the best bands to come out of Ireland in recent years.

Despite the limitations of an Instagram live set, the group's sound was all-encompassing as they soared through some of the highlights of their discography, such as 2019's energetic 'Terrible Hands' and 'Motion' from their most recent release Isolation Content. Seizing the opportunity for experimentation in a live set, they played two new tracks -- one slated for release on their next album and a brand-new, untitled track that lead singer Faye O'Rourke admitted she'd just barely finished and was excited to test out.

The group turned the socially-distant performance into something warmer and more personal, cracking jokes and eliciting smiles between a set that felt like it had ended far too soon. With one of the most exciting sounds in indie-pop, Soda Blonde are a force to be reckoned with as they skyrocket through the Irish music scene.