History
2008-2012: Formation and early years
Little Green Cars formed in Dublin, Ireland, in 2008. The band was founded by childhood friends Stevie Appleby (vocals, guitar) and Adam O’Regan (guitar, vocals), who began writing and recording music together daily after school. [5] They were later joined by Faye O’Rourke (vocals, guitar), Donagh Seaver O’Leary (bass, vocals), and Dylan Lynch (drums, vocals), completing the five-piece lineup.
The members met as teenagers and rehearsed in a garden shed at Appleby's home, where they began crafting their early sound. In 2008, the band self-released two EPs, Volume I and Volume II, which helped attract attention from UK labels. Their first UK release was a 7" single of "The John Wayne" on the Young and Lost Club label, produced by David Kosten and backed with the B-side "Glass Case".
In January 2012, Little Green Cars signed with the New York-based label Glassnote Records and began touring extensively across the United States and the UK. Their growing reputation led to an appearance performing their single "Harper Lee" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and slots at major festivals including SXSW, Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Osheaga.
2013-2015: Absolute Zero
The release of Absolute Zero in March 2013 marked a significant turning point in the trajectory of Little Green Cars. After years of writing and rehearsing in garden sheds and bedrooms in suburban Dublin, the band found themselves catapulted onto the international stage with a debut album that captured the raw vulnerability and melodic ambition that had defined their earliest work.
Produced by Markus Dravs—renowned for his work with Arcade Fire and Mumford & Sons—the album was recorded at Angelic Studios in Northamptonshire, England. [6] Dravs helped hone the band’s intricate arrangements, emphasizing their signature vocal harmonies and emotionally candid songwriting. The result was a collection of songs that balanced youthful introspection with soaring, cinematic soundscapes.
Absolute Zero featured standout tracks such as "The John Wayne", an anthemic single that introduced the band to a global audience. With its slow-burning build and evocative refrain—"it's easy to fall in love, it's easy to fall in love with you"—the track became emblematic of the band's ability to marry poetic lyricism with dynamic instrumentation. [7] Another highlight, "My Love Took Me Down to the River to Silence Me", saw vocalist Faye O’Rourke step into the spotlight, delivering a powerful and emotionally charged performance that offered a compelling counterbalance to Stevie Appleby's more introspective tone. [8]
The album also explored more experimental territory with songs like "Red and Blue", which incorporated electronic textures and vocoder effects—an adventurous departure from the band's largely acoustic instrumentation. [9]
Upon its release, Absolute Zero debuted at number one on the Irish Albums Chart, [10] and made its way onto the UK Albums Chart, peaking at number 94. [11] It was met with critical acclaim both in Ireland and abroad, praised for its mature songwriting, polished production, and the vocal interplay between Appleby and O'Rourke.
The success of the album saw the band embark on an extensive international tour, including appearances at Coachella, Lollapalooza, Osheaga, and a performance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
2016-2018: Ephemera
After their debut Absolute Zero , Little Green Cars shifted focus to their next project. They started recording Ephemera (Little Green Cars album) , their second studio album, in November 2014, working in Dublin at Exchequer Street and Magennis Place. [12] The sessions ran through September 2015, with the band producing alongside Rob Kirwan and Vlado Meller mastering the tracks. [12] Personal events, like the sudden death of guitarist Adam O'Regan's father and navigating relationship changes, shaped the album’s themes of love, loss, and transition. [13] [14] Glassnote Records released it on March 11, 2016. [12]
The album includes 12 tracks, with "The Song They Play Every Night" released as the lead single on January 7, 2016. [13]
Around this time, guitarist and singer Adam O'Regan stepped into directing music videos for the band. He began with "Easier Day," filmed in Tokyo with actor Hugh O’Connor and premiered on March 3, 2016, followed by videos for "The Garden of Death" and "Clair De Lune," released on July 5 and June 15, 2016, respectively. [15] [16] [17]
When Ephemera came out, reviews were split. The Irish Times highlighted it as having "the most harmonious songs you’ll hear all year" for its vocal arrangements. [18] HeadStuff found it "dull," suggesting it lacked spark. [19] The artwork, designed by Slater Design with photography by Matthew Thompson, used Patrick Scott’s Busáras mosaics, tying it to their Dublin roots. [20] Unlike Absolute Zero, which topped the Irish charts, Ephemera didn’t gain the same commercial traction, reflecting a quieter chapter for the band. [13]
2019-present: Dissolution and subsequent projects
Little Green Cars reached the end of their run after over a decade together. On March 21, 2019, they announced their dissolution via a statement on Twitter, describing it as a mutual decision based on personal and artistic reasons. [21] [22] They made it clear there were no conflicts, noting "no terrible calamity, no heartless betrayal and no punches thrown," after releasing their two albums, Absolute Zero (2013) and Ephemera (2016). [23] Later interviews pointed to artistic differences as a key factor, signaling it was time for new directions. [24]
Soon after, four members—Faye O'Rourke, Adam O'Regan, Donagh Seaver O'Leary, and Dylan Lynch—formed Soda Blonde in 2019. [25] They kicked off with a debut gig at Hogan's in Dublin in May 2019 and released two EPs that year, Terrible Hands and isolation content. [26] Soda Blonde’s first album, Small Talk, came out on July 9, 2021, via Velveteen Records, earning a nomination for the Choice Music Prize in 2022. [27] Their second album, Dream Big, followed in September 2023, topping the Irish Independent's "Best Irish Albums of 2023" list. [25]
Stevie Appleby, the fifth member, took a different path. He stepped away from music for two years after the breakup, avoiding the guitar entirely during that period. [28] He returned in 2021 with his solo single "Mother Of Pearl," followed by his self-titled EP Stevie Appleby later that year, featuring tracks like "Hand Me Down". [29] [30] Alongside music, Appleby pursued his career as a visual artist, holding exhibitions in Dublin and the UK and selling art through his website and Duke Street gallery. [31] [32]
The breakup split the band’s legacy into two streams: Soda Blonde continued as a collective, refining their approach, while Appleby carved out a solo career blending music and art after a deliberate break. [33]
