Walking on Cars explained

Walking on Cars
Origin:Dingle, County Kerry, Ireland
Genre:Indie pop
Years Active:2009–2020
Label:Virgin EMI
Past Members:
  • Pa Sheehy
  • Sorcha Durham
  • Paul Flannery
  • Evan Hadnett
  • Dan Devane

Walking on Cars was a four-piece Irish rock band, whose 2020 line-up consisted of Pa Sheehy (singer/lyricist), Sorcha Durham (pianist), Paul Flannery (bass guitarist) and Evan Hadnett (drummer).[1] Their debut single "Catch Me If You Can", released in 2012, went to No. 1 on the Irish iTunes chart. The band released their debut EP, As We Fly South, in 2013, and a second one, Hand in Hand, in (2014), together with the accompanying single "Always Be with You". Their next single, "Speeding Cars", came out on 30 October 2015. Following the international success of the single, the band released their debut album Everything This Way on 29 January 2016, which peaked at No. 1 in Ireland. On 12 April 2019, the band released their second album Colours.

The band announced its split on 21 August 2020, on the same date that a final six-track EP called Clouds was released.[2]

History

Formation and early years

In 2010, five school friends started performing at local venues and clubs in their hometown of Dingle, County Kerry.[3] [4] Committing wholly to their musical ambitions, the band went on to rent a house in the Dingle Peninsula and lock themselves away for the purpose of writing and recording demos. "The place we rented was a really old cottage, where we had no television, no phone, no Internet, no transport," says Sorcha, "We were there for 6 months – just our equipment and us. It was an amazing time, ideas were constantly flowing."[5]

In 2012, Walking on Cars won the Redbull Bedroom Jam competition and gained extensive radio play with their debut single "Catch Me If You Can". As a result, the track reached no. 27 in the Irish Charts, where it remained for over 20 weeks.[6] "Catch Me If You Can" also reached No.1 on iTunes, and garnered over 450,000 views on YouTube.[7] "Two Stones", the band's second single, reached No.12 in the Irish charts, while YouTube views exceeded 1,000,000.

Walking on Cars released their four-song EP, As We Fly South, in 2013. It was recorded in Attica Studios, Donegal, and produced by Tom McFall (R.E.M, Snow Patrol, Bloc Party, Editors). In July 2014, the band released "Hand in Hand" and "Always Be With You".[8] [9]

Chart success

In 2016, they released their first full-length album, Everything This Way, celebrating the release with CD signings and in-store performances around Ireland.[10] The album went "double platinum" and reached number one on the album charts in Ireland,[11] as well as charting in several other European countries.[12]

In 2020, the band's single, "Monster", was used as the opening theme of the Netflix original series, The Stranger. The eight part miniseries, based on the novel by Harlan Coben, first aired on 30 January 2020.[13]

Split and later projects

In August 2020, coinciding with the release of an EP titled Clouds, the band announced that they had split.[14] [15]

In 2021, the former lead-singer of the band, Pa Sheehy, undertook a number of solo projects.[16] [17] His debut single, "Saw you at a funeral", was released in June 2021 with a follow-up single "Roisin" released in August 2021.[18] [19]

Band members

Former members

Timeline

Discography

Artist:Walking On Cars
Studio:2
Ep:3
Singles:8
Music Videos:10

Studio albums

YearDetailsPeak chart positionsCertifications
IE
[21]
BE
DE
[22]
NL
[23]
UK
[24]
2016Everything This Way 1 157 23 76 26IE: double platinum [25] [26]
2019Colours
  • Released: 12 April 2019
  • Label: Virgin EMI
  • Formats: CD, download
2
[27]
200 7 -- 50

EPs

YearDetailsIrish album
chart positions
2013As We Fly South
  • Released: 21 June 2013
  • Label: Independent
2014Hand in Hand
2020Clouds
  • Released: 21 August 2020
  • Label: Walking on Cars/Independent
13 [28]

Singles

TitleYearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
IRL
[29] [30]
IRLHom.NZAUTGER
SWIBEL
[31]
NL
[32]
UK
"Catch Me If You Can"201327 N/aEverything This Way
"Two Stones"12
"Tick Tock"8
"Hand in Hand"201419
"Always Be with You"39
"Speeding Cars"[33] 201511 16 17 18 18 20 46 87
"Monster"201814[34] Colours
"Coldest Water"201972
[35]
12
"—" denotes a title that did not chart.Irish Homegrown Top 20 chart did not exist before June 7, 2019

Music videos

TitleYearDirector
"Two Stones"2013Luke Daly [36]
"Tick Tock"
"Hand in Hand"2014Luke Daly [37]
"Always Be with You"2015Filmawi & Esrael [38]
"Catch Me If You Can"
"Speeding Cars"Luke Daly and Nathan Fagan (Luna) [39]
"Don't Mind Me"2016Luke Daly and Nathan Fagan (Luna) [40]
"Monster"2019Luke Daly and Nathan Fagan (Luna) [41]
"Coldest Water"Luke Daly and Nathan Fagan (Luna) [42]
"Too Emotional"

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Walking On Cars. Olympia Theatre. 2015-04-07. 2015-05-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20150511152902/http://olympia.ie/whats-on/walking-on-cars/. dead.
  2. Web site: Walking on Cars announce split after 'the most incredible 10 years'. RTE.ie. 21 August 2020.
  3. Web site: Big year ahead for Dingle band Walking on Cars. Independent.ie. 4 January 2012 .
  4. Web site: Slow road to success for Irish band Walking On Cars. 16 December 2014.
  5. Web site: Muzu Tv News - Walking on Cars . 2016-02-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160624044910/http://www.muzu.tv/blog/2013/04/new-band-walking-on-cars, . 2016-06-24 . dead .
  6. Web site: Walking On Cars on their musical influences, debut album and Kerry roots. Irish Post. 28 November 2014. 23 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141023163725/http://www.irishpost.co.uk/entertainment/walking-cars-grow-confidence-success. dead.
  7. Walking On Cars. YouTube.
  8. Web site: Premiere: Walking On Cars - 'Always Be With You'. Clash Magazine. 21 October 2014 .
  9. Web site: Walking On Cars - Hand In Hand. Q Magazine. 2014-11-28. 2016-03-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304093151/http://www.qthemusic.com/3819/walking-on-cars-hand-in-hand/. dead.
  10. Web site: Reading Festival - Walking on Cars . 2015-04-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402151000/http://www.readingfestival.com/line-up/artist/walking-cars . 2015-04-02 . dead .
  11. Web site: Cars rev up with new Colours . Independent News & Media . The Kerryman . 20 April 2019 . 18 August 2021 .
  12. Web site: Walking On Cars - Everything This Way (Album) . irish-charts.com . 18 August 2021 .
  13. Web site: The Stranger soundtrack and theme tune. Evening Standard. 14 February 2020.
  14. Web site: Walking On Cars announce split and release final EP Clouds . The Official UK Charts Company . officialcharts.com . 21 August 2020 . 18 August 2021 .
  15. Web site: Walking on Cars announce split after 'the most incredible 10 years together' . Irish Examiner . irishexaminer.com . 21 August 2020 . 18 August 2021 .
  16. Web site: Former Walking On Cars frontman Pa Sheehy announces Cork show . Echo Live . 2 August 2021.
  17. Web site: Former Walking On Cars frontman Pa Sheehy on 'I Saw You A Funeral' . Hot Press . 18 June 2021.
  18. Web site: Former Walking on Cars lead singer Pa Sheehy releases debut single . Buzz.ie . 25 June 2021.
  19. Web site: Pa Sheehy Releases Second Solo Single 'Róisín' And Announces Debut EP 'The Art Of Disappearing' Alongside Irish Tour Dates . Spin South West . 30 July 2021.
  20. Web site: The Full Cover Story with Walking On Cars. Peter. McGoran. Hotpress.
  21. https://web.archive.org/web/20160208012336/http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240002&arch=t&lyr=2016&year=2016&week=5 Irish Album Charts
  22. Web site: Discographie Walking on Cars. GfK Entertainment Charts. 18 April 2019.
  23. Web site: Dutch Charts - dutchcharts.nl. dutchcharts.nl.
  24. Web site: Walking on Cars full Official Chart history. Official Charts Company. 20 April 2019.
  25. Web site: Twitter - Walking on Cars. Twitter. 21 August 2020.
  26. Web site: The Full Walking On Cars Interview. Hot Press. 21 August 2020.
  27. Web site: IRMA – Irish Charts. Irish Recorded Music Association. 20 April 2019.
  28. Web site: Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50: 28 August 2020 - 03 September 2020. Irish Recorded Music Association/Official Charts Company. https://web.archive.org/web/20200830100852/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/irish-albums-chart/. 30 August 2020. 2020-08-30.
  29. Web site: irishcharts.com - Discography Walking On Cars. www.irish-charts.com.
  30. Web site: The Irish Charts - Search - Walking on Cars . IRMA . irishcharts.ie . 18 August 2021 .
  31. Web site: Walking On Cars - Speeding Cars - ultratop.be. www.ultratop.be.
  32. Web site: Walking On Cars - Speeding Cars. Steffen. Hung. hitparade.ch.
  33. Web site: Speeding Cars by Walking On Cars - Music Charts. acharts.co.
  34. Web site: Irish Homegrown Top 20 28 June 2019 - 04 July 2019 Official Charts Company. www.officialcharts.com. en. 2019-11-30.
  35. Web site: IRMA – Irish Charts. Irish Recorded Music Association. 20 April 2019.
  36. Web site: Walking On Cars - Two Stones. www.youtube.com.
  37. Web site: Walking On Cars - Hand In Hand. www.youtube.com.
  38. Web site: Walking On Cars . anthonynealedesign.com . 2019-07-31 . 2019-07-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190731135900/https://www.anthonynealedesign.com/walking-on-cars.html . dead .
  39. Web site: Walking on Cars - Speeding Cars . lunadirectorduo.com . 2019-04-26 . 2019-04-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190426075456/https://lunadirectorduo.com/fwp_portfolio/walking-on-cars-speeding-cars/ . dead .
  40. Web site: Walking on Cars - Dont Mind Me . lunadirectorduo.com . 2019-04-26 . 2019-04-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190426075500/https://lunadirectorduo.com/fwp_portfolio/walking-on-cars-dont-mind-me/ . dead .
  41. Web site: Walking on Cars - Monster Me . lunadirectorduo.com . 2019-04-26 . 2019-04-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190426073203/https://lunadirectorduo.com/fwp_portfolio/walking-on-cars-monster/ . dead .
  42. Web site: Walking on Cars - Coldest Water . lunadirectorduo.com . 2019-04-26 . 2019-04-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190426073134/https://lunadirectorduo.com/fwp_portfolio/walking-on-cars-coldest-water/ . dead .