Walking on Cars

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Walking on Cars
Walking on Cars 2019, from left to right: Paul Flannery, Evan Hadnett, Patrick Sheehy, Sorcha Durham.
Background information
OriginDingle, County Kerry, Ireland
GenresIndie pop
Years active2009–2020
LabelsVirgin EMI
Past members
  • Pa Sheehy
  • Sorcha Durham
  • Paul Flannery
  • Evan Hadnett
  • Dan Devane
Websitewalkingoncars.com

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[edit]

Formation and early years[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Former members

Timeline[edit]

Discography[edit]

Walking On Cars discography
Studio albums2
Music videos10
EPs3
Singles8

Studio albums[edit]

Year Details Peak chart positions Certifications
IE
[21]
BE
[22]
DE
[23]
NL
[24]
UK
[25]
2016 Everything This Way 1 157 23 76 26 IE: double platinum [26][27]
2019 Colours
  • Released: 12 April 2019
  • Label: Virgin EMI
  • Formats: CD, download
2
[28]
200 7 -- 50

EPs[edit]

Year Details Irish album
chart positions
2013 As We Fly South
  • Released: 21 June 2013
  • Label: Independent
2014 Hand in Hand
2020 Clouds
  • Released: 21 August 2020
  • Label: Walking on Cars/Independent
13 [29]

Singles[edit]

Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
IRL
[30][31]
IRL

Hom.

NZ AUT GER
[23]
SWI BEL
[22]
NL
[32]
UK
"Catch Me If You Can" 2013 27 N/a Everything This Way
"Two Stones" 12
"Tick Tock" 8
"Hand in Hand" 2014 19
"Always Be with You" 39
"Speeding Cars"[33] 2015 11 16 17 18 18 20 46 87
"Monster" 2018 14[34] Colours
"Coldest Water" 2019 72
[35]
12[34]
"—" denotes a title that did not chart.

Irish Homegrown Top 20 chart did not exist before June 7, 2019

Music videos[edit]

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

References[edit]

  1. ^ Olympia Theatre. "Walking On Cars". Archived from the original on 11 May 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  2. ^ "Walking on Cars announce split after 'the most incredible 10 years'". RTE.ie. 21 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Big year ahead for Dingle band Walking on Cars". Independent.ie. 4 January 2012.
  4. ^ "Slow road to success for Irish band Walking On Cars". 16 December 2014.
  5. ^ "Muzu Tv News - Walking on Cars". Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  6. ^ "Walking On Cars on their musical influences, debut album and Kerry roots". Irish Post. Archived from the original on 23 October 2014. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
  7. ^ Walking On Cars – via YouTube.
  8. ^ "Premiere: Walking On Cars - 'Always Be With You'". Clash Magazine. 21 October 2014.
  9. ^ "Walking On Cars - Hand In Hand". Q Magazine. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
  10. ^ "Reading Festival - Walking on Cars". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  11. ^ "Cars rev up with new Colours". The Kerryman. Independent News & Media. 20 April 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  12. ^ "Walking On Cars - Everything This Way (Album)". irish-charts.com. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  13. ^ "The Stranger soundtrack and theme tune". Evening Standard. 14 February 2020.
  14. ^ "Walking On Cars announce split and release final EP Clouds". officialcharts.com. The Official UK Charts Company. 21 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  15. ^ "Walking on Cars announce split after 'the most incredible 10 years together'". irishexaminer.com. Irish Examiner. 21 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  16. ^ "Former Walking On Cars frontman Pa Sheehy announces Cork show". Echo Live. 2 August 2021.
  17. ^ "Former Walking On Cars frontman Pa Sheehy on 'I Saw You A Funeral'". Hot Press. 18 June 2021.
  18. ^ "Former Walking on Cars lead singer Pa Sheehy releases debut single". Buzz.ie. 25 June 2021.
  19. ^ "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. ^ McGoran, Peter. "The Full Cover Story with Walking On Cars". Hotpress.
  21. ^ Irish Album Charts . chart-track.co.uk. Retrieved on 4 March 2016.
  22. ^ a b "Walking On Cars - Speeding Cars - ultratop.be". www.ultratop.be.
  23. ^ a b "Discographie Walking on Cars". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  24. ^ "Dutch Charts - dutchcharts.nl". dutchcharts.nl.
  25. ^ "Walking on Cars | full Official Chart history". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  26. ^ "Twitter - Walking on Cars". Twitter. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  27. ^ "The Full Walking On Cars Interview". Hot Press. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  28. ^ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  29. ^ "Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50: 28 August 2020 - 03 September 2020". Irish Recorded Music Association/Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 30 August 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  30. ^ "irishcharts.com - Discography Walking On Cars". www.irish-charts.com.
  31. ^ "The Irish Charts - Search - Walking on Cars". irishcharts.ie. IRMA. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  32. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Walking On Cars - Speeding Cars". hitparade.ch.
  33. ^ "Speeding Cars by Walking On Cars - Music Charts". acharts.co.
  34. ^ a b "Irish Homegrown Top 20 28 June 2019 - 04 July 2019 | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  35. ^ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  36. ^ "Walking On Cars - Two Stones" – via www.youtube.com.
  37. ^ "Walking On Cars - Hand In Hand" – via www.youtube.com.
  38. ^ "Walking On Cars". anthonynealedesign.com. Archived from the original on 31 July 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  39. ^ "Walking on Cars - Speeding Cars". lunadirectorduo.com. Archived from the original on 26 April 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  40. ^ "Walking on Cars - Dont Mind Me". lunadirectorduo.com. Archived from the original on 26 April 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  41. ^ "Walking on Cars - Monster Me". lunadirectorduo.com. Archived from the original on 26 April 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  42. ^ "Walking on Cars - Coldest Water". lunadirectorduo.com. Archived from the original on 26 April 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2019.

External links[edit]