Kodaline

Biography

Kodaline are an Irish rock band that originated in Swords, a working-class town in County Dublin, Ireland. The group consists of Steve Garrigan (lead vocals, rhythm guitars, keyboards), Mark Prendergast (lead guitars, keyboards, vocals), Vincent May (drums, percussion, vocals), and Jason Boland (bass guitar, vocals). Garrigan and Prendergast, childhood friends who met in a school choir at age eight, later recruited May. The lineup was completed in 2012 with the addition of bassist Jason Boland.

Early Years as 21 Demands

Initially, the band was known as 21 Demands. In 2006, they gained attention by participating in the fifth series of the Irish talent show "You're a Star," where they finished as runners-up. A significant milestone was achieved in March 2007 when their debut single, "Give Me a Minute," topped the Irish Singles Chart, making them the first independently released act to do so.

Rebranding and Debut Album

In 2012, the band rebranded as Kodaline. They released their debut extended play, "The Kodaline EP," in September of that year. Their sound has been described as soaring, radio-ready guitar rock, drawing comparisons to bands like Coldplay, Keane, and U2. The band was shortlisted for the BBC's "Sound of 2013." Their debut studio album, "In a Perfect World," was released in June 2013 and was a major success, achieving platinum status in Ireland and performing well in the UK and other parts of Europe. The album featured popular singles such as "High Hopes" and "Love Like This." The track "All I Want" gained significant traction after being featured in a Google "Year in Review" video and the TV show "Grey's Anatomy".

Band Members

• Steve Garrigan – lead vocals, rhythm guitars, keyboards, harmonica, mandolin
• Mark Prendergast – lead guitars, keyboards, vocals
• Vincent May – drums, percussion, vocals
• Jason Boland – bass guitar, vocals

Subsequent Albums and Career

Kodaline's second album, "Coming Up for Air," was released in early 2015 and also topped the Irish charts, spawning singles like "Honest" and "The One." They continued their success with their third album, the pop-leaning "Politics of Living," which was released in 2018 and also reached the top of the Irish charts. Their fourth studio album, "One Day at a Time," released in 2020, was a more stripped-back effort produced by bassist Jason Boland. The band has also released live albums, including "Our Roots Run Deep," recorded at Dublin's Olympia Theatre in 2022.

Studio Albums

• In a Perfect World (2013)
• Coming Up for Air (2015)
• Politics of Living (2018)
• One Day at a Time (2020)