Swell Season Stay Together After Romance Is Over
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
When musicians Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova fell in love, it seemed like a perfect match. After all, viewers had seen the chemistry between the two in the 2007 indie film ``Once.''
Like the film, it turned out the relationship was not destined for a "happily-ever-after" ending. Hansard and Irglova broke up a few months ago, but to the surprise of many, their musical partnership is still going strong. The duo, the founding members of The Swell Season, recently has released the eagerly-awaited album ``Strict Joy.''
In an e-mail interview with The Korea Times, Hansard says despite the break-up, nothing has changed when it comes to their music or live performances.
``It has not changed the way we perform together. I can't really say why it is, but thankfully, that's the one aspect of our friendship that's never changed. When we play music together, it always works. It definitely changed the way we write together, just by virtue of the fact that we're not under the same roof as much. I write my songs, and she writes hers, and I'll help her, and she'll comment on mine, but ultimately, it's a separate act,'' the Irish singer said.
Their musical relationship is obviously something special to have withstood their personal issues. Hansard and Irglova are well aware of the unique musical bond they share.
Irglova says she has always appreciated Hansard's craft as a songwriter, his poetic lyrics and his passionate live performances.
``When he is playing music, he is always very present, and gives the song everything. His passion comes across and makes people stand up from their seats, just like the quieter songs create an air of intimacy that makes one feel they are the only person in the audience being sung to,'' she says.
The 39-year-old Hansard says he has learned much from the 21-year-old Czech singer. ``She teaches me new things every day with her talent and perspective. Her songs on this record are just so mature and so clear. I envy her ability to speak clear and true,'' he said.
The album's title was taken from ``Strict Care, Strict Joy," a poem by Irish writer James Stephens that Hansard says ``really, really floored me.''
```Strict Joy' ― the idea is that if you really work, and you really get to it and you work with your art and you really dig and you really find the essence of your sadness and the essence of your troubles, often, joy can come of it. The idea is that if you take strict care ― the poem is actually called `Strict Care, Strict Joy' ― if you take real care over your work, all that can truly be born of it is good,'' he said.
Some people might look more into the lyrics of the songs on ``Strict Joy'' and jump to the conclusion that it is Hansard and Irglova's ``break up" record. ``To refer to `Strict Joy' as a `break up' record exclusively, I think would be untrue, although it does play a part in the fabric of the songs. This new bunch of songs tries to find more hope or redemption in the idea of loss or sadness,'' Hansard said.
The album comes three years after the highly-acclaimed ``Once'' soundtrack, which included the Academy Award-winning song ``Falling Slowly.'' Expectations were high for The Swell Season's next work, but Hansard says he didn't feel too much pressure.
``It is always important to try to make your music as good as it can be. But we knew that after `Once,' it would be next to impossible to match the size of the soundtrack, so we didn't even try. We just made the record as good as we could make it and the rest is up to the audience,'' he said.
The Swell Season has performed in Korea twice this year, and each time, the overwhelming enthusiasm of Korean fans has made it a memorable experience. Hansard and Irglova, who are on tour right now, hope to come back and perform again.
``It has been a very exiting time for us there. You've always given us a great time at the shows, your passion and enthusiasm has lifted our spirits and made us play better than we thought! Thank you and I hope we will see you again in the near future. In the meantime, support your local music and form your own bands! It does not matter if you can't sing! When you sing from the heart, there are no wrong notes,'' Hansard said.