The New Music

The Swell Season is already one of my favorite musical stories in a very long time. Everything about Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova’s story that brought them together to make music, then to make a movie (Once) and then win an Oscar (”Falling Slowly”) is the ultimate independent artist’s dream. I rarely recall a time I have been so excited for an artist to release new music and I nearly jumped out of my seat when they won the Oscar for best original song back in 2008. What can I say, I’m a fan.

However, I have come to realize that interviewing someone who I am a fan of is not always a good thing because on more than one occasion an interview has ruined my perception of a person, if that person turns out to be… well back home in Newfoundland we’d say “an arsehole” -and I have encountered a few arsehole’s whom my hours and sometimes days of research and preperation for has often just become time I wish I could get back (it’s a small percentage but it has happened).

Luckily for me, Glen and Marketa were totally cool and I can say without question in my seven years of interviewing actors and musicians this was my favorite interview. Not just because I am a fan but because it was just a really enjoyable conversation about music and a glimpse into how humble and greatful these two are by the success that they have had.

Our chat spanned everything from U2 and the Oscars to homecomings and the idea of musical genius. The new album is called Strict Joy, go get it now.

- Matt Wells

Interview Part 1: On busking in the beginning, expectations and the temptations that come with success…

Interview Part 2: On the creative process, the craft of writing songs and where inspiration comes from…

Interview Part 3: On the impact they’ve had on people, the tributes they’ve received, the movie Once and the role it played in their career.