Glen Hansard
Glen Hansard
Glen Hansard is an Irish songwriter, actor, vocalist and guitarist for Irish group The Frames, and one half of folk rock duo The Swell Season. He is also known for his acting, having appeared in the BAFTA-winning film The Commitments, as well as starring in the film Once, which earned him a number of major awards, including an Academy Award for Best Song...
NationalityIrish
ProfessionFolk Singer
Date of Birth21 April 1970
CountryIreland
song self play
As a busker, one thing that does not work is self-consciousness. A busker needs to be working. A busker needs to shed all ego and get down to work. Play your songs, play them well, earn your money, and don't get in people's way.
music song rest-of-your-life
A song is like a saddle: you ride it for a while, and if it's the right kind of song you can sing it for the rest of your life.
live-life writing thinking
I think inside every rock journalist, there's somebody who wishes they had the courage to live the life that they're not, and that they're writing about. But at the same time, inside every songwriter, I guess there's a wish for happiness.
travel long nervous
Sometimes travelling really intensely for a long time is like having a continuous nervous breakdown.
reading past cities
Everything about singing, I learned from busking. Everything I learned about songwriting, I learned from busking. Busking, you learn people, you learn about reading people. You learn about reading the atmosphere of the street. If you stand still in any city long enough, you see everyone pass you by. It's almost like you get to know personality types, just by watching people walk past. You get a sense for things.
song writing people
There are people who can sit down and write a song about any given subject, and they can do it really, really well.
singing busking songwriting
Well, everything about singing, I learned from busking. Everything I learned about songwriting, I learned from busking.
dad want quiet
My dad was quiet, angry, shut down. So my thing is: I express everything that's there. I want to get it all out.
song writing hands
Keeping the pen out of your hand as much as possible is the best way to write a song, in my estimation. But the pen must come in to tighten it up.
relaxation important facts
I've realized, you know, having turned 40, that rest is just as important as work. In fact, it's equally as important.
doors acting
I won't say I've closed the door on acting.
morning coffee writing
The muse holds no appointments. You can never call on it. I don't understand people who get up at 9 o'clock in the morning, put on the coffee and sit down to write.
solo
And I've always loved playing solo.
conflict
Do I create conflicts for myself? Sure I do.