Music >> Artists >> Alternative
Genre:
Alternative

Years Active:
'80s, '90s, '00s, '10s






Glen Hansard

Biography

With a host of real-life songs and lilting vocals that reflect a passion for his influences (particularly Van Morrison, Leonard Cohen, and Bob Dylan), Glen Hansard is best known for his work with the Frames and the Swell Season. Born to a working-class Dublin family during the spring of 1970, he left school at age 13 in search of making music his career. He began busking in the streets of Dublin, laying the groundwork for his engaging stage persona and, ironically, mimicking the plot line of Once, the movie that would later make him a star in multiple countries. By his late teens, Hansard had recorded his first demo with the help of his Mum, who'd lent him some money for the project. One of the 50 tapes he pressed landed in the hands of Island Records' Denny Cordell, a former producer who'd previously helped bring Tom Petty and Joe Cocker to the Island roster. Upon a meeting at Cordell's flat, the 17-year-old Hansard also met Ron Wood, Marianne Faithfull, and Stewart Copeland. The meeting, to say the least, left a lasting impression on Hansard, and in the end, Cordell signed him with the approval of Island founder Chris Blackwell. . From there, Hansard quickly gathered a group of fellow buskers and formed the Frames. Unfortunately, quick accolades proved daunting for Hansard and the Frames, whose grunge-influenced release Another Love Song came and went without selling much. Island Records responded by dropping the group. To distract himself from the disappointment, Hansard took on the role of Outspan Foster, a guitarist in the famed Alan Parker film The Commitments. He would later admit that he shouldn't have taken the role, as it merely placated his struggle with making music. But a trip to New York gave Hansard the space and time to dream it all up again, and with a newfound focus, he wrote the guitar-blazing anthem "Revelate" and "Say It to Me Now." Both songs eventually landed on the Frames' proper debut album, Fitzcarraldo, which was released in 1996 and helped make the Frames a popular group in Ireland.

Over the next decade, Hansard and the Frames continued releasing albums while also becoming one of Ireland's finest live acts. In 2003, Hansard played host to Other Voices: Songs from a Room, a popular television show featuring Ireland's best in new music. Three years later, while the Frames readied the release of their sixth effort, The Cost, Hansard unveiled a new side project called the Swell Season. The acoustic-based group featured his collaborations with Czech songstress Markéta Irglová. He and Irglová also appeared as working-class immigrants in the Irish movie Once, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in 2007 and won an Oscar later that year. Thanks to the movie's success (not to mention its popular soundtrack, Once: Music from the Motion Picture, which featured the band's music), the Swell Season became a popular act in Ireland and abroad, leading to the release of a mature sophomore album in 2009.

Rhythm and Repose, Hansard's solo debut released by Anti in 2012, was produced by Thomas Bartlett (the National, Antony & the Johnsons) and inspired by the singer/songwriter's year and a half spent as a denizen of New York City. Later in 2012, Hansard's track "Take the Heartland" appeared on the Hunger Games soundtrack, and the following year he joined up with Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder to record a cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Drive All Night," which was included on an EP of same name issued in November by Anti in support of music education charity Little Kids Rock. In 2015, Hansard released It Was Triumph We Once Proposed: Songs of Jason Molina, an EP in which Hansard presented reworked interpretations of five songs by his late friend Molina, best known for his work with Songs: Ohia and Magnolia Electric Co.

Top Albums


1. It Was Trium..
The Swell Season (with Marja Tuhkanen & Bertrand Galen), Glen Hansard
2. The Swell Se..
Rhythm and Repose (Deluxe Edition), Glen Hansard
3. Rhythm and R..
Drive All Night - EP, Glen Hansard
4. Drive All Ni..
Rhythm and Repose, Glen Hansard
5. Rhythm and R..
Christmas Biscuits (In Aid of St. Vincent De Paul) - Single, Glen Hansard
6. Christmas Bi..
High Hope - Single, Glen Hansard
7. High Hope - ..
This Gift (as featured in 'the Odd Life of Timothy Green') - Single, Glen Hansard
8. This Gift (a..
Love Don't Leave Me Waiting - Single, Glen Hansard
9. Love Don't L..

Top Songs

NameAlbumTimePrice
1.
Falling SlowlySwell Season (with Marja Tu..4:50$0.99
2.
Hold On MagnoliaIt Was Triumph We Once Prop..7:50$1.29
3.
High HopeRhythm and Repose (Deluxe E..3:55$1.29
4.
If You Want MeOnce (Music from the Motion..3:48$0.99
5.
Being In LoveIt Was Triumph We Once Prop..5:43$1.29
6.
Drive All Night (feat. Eddie Vedder ..Drive All Night - EP8:36$1.29
7.
Say It to Me NowOnce (Music from the Motion..2:35$0.99
8.
MoonSwell Season (with Marja Tu..4:42$0.99
9.
White SulfurIt Was Triumph We Once Prop..2:18$1.29
10.
VanquisherIt Was Triumph We Once Prop..2:16$1.29
11.
Farewell TransmissionIt Was Triumph We Once Prop..7:15$1.29
12.
I Couldn't Say It to Your FaceMaster Mix: Red Hot + Arthu..2:34$1.29
13.
Pressing OnTribute To Bob Dylan In the..4:07$1.29
14.
Pressing OnTribute To Bob Dylan In the..4:07$1.29
15.
Christmas Biscuits (In Aid of St. Vi..Christmas Biscuits (In Aid ..3:45$1.29
16.
Step out of the ShadowsDrive All Night - EP2:13$1.29
17.
RenataDrive All Night - EP4:13$1.29
18.
Pennies in the FountainDrive All Night - EP4:55$1.29
19.
Star, StarVečerní máj, byl lásky ..4:09$0.99
20.
High HopeHigh Hope - Single3:55$1.29
21.
This Gift (as featured in 'the O..This Gift (as featured in &..4:47$1.29
22.
Rare Bird (Bonus Track)Rhythm and Repose (Deluxe E..3:34$1.29
23.
This Gift (Bonus Track)Rhythm and Repose (Deluxe E..4:48$1.29
24.
Come Away to the Water (Bonus Track)Rhythm and Repose (Deluxe E..3:45$1.29
25.
Song of Good HopeRhythm and Repose (Deluxe E..3:47$1.29

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