“For me, it was all about wanting to be Bob Dylan,” Glen Hansard told the audience at the latest instalment in the Creative Minds series of events, organised by the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, Kevin O’Malley. The gathering took place in the ambassador’s residence in Phoenix Park on Tuesday night.
Creative Minds invites prominent US and Irish artists, writers, filmmakers, digital culture innovators and musicians to share their experience with young Irish audiences.
During a Q&A session, moderated by Hot Press editor Niall Stokes, Glen was remembering the time when he first stepped onto the streets of Dublin to busk, at the age of just 13. He confessed that his love of music was inspired by his mother, who always turned to it as a source of comfort and as a way of addressing big life moments.
Glen went on to reflect ruefully on the machinations of the music industry, saying that he is looking forward to the time when record companies no longer exist and artists can have a direct relationship with their fans.
Glen was joined onstage by the President and Chairman of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), Paul Williams, who is a hugely experienced and successful songwriter, having written numerous hit records for the likes of The Carpenters (‘We’ve Only Just Begun’), Helen Reddy (‘You and Me Against The World’) and The Muppets (‘Rainbow Connection’).
“I always think that I don’t write hit songs,” Williams noted, “I write songs that great artists have turned into hits.” Among his most recent successes is ‘Touch’, written for Daft Punk and released on their global smash album, Random Access Memories.
The two songwriters have in common that they are both Oscar winners – Glen for ‘Falling Slowly’ (co-written with Markets Irglova) from the film Once and Paul for ‘Evergreen’, the love theme from A Star Is Born, which was co-written with the star of the movie, Barbara Streisand.
The latest event in the Creative Minds series was run in collaboration with IMRO, and celebrated the craft of songwriting and examined the importance of music copyright. As part of the event, Glen Hansard was honoured with a special award by IMRO and ASCAP, in recognition of the ongoing success of his music in the USA (see photo).
The Minister for Diaspora Affairs, Jimmy Deenihan TD, was also in attendance and he paid generous tribute to both Glen and to Paul Williams, as well as to Hot Press.
“I am probably stuck in the ‘70s in terms of my music taste,” Minister Deenihan added, acknowledging a particular infatuation with the work of Paul Williams. He recalled listening to a CD of Paul Williams songs in the car recently.
"It’s clear that Ambassador O’Malley has enormous respect for Irish music and understands the value of our fruitful collaboration… both creatively and economically,” ASCAP’s Paul Williams said, after the event. "He spoke of the great influence Irish songwriters have had on American culture and noted the continuing efforts of IMRO and ASCAP to protect copyright and to celebrate our music. The Ambassador’s residence felt like home last night. To all of us.”
Keith Donald, Chairman of IMRO added: “The whole night was about creating cross-Atlantic creativity links and all thanks to Ambassador O’Malley for his kindness in putting the event together.”
Niall Stokes, editor of Hot Press, led the conversation with Glen and Paul, discussing their different approaches to the craft of songwriting and the role of copyright in music today, before the audience of invited guests were treated to intimate acoustic performances by both songwriters.
Photographed above: Keith Donald, chairman of IMRO; President of ASCAP, Paul Williams; Glen Hansard; and the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, Kevin O'Malley
For a photo gallery of the night, click here.