When folk-rock musicians Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova take the stage Friday at Symphony Hall, their loyal fans will be looking for any sign of romance, love or angst -- because that's when their best music happens.
Hansard and Irglova, known as the The Swell Season, rose to fame when they starred in the music-rich indie film "Once" in 2007. Despite their 18-year age difference, they fell in love on and off-screen, a relationship often detailed in their music.
Hansard, also the lead singer and guitarist of Irish band The Frames, wrote much of the "Once" soundtrack, which won an Academy Award for best original song.
They come to Atlanta following release of their latest album, "Strict Joy," which continues to chronicle the rise and fall of their melodic relationship. We spoke with 22-year-old Irglova, who is originally from the Czech Republic, about their work.
Q. So much of your music deals with love, heartbreak or lovers’ quarrels. How much do you draw on life experiences and relationships when you're writing?
A. I think whatever you create is going to be a reflection of what’s going on inside. Basically your experiences and whatever you are surrounded with, it all goes in and comes out in the way you act and speak and the way you create. It's inspired by what I’m going through in life, but it's not always completely in time with itself and experiences. On my songs and on my album, I am also addressing the idea of two people growing apart and the difficulties you might find in a relationship. But you still care very much about it and the nature of your relationship might change.
For me it's always important that even if it's sad or hurtful, that it's not tormented, that it's not a black hole and that there’s some light in it and that you will be OK.
Q. Is it safe to say "Strict Joy" is about your relationship with Glen?
A. The record was definitely about us breaking up. I don’t really like to call the album a breakup record, because I don’t like to put labels on things, but I wouldn’t try to deny the songs are addressing us as ending our time as lovers, but finding a deeper connection which is friendship. Whenever you go through experiences that are challenging, you find yourself stronger. I'm really happy we can continue working together and be friends. I wouldn’t change anything and I've learned so much from our time together and even the end of our time. That whole chapter was incredibly rich.
Q. When you accepted the Oscar, you spoke about the struggle for musicians to be recognized. Is the struggle over for The Swell Season?
A. Personally, I haven’t really experienced the struggle. When I met Glen, I was in school and he asked me to play piano and sing in this band and join in him some of the gigs... .When I was talking about the struggle I was more addressing the fact that Glen has been in a band for 20 years and it has taken 17 years for him to get the recognition. It was incredible for me because there are so many talented people who should have been big, so many artists who have so much talent. It's difficult to make money and be a musician with a job on the side. It was important for me to address that, because I've seen it. It was so gratifying to see Glen onstage that night, knowing how much work he put into it. And I got to be a part of it somehow.
Event preview
The Swell Season with Justin Townes Earle, 7 p.m., Friday. $27.50 -- $40. Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E. 404-733-5000, www.theswellseason.com/tour
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