Interview: The Script

“I’m more of the rock side of the band, I’m into guys like U2, Simple Minds, Genesis, the rock kind of pop side of things I guess you could say” Glen Power reveals who drives the harder side of The Script’s music. “The boys are more into their R&B and hip hop, bands like A Tribe Called Quest. If you took all our iPods you wouldn’t think we were in a band together at all.” Despite their differences the they produced #3 in 2012, and yes you’ve guessed it – it’s the bands third studio album.

“I think we dip our toes in rock, pop and R&B; we’re a mix of all those things. We’re more for the iPod generation I guess, who just get individual songs they like on their iPod; we’re moving towards that we don’t necessarily stay true to one particular style. If I had to pin it down I would say pop rock.” Hailing from Dublin, the path to music stardom isn’t as well defined, although being Irish has its own advantages. “It was a small pond but there was a lot of big fish in it, I think when U2 started off here a lot of A&R guys came here looking for new bands. I think it was more of a singer-songwriter sort of scene In Ireland at the time though.”

Glen allures to being a bit more rock than perhaps The Script give out, but he’s is no rush to change the current style to anything heavier. “I think we’ll do that when we have our houses paid off” he laughs. “When it works for the first time you think if it isn’t broke don’t fix it, once we get a bigger and more loyal fan base one could start to take a few more risks. We’ll try and do that within reason, we don’t want to turn around and be a punk band, we still gravitate towards producing good songs and songs people can sing along with.”

Scoring their first number one collaborating with Will.i.am, the band aren’t afraid to call in their showbiz friends if needs be “He’s a real proper eccentric genius, just to have him down because he’s got so much going on was great. I wonder if he ever sits down and just reads a book because he’s always doing some sort of project. So when he came in we already had the song ready and he liked it, we didn’t write it together.”

The Script have undoubtedly seen their popularity rise with frontman Danny O’Donoghue appearing on the not-at-all-X-factor-ish show, The Voice. “It’s great; it bridges the gap between fan and band. A lot people knew our songs but didn’t know who the band was, and haven’t for years. Because of what he’s done it’s created an awareness of who he is and who we are as a band. Out of that came the collaboration with Will.i.am, all across the board it’s just helped us become better known. As we moved on with our career we realised we were going have to get our faces out there.”

Glen also has some interesting ideas on why the Irish are so loyal to their bands “I think we’re lucky in a way that Ireland had the potato famine” he laughs “because there’s so many Irish around the world, there’s a real sense of national pride, like it’s a clan or a tribe. We couldn’t be a better nationality going out into the world; it makes us feel close to home wherever we go. Any nationality has that; everyone wants to feel connected with something. The only advantage I think being Irish is because there are so many, particularly in America, every city you go to has an Irish bar. In that respect we kind of have the upper hand being a traveling nationality. Plus you’ve got paddy’s day, we’re having it in Manchester this year and we’re going to have a serious party, where else in the world do they celebrate someone else’s day like that. I love Manchester, it’s got a great energy, it reminds me of Dublin, and there are a lot of great looking women – there are some serious crackers here.”