The Script talk Social media, sounding like ‘aul fellas’ and how Belfast brought them ‘new life’
Script frontmen Danny O’Donoghue and Mark Sheehan have praised Northern Ireland fans for reviving their music career.
The Irish rock band headlined Belsonic in 2018 after a gruelling UK tour.
And lead vocalist Danny O’Donoghue said it was a night to remember:
“We always have some great times there.
“We did that outdoor gig… Belsonic…we got on stage that night, I knew we were a bit tired from touring but that place just brought us new life.”
Danny and lead guitarist Mark Sheehan were speaking to Cool FM’s John Kearns as they launch their new record The Last Time.
Since their inception in the early noughties, the band- made up of Dublin-born Danny, Mark and drummer Glen Power, has enjoyed huge success.
With a career that has already spanned 12 years and 30 million record sales, Danny let Cool FM in on some of the secrets behind their signature sound:
“I grew up listening to melancholic music, it was always sadness that at the end of the day had something triumphant about it.
“We’re really lucky to be on album number six, can you believe it?”
With a string of deep, emotional tracks behind them, true to form, the Last Time is a poignant song that tugs on the heart strings.
Danny told John Kearns they have become known for that style of music:
“Our thing has always been to lean into real emotions, real stories and real events that happen to us and write about them.
“It’s way more difficult than you would imagine because sometimes you do it and it sounds quite disingenuous, sometimes it sounds a bit try-hard and other times you do it and it sounds absolutely natural and real and they’re the songs that we pick for our record.
“It feels great that when we put them out that other people do relate, that’s so powerful.”
With the internet providing an instant online platform for new talent and streaming services transforming the music world, the band said the industry has changed drastically during their tenure.
They admitted they fear the beauty of live music is now getting lost with social media advances:
“We pride ourselves on (live shows) but it’s frightening the amount of acts these days who I hear are lighting up streaming, the numbers are phenomenal but they cannot sell one ticket live.
“There’s like this whole new area of music where you’re getting bedroom artists and people who are writing and recording in their room, amazing music, really brilliant and it’s been accepted around the world.
“But they haven’t put any time and attention or thought into how they’re going to put this live…and it’s really strange for me.”
And he told us why he is not an avid social media fan:
“I lived in a day and age where there wasn’t mobile phones and emails and the internet wasn’t as big as it is now, I sound like an aul fella now but…you had to connect with people.
“This was the be-all and end-all of your social circle was to be able to connect with people, be articulate enough to get your point across in an argument and also feel free enough to be yourself and be able to dance out in public.
“So many people now are scared ‘I’m not dancing because someone will have me on Instagram in two minutes or someone will shoe me with a double chin or showing my belly or whatever.
“I love the fact that we came up through the ranks, busking, small clubs we’ve all paid our dues in that way.”
With 12 years’ worth of experience behind them, the band hope The Last Time will be well received.
Mark said of the new single:
“We just hit a million views on Youtube, on The Last Time’s video which is incredible, I can’t believe the outpour, The Script is back to business.”
The Last Time is out now.