music
The People’s Troubadour
The Oscar-winning singer-songwriter Glen Hansard, who died this week, brought the street into the studio.
TL;DR
- Glen Hansard, a singer-songwriter and Oscar winner, died at 56.
- He was known for his raw, unpretentious performances, often linked to his origins as a busker in Dublin.
- His breakout came with the film *Once*, for which he and Markéta Irglová won an Oscar for Best Original Song.
- Hansard played his battered guitar, nicknamed 'the Horse,' even at prestigious events like the Academy Awards.
- He was also the frontman of the Frames and part of the duo the Swell Season.
- Hansard viewed music as a communal experience, aiming to bridge the gap between performer and audience, making large venues feel intimate.
- He was actively working on new music at the time of his death, with a retrospective album titled *Don't Settle*.