The Script is one of the most successful Irish bands ever and now the lads are putting their support behind The Arthur Guinness Projects which aim to celebrate and encourage ingenuity and talent in Ireland.
Altogether the movement will invest €3 million in people and projects across the country over the course of three years. As part of their role as mentors the band will be helping to find and develop future Irish stars.
We sat down with Danny O’Donoghue, Mark Sheehan and Glen Power to get the lowdown on what it’s like to be involved in the projects and what comes next for them as a band…
The Arthur Guinness Projects are all about mentoring fresh talent. Is that something you’ve always wanted to do?
Mark: It wasn’t something that we planned to do. It’s just because of the natural status and the way the band is going that people are turning to us to add our weight to certain things. Loads of things come across the desk. This happened to be one that stood out the most. This one was in Ireland and about helping Irish people. It’s a great idea. Over the next three years, they’re going to roll out three million across music, food, all sorts.
We possibly have a Bill Gates here with the next best thing. With us, they probably think it’s supposed to be about music and songs but it could be something that’s going to change the face of the music industry. It could be the best new website or a way of delivering things. What’s great about it is the Irish public can go on and vote for what they feel are the strongest ideas. We’re hoping that people will go for ideas that will help the country in these difficult times and someway give back to Ireland.
Danny, you’ve also been busy with The Voice UK. Has that distracted from the band at all?
Danny: It can distract if you let it distract but if you write it into your plan of the year ahead, which we did, it’s fine. We’ve enjoyed global success thanks to The Voice with Hall Of Fame going on the album. Trust the Irish Paddies getting in there and making the most of the opportunity! Second last year, winner this year. The thing is people thought I was the one who wanted to go on The Voice but the boys said you need to go on The Voice, we need this as a band.
We were in the studio as well. Mark was making the album 3 the best that it could be and I was coming in during the evening. We love working. If you want to try to be a band like The Script, match us on work rate. We’re no more or less talented than any other band but we work really hard. This year was no different. We planned to do all the festivals and then The Voice as well. It is tough but that’s what it’s like at this level. If you take your eye off the ball for one or two months, somebody else is snapping at your heels.
Danny has been a judge on The Voice UK for the last two years.
How do feel about people who are thrust into the spotlight after reality shows?
M: I think it’s really tough and I think there should be a mentor programme for anybody who goes into the music business. You shouldn’t be allowed to be thrust into the business. It does two things: it turns them into a**eholes and it ruins their career because they’re not able to grasp what the workload is and what you have to actually do. It’s very difficult to get your head around. It’s very bizarre from the outside looking in but when you’re in it, it’s actually quite relaxing,
Glen: I think the first year was a big shock for us in terms of the tour and how travelling took us away from our homes and families. It’s just gotten easier because it becomes a way of life. When we go on tour, we just click into a mode now.
But it hasn’t all been plain-sailing, has it?
D: Why The Script is so sweet is because we have been dropped from a label before and we did take things for granted. To be down at the bottom of the pile and then have the courage to build back up again. It took 10 years after Mytown before The Script was formed and get where we are today.
M: There’s loads of people in this industry that have their heads up their a**e and are waiting on somebody to turn on the lights. But then you meet someone who has had something and lost it, they’re the nicest people you’ll ever meet. There’s nothing wrong with learning that lesson. There’s nothing wrong with having a few doors slammed in your face. If you really love what you’re doing, you’ll keep going. If you don’t you’ll go back home and you don’t deserve to be on the stage.
The Script doing what they do best, performing on the stage.
When did you realise you had made it as a band?
D: The Man Who Can’t Be Moved was the first international hit that we had so for me that was it.
G: I think it was meeting each other and realising we could do this together. We recognised in each other that this could be something. Honestly I think the big success was actually seeing it as a unit. When you have that focus with three people combined and you just want to go that one direction, it’s unstoppable. You know that everyone’s willing to do it and that’s what we did. I suppose we spent the last 20 years trying to find each other as a band.
You’ve had great success. Is there anything left that you want to achieve?
D: Loads more.
M: I think the success comes from all the smoke and mirrors. It’s coming from the press and everyone around us. I feel content in that success to us is playing a gig every night and being employed. All the money and selling records is just a by-product of it. I don’t feel like we’re even half way to reaching our prime so I think we’re still a young band. I think we’re about to do our best work. In terms of song writing, the sky’s the limit for us.
You can find out more about The Arthur Guinness Projects via the website here. Applications are being accepted up until August 9th 2013.
