The stars of Once release new music for the first time in 10 years

The duo play two sold-out Vicar Street shows next month.

Markéta Irglová and Glen Hansard have released their first new music together in over 10 years under the banner The Swell Season. The release comes ahead of the duo’s summer run of shows celebrating the 15th Anniversary of the film Once. The track, titled ‘The Answer Is Yes’, came about from Hansard's recent trip to Iceland to connect and discuss the upcoming tour with Irglová and is seen as a natural answer to their Oscar-winning song 'Falling Slowly'. The pair have released two albums, a self-titled debut in 2006 and 2009's 'Strict Joy'. They also starred together in the 2007 film Once, directed by John Carney, a dramatised retelling of how they formed their musical bond in Dublin.

Once stars release new music for the first time in 10 years.

Talking about the new track, Irglová said, “Glen and I had been talking about releasing new music prior to our upcoming Dublin dates and US tour. I wanted to write a beautiful duet for us to sing together each night. Something that summarized our journey through the past 20 years, paying tribute to all that once was and celebrating all that now is.”

The Swell Season will be playing Vicar Street on July 13 and 14 before they head off to the US to continue their tour across the country, including stops in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.

Hansard added, "We came together and as we’re working through old songs the chances for new songs became almost inevitable. Creatively Markéta is in a place that reminds me of Joni, where she speaks very honest and clearly. Which can be quite intimidating but is a wonderful contrast to how I write. For me the ideas that bubble up to the surface when we’re together are the ones she’s meant to be part of."

Check out the music video for 'The Answer Is Yes' below.

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