Interview | The Script

Never have I been made more aware of a band's unyielding passion for their craft than the day I met The Script. Comprised of three ‘ordinary lads' from Dublin, despite achieving more than most could merely dream of, this trio have remained entirely unaffected by the hype, which is more than I can say of some of their predecessors. Yes, Bono, I'm looking at you. Speaking of those who've succumbed to the fame, Mark says "there's more dickheads than there is not and it's really unfortunate." With two number 1 albums already under their belt it's refreshing to know The Script's most lavish request when touring is as simple as a box of Barry's tea. Especially when you hear of the likes of Nicki Minaj demanding that the grass around her trailer be cut to a length of her liking. "Idiotic,” says Danny of such behaviour, "that's ridiculous... Sure you can write a great song on a Penguin bar,” he jokes. Well I guess you can take the lads out of Dublin, eh?

Invited along for an exclusive showcasing of their third and latest album, - the aptly named '#3' - the ardour with which they continue to approach their work was palpable. Try as some tabloid journos might, these lads have no time for bullshit. Speaking for the first time of the Bo Bruce rumours that set chins wagging following their front man's time on the UK version of The Voice, it's clear that for Danny, Mark and Glen, music remains their first and foremost priority: "There's an area - like a big giant asshole - where you can pop your head into, where there's no light, where you can believe everything - all the f*cking hype - or there's an area where you can put your head and think straight,” says the verbose Mark. "There's a massive word after the word ‘music' for me which is ‘business'. It's so easy to forget about the real side of things."

With that business acumen, the lads were able to play the media at their own game. Regarding Bruce, Danny said: "We were kind of thinking we could stop this right now on Twitter or I can say nothing and keep her in the press for two months and until we had this album ready to go. So what started off being you guys have us, was turned the other way around. It didn't do us or her any harm. As far as the whole relationship thing goes, that's just complete bollox. But she (Bruce) didn't mind it. Neither did I."

And so, to their third and most mature album to date, they arrived. Going back to basics with '#3', the trio have finally found their musical stride, filling the emotional chasm that they feel has been present for the previous two albums. No longer are they writing sixty and seventy songs, hoping someone will narrow it down to an album; "We don't piss around. We know exactly what we want and we know how best to get it. We won't stop until we get it.” Songs like "If You Could See Me Now” – chronicling Danny and Mark's shared story of losing a parent - show both a newfound confidence in their writing and a willingness to bear all for the sake of their art. "It's a touchy subject for me as I lost both parents quite young,” says Mark. "It's a real dark point in my life, it's something that I've never spoken about up until now." Danny adds. "It's warts and all really. That's all you can ever expect from music." Meanwhile "Good Ole Days", written as a nod to "that messy Dublin vibe”, and "Hall of Fame” which features a line-by-line duet with will.i.am pave the way for a more uplifting experience, not normally associated with The Script. "We're trying to make the grim guy that is The Script fixed this time, a little bit. He is a bit better, he's not so bad. He's not so messed up."

Although they've got much success behind them - having sailed through the notorious second album syndrome - with no sign of stopping in sight, the lads are still reluctant to count their chickens before they hatch, further testament to their collective humility: "I think it's a bit more of an accomplished record but I'm not going to say it's better or worse,” says Mark. "We'd be nothing without the other two but we feel really good on this one. This will be the album to define for us whether we are a career band or not.”

Sweetly, as they embark on yet another journey, it's home that remains most important to Danny, Mark and Glen, a sentiment that's woven through this album. Be it the high esteem in which we Irish hold them, the fact that their friends will forever keep them grounded - "If you have Dublin mates they will pull you the f*ck back down,” says Danny - or the idea of performing to your hometown audience, for these lads, home is really where the heart is. While others will make a name for themselves in their native city before moving on to greener pastures, The Script like to do it in reverse: "We've always had the theory of cutting your teeth somewhere else and coming back here for the quality show. We want to be really well oiled, come back here and blow them away. We can't do it any other way."

Album '#3' is out September 7th

Interview by: Caroline Foran

Story by EI Team | 09:00 | Wednesday 2nd January 2013 | Music

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