A gentle reminder to all fans of Irish rock band The Script, the lads will be performing in town this weekend on 25 September 2022 as part of their Greatest Hits Tour 2022. The concert comes on the back of Tales from The Script: Greatest Hits, released on 1 October 2021.
Expect the trio of Danny O’Donoghue, Mark Sheehan and Glen Power to serenade the crowd with classics such as “Hall of Fame”, “Breakeven”, and “The Man Who Can’t Be Moved”.
Men’s Folio had the opportunity to interview The Script while they were on their Australia tour.
It’s been four years since you guys were last in Singapore. What is your fondest memory of Singapore, and what do you all look forward to during your stay here?
I’ve a lot of great memories of Singapore. My favourite one is actually the last time I was there. We had such an amazing time. Because the crowd know the songs and we know them so well, it felt like a real family vibe. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to go on the Sunsets and Full Moons tour.
This time around we’ll be playing many of the same songs, so it’s going to feel like the show that never happened. We can’t wait to get out there in front of our Singapore fans and put on our best show possible.
Performing live is always a different and unforgettable experience. Can you describe the kind of connection you share with the crowd each time you perform in front of a live audience?
The energy is unbelievable. It’s a very special thing when you walk out on stage, play music, and people sing it back, not only to you but with you while you’re performing. That’s a very special thing, so it never gets old.
People always ask us how do you play the same songs every night.
Well, they’re not the same songs because they’re slightly different every night we play them. Since the audience is always different, the reaction is always different. So it’s always a challenge to do our best versions. I think the better we are (performing), the better the audience is, which makes for an amazing show.
Given this is The Script’s Greatest Hits Tour. What are each of your favourite songs to play live?
Our favourite song to play live is probably the climax of the show, “Hall of Fame” and the pre-climax “Breakeven”. After the past few years that we’ve all gone through, even though the song meant something else 15 years ago, “Hall of Fame” seems to be the anthem that everybody is so proud to sing after what the world has gone through together as a whole.
“Breakeven” is quite challenging to play because it’s an intricate technical groove to play. I love it when we get to that because I have to concentrate; singing and playing are difficult.
That’s a tricky one to play and sing simultaneously; I like that song for that reason.
With the release of your greatest hits album (Tales from the Script: Greatest Hits) last October and the enforced break during the pandemic, has it given you time to reflect on your musical journey?
It’s given us a massive amount of time (to reflect). It’s not just musically; everyone’s been looking at their own lives and thinking about where they’ve been, where they are now and where they are on their way to.
Part and parcel of the reason for the “Greatest Hits” Tour were to refamiliarise ourselves with songs that changed our lives, and we never really got the chance to do that before.
We were against the idea of it at first, but as time went on, we were like, let’s just get back out into these arenas that we played so many times before and let’s play something for our fans and give them a special show.
If we do go back into lockdown, this will have exorcised the demons.
Did you feel the pandemic period was a case of missed chances or new opportunities?
I think it was a mix of both sides of the scale because we miss performing, playing and being in front of people. But we could also spend some time with our family or friends and focus on other things we want to do.
I got to try out some other new things, which was cool, but honestly, if I had the choice, I’d be out gigging and playing shows. That’s what I miss the most.
We’ve been doing this for so long and if you’re a musician at heart, this is what you want to do, perform. It probably made us even more grateful now and helped us appreciate what we had and what we now have.
Congratulations on your newest single, “Dare You To Doubt Me”. What was the inspiration behind the lyrics, and how do you guys relate to it personally?
With songs like “Superheroes” and “Hall of Fame” in the catalogue, it’s always difficult to write something that could be inspirational. I always feel like I’m always a better person with my backs against the wall and when I come out swinging.
In order for your backs to be against the wall, you need to have an object pushing you more towards the wall, almost something daring you; maybe it’s life or your a certain situation you’re in.
An animal is always dangerous when it’s down; that’s one of the lyrics in the song as well. So it’s a little bit autobiographical in the fact that you know this pandemic itself has really put the whole world’s back against the wall, and it’s now time for everyone to come out fighting and swinging.
I’m sure the songwriting process for all the songs is different. What was the songwriting process for “Dare You To Doubt Me” like?
To be honest, it’s a bit different. We’ve been doing zoom sessions and because everybody was locked away in their own homes and doing what they’re doing, we’re just throwing parts around. Glen has a studio in Dublin, so I was firing off parts to him, and he was sending them back to us.
When we got back out on the road, we solidified the song.
Almost backstage at each show, we booked a studio and went around recording and mixing the song. Meanwhile, we had the excitement of us coming out on tour. It was a little different to where we’ve normally done it, but I feel we caught and captured something (while performing) live, that kind of energy.
You can definitely hear it in the track.
What is next for The Script after the conclusion of the world tour?
It’s a big period of reflection, and I suppose, just take a breather and then reassess what it is we want to do next and where we want to go. We were asked if we’re doing another album or two or if there is another 10 years in this. I think we get on stage as long as people want to hear us play.
For now, I think we just breathe, and while we are breathing, new music surfaces, that’s just what happens, you know.
Once you’re done with this story, click here to catch up with our September 2022 issue, here for other music-related stories or click here to get tickets to The Script Greatest Hits Tour 2022.
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