Marketa Irglova

Markéta Irglová , born February 28th,1988 is a Czech born musician, songwriter, singer and actress with Academy Award under her belt. Till 2008 she lived in Dublin.

Irglová started playing music at a tender age of seven and picked up piano a year later after an it was bought by her parents. The naturalist Marketa also attended lessons on the instrument to refine her skills. Perceiving Irglova’s interest in music her father brought home a guitar for her which she took instantly and played songs without any formal education on Guitar.

Currently she is associated with a member of an Irish rock band Glen Hansard. The band is called The Frames. Marketa Iglova met him when Glen was on a visit to Valašské Meziříčí. Marketa Irglova can be seen playing with Glen for The Swell Season an album featuring an eponymy in 2006; it was released for Overcoat Recordings.

Marketa Iglova also starred along with Hansard in an indie movie Once, under the direction of John Carney in 2007. Irglova and Hansard wrote the lyrics for the songs featuring in the movie. The film received an award from World Cinema Audience in Sundance Film Festival of 2007.

One song written by pair for the movie “Once” was “Falling Slowly”, the popular song was honored as Best Original Song at the Academy Award in the year 2008. Marketa Irglová is the first Czech woman to receive an Oscar and also the youngest (19 years) to do so in the category of music.

Here is her speech:

“Hi everyone. I just want to thank you so much. This is such a big deal, not only for us, but for all other independent musicians and artists that spend most of their time struggling, and this, the fact that we’re standing here tonight, the fact that we’re able to hold this, it’s just to prove no matter how far out your dreams are, it’s possible. And, you know, fair play to those who dare to dream and don’t give up. And this song was written from a perspective of hope, and hope at the end of the day connects us all, no matter how different we are. And so thank you so much, who helped us along way. Thank you.”

Marketa Irglova’s achievements include a Grammy Award nomination in 2008 for Best Song in a Motion Picture, TV or Other Media, Falling Slowly from Once was nominated for Grammy Award for Best Album Compilation Soundtrack in 2008 for Motion Picture, TV or Other Media.

Irglová and Hansard also made an appearance for the “I'm Not There” song in 2007 which was an adaptation to one of the songs of Bob Dylan You Ain't Going Nowhere.

In October 11, 2011 her first solo album, Anar, was already a fact. Citing references ranging from Otis Redding, to Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, to the soundtrack from Jesus Christ Super Star, Irglova pulled from numerous influences to create a delicate balance of ethereal vocals and expanding instrumentals on her 12-track debut.

Irglova was able to use Anar as a creative outlet to document and express her personal experiences with music and self-discovery over the last few years, making this album highly personal and an emotional journey.