At Optimus Alive 2012, Lisa Hannigan tells us about touring with Richard Hawley, her desire to collaborate with David Byrne, reveals her love for Gotye and tells us she probably won't work with Damien Rice again.
For you guys who care about Damien Rice's view on Lisa Hannigan, he gave an interview in September 2014. Just google "I opened every can of worms I could". Here are some highlights of his interview: This is the first Damien Rice album not to feature Lisa Hannigan. To give a sense of how critical a part she played in his recording history, consider that hers is the last voice the listener hears on his much-adored debut album, O, and the first they hear on its follow-up, 9. "It wasn't even so much missing the voice," he says. "It was just missing Lisa. It was missing my partner in the studio. She was not afraid to be honest with me if she didn't like something. That was very healthy for me, whereas initially, for this, I was on my own without somebody to tell me, 'This is crap - do that again'. I was missing that and that's why I reached out to Rick [Rubin, the album's producer] - because Lisa wasn't around, I needed somebody who wasn't going to want to change me but be able to stand there in front of me and tell me 'not good enough'." He had wanted her to sing on the album. "I spoke to her about it and asked her what she thought of it [making music together] and she very beautifully responded saying that she thinks it's best for both of us that we" - here he pauses for a long time to find the right words - "do our own thing for now. "The moment I got that response - boom! - everything started working. Because I could let go and I was like 'ok, I'm doing this alone'." That sense of liberation was tinged with sadness. "I don't think the two of us will work together again," he says, looking at his hands, "but there's no reason why we couldn't play live together again some time." I ask him if he would ever change anything about the past. "No," he says, without hesitation. "I think it's perfect. That's why sometimes when people bring up the Lisa thing, I am so grateful for everything I experienced with her because I got to learn amazing things." Would he trade the hard times for her still to be part of his music and personal life? This time, there's a long pause. "I am totally different now that when I did that Hot Press interview [in which he declared his love for Hannigan a few years after they split]. My perspective on things is totally different. I wouldn't change a single thing I ever said, even hurtful stuff.
Thank you so much! I didn't expect Damien to do an interview about Lisa ever again..that was so hurtful, but still gives me hope about them performing together again, maybe someday!
Thanks for this. I had wondered because of the way his new recordings ended with "long long way." instead of "trusty and true". I even mixed long long way against cold water to try and understand what was being said. But here I can see the connection with the lyrics: But you say Not now, maybe later... (You're only in your way) But not now, maybe... wait... 'Cause love is tough When enough is not enough Not enough and the what was said in this interview (and something else said in the Billboard interview about "conditional love".) "I spoke to her about it and asked her what she thought of it [making music together] and she very beautifully responded saying that she thinks it's best for both of us that we" - here he pauses for a long time to find the right words - "do our own thing for now." I really do think they are both in good head space now about their separate creative destinies. I think yeah it is perfect as it is.
For Clarity. Damien Sacked Lisa. Here is what she said when asked about it in a local podcast. “He didn’t want me in his band anymore, I know when I’m not wanted! It was slightly brutal, but absolutely for the best, it had become a very, very difficult working situation, You know it wasn’t altogether pleasant. I wasn’t very happy I’m sure people can relate to that but you mightn’t actually resign. You don’t realize how hot the water is until you get out and so being fired ended up just being the best thing. The break happened quickly between sound-check and gig"
Musically they were magical together... in my opinion one of the strongest performing energies I have seen in the last 20 years... think of the impact Nirvana had when you first saw them but this time expressing an entirely different set of emotions.... and yes she is absolutely gorgeous and her voice is incredibly seductive too.
She clearly did not say no, perhaps time brings maturity and forgiveness they were musically brilliant together and that should have been enough to be civil, unless he's just plain toxic in which case he should get some help. Really, it would be nice if someone could intervene and find a way, sometimes people are too standoffish, what are friends for but to help with reconciliation and understanding. I think they are musically worth some meddling, I'm just saying, looking in from the outside, seems a crying shame, almost sacrilege. IMO not knowing any details. If he treated her bad at the end, then he needs to make a grandiose apology and extend the olive branch, but do it right, traditional.
she does seem happy now, comparing to back then. it's a shame really because they were magical together, so weird how some people are meant to (sing and )be together but just not good for each other. I love her music now, for real, and I still love seeing him perform his broken soul out live. keep up the great work! and drop another amazing record :)
They're both really talented musicians and I'm sure lovely people. It's a shame they had to separate on bad terms but it has opened the door to a lot of new things, especially for Lisa. I wish them both great success in the future. :)
Alice Michaelis Damien treated her like shit when he started to hit it big. He has admitted it and regrets it. He is sorry but she has moved on. They were an item at the time. You don't do that kind of shit if you love someone.
she is so gorgeous!!! and her voice is quite angelical!!! its a shame what it happened with Damien but those things are normal and thats it! so she has to work now in her own stuff and made really good things to be at the top again!
When two true artists get together in a relationship it almost always ends in tragedy. Something in the psyche makes real artists passionately ambitious, and often they become far too intense and wrapped up in self. Artists are often too emotional and at worst, irrational - that's what makes their art work. It is not a fault in artists, -destructiveness is the twin of creativity. I like both Lisa and Damien, and yes, they were darned good together but I think the relationship got intense. When they each develop their art a little more and mature a bit in their own security, it is my guess they will be friends and leave the painful past within their earlier experience together behind. Good luck to both of them.
Being born and bread in the US of A; I've been a bit too well "protected" from the influences of contemporary Old World music. Because of this, I've only just this very day discovered Lisa and Damien - as solo artists and as a band. Seems when they have/had made appearances here in the States I was hiding under a rock somewhere!Am I the only person that sees the similarities between these two as a band and The Civil Wars (who I also discovered in a very similar way: learning of them some months after their announced breakup)? Though John Paul and Joy's separation has never been attributed to a romantic connection (even if most of their fans still think there was); viewed purely on a conflict of artistic temperament basis - the two bands certainly seem to have had very strong parallels.Having said that, and in attempting to make up for lost time; I'm devoting the remainder of this weekend to downloading everything I can find that they recorded together and then as solo artists. Now I have two groups to listen to, enjoy, and ponder about what wonderful music we'll never hear because of their splits.
The comments on here are ridiculous! What the hell is wrong with people?? Damien's fucking amazing and so is Lisa and together they are fucking spectacular! Best of luck to the both of them! Personally, I'm sad that they may never work together again as I love them and the one show I was at, Lisa didn't make it for. Damn!
Damien is a first class ass, you dolt. Check the previous years vids and you will see. And you think the others' comments are ridiculous? Hah. You are the ridiculous one.
David Rogers David you are quite laughable. Your intent is so unclear. Why the hell are you roaming around anything that has to do with him if he, in your opinion, is such a first class ass?? I am truly failing to see any content or point in your comment whatsoever. And now I'm wondering why I'm even wasting time by responding. I must assume its to get a rise. Did it work? Nope! But it gave me a giggle. Thanks Davey
Ciona Rouse I'm quite jelly! I can only imagine how great it must have been! I got to see Lisa and all of Damiens band during her US tour 5 or so years ago. She was fantastic and to her surprise I gave her a gigantic hug haha. Cheers,
That smile she gives at the end after being asked about Damien is heartbreaking. God, why do I feel like I'm the one she's saying she'll never give the time of day to again?
Lisa is the most talented musician as well as the most beautiful woman in the world! Nick Drake, John Denver, and Lisa Hannigan will live in my heart for the remainder of my days!
Well you need to only look at the stuff that Damien writes to get an idea of what it would be like to be with him in a relationship. Let's hope one day thing settle down and they can collaborate again.
Damien treated her so badly towards the end. I love them both. But I can understand why she might want to just keep him in her past. Do you want to work with your high school girlfriend/boyfriend that was a total douche to you at the end? That being said, I would LOVE to hear their voices together again. If Fleetwood Mac or the Eagles could do it.. So could Lisa and Damien!
It takes two to tango. Why do people always assume it was the guy who mistreated the girl. Sheez this lady in distress syndrome needs to stop already. Didn't they want equality in all fronts?
I think the reason people hope they reunite is because you sensed a genuine connection. And, most of us have someone in our lives where a similar connection and experience crosses our minds often. For why that person isn't in our lives' now may be due to a mistake -- but, the hope or idea, even if seemed far fetched, that they too think of you, is something that can't be excused -- even if time has passed.
Together playing music, they were perfect. Seriously, as his new album is coming out on Nov 3rd and as more people are googling his name and getting this video coming up, I just want to say that they were incredible!
maybe i'm the only one who think that lisa sounds better solo than with damien. her own songs has different charm with damien's, and she beams more when she sings her own songs (in my opinion). but they're both great.
Gotye & Damien Rice mentioned in the same video is nice. Of course they’re on different ends of a spectrum in terms of the beautiful Lisa. Still just great considering they are two of my favorite artists.
It's just that they made each other better. So extreme, a rarity. Alone they are not as perfect as they are together. Although, I saw Damien live in Belgium 2 years ago and I was blown away. And about Lisa: it's personal but I loved her more next to him. It was like they melted int one voice. By far the best there was on the planet in this genre.
The sad part is nether of them will ever be as good solo as they were together. But there's a cardinal rule, NEVER SLEEP WITH SOMEONE IN YOUR BAND! IT WILL NEVER END UP GOOD! They should have never been in a relationship together and maybe we would all still be hearing there beautiful counterparts together. :( Sad it will never happen again. I saw them once live in 2003 and I was completely moved and blown away.
LiveMusicVids Vids The new record Damien Rice made is phenomenal. He didn't need Lisa in it at all (except as his topic), I think it was perfect actually.
***** well i just saw him last night in person and i can say his new material is amazing live. However the old material is lacking without Lisa. Volcano loses all of it's power without the duality of them singing.
+LiveMusicVids Vids I Remember (Live) for BBC Four Sessions has to be one of the greatest single live performance by a band ever for a single song ever. I'm not saying it's the best but it's up there. There is just so much raw emotion and energy coming through and Damien goes insane on his guitar. He will never be able to recapture that which is sad. I mean he does a good version of it live now and if you've never seen the other version you'd be blown away but there is that gaping hole.
It's strange, I don't really know what happened between them to make them break up exactly, but from how it sounds from the internet it's kinda tragic. Not so much for her, I mean she got hurt but now is doing her own thing and going places, but I feel like it might be the opposite for Damian. She wasn't the reason he was good or famous maybe, but they worked really well together, and I may be out of the loop but it seems like he's done next to nothing since she left. I feel kinda sad, cause it seems like he might be lost without her? I dunno tho I might be talking out my ass, but either way for 2 musicians I really respect and admire it's sad to see it not work out for both of them. even tho I'm sure they're both fine about it by now.
Who's this Damien guy ppl keep talking about? lol In all seriousness though, I discovered Lisa way before Damien... and I like her music a lot more too.
Haha, me too. i felt instantly for Lisa and then I kept reading stuff about some Damien and was like "cool, if she's in it, I'll check it out!". I love Damien's music, but I love Lisa's better!
it's not all about him anymore. if she wasn't good, she would be forgotten. if her music was crap, nobody would listen to it. she learned very much from him but her talent is something that has nothing to do with him. and she makes different music. she's not the female copy of him. she's pretty great on her own and i'm sure she worked hard to get what she has now.
Since Damien has promised a new "album" will be out Autumn 2014 and time has passed since this interciew, plus I believe it was rumored last year that Vyvienne went to LA to record a track on Damiens upcoming record, it would be nice to think that Lisa would make a guest appearance. It would be great to see them together do something upbeat for once.. I would love to see his old band do one track together just as a nod to the past and a statement that everyone is in a good space now.... doing their own things.
I'm finding I'm looking up Lisa Hannigan a bit too often. Hope I'm not turning into a stalker. At least if I am, it's with an aw-type smile and a melted heart.
The magic behind the gotye song is the tone and frequencies that resonate with us as humans... certain hz that are used make us feel certain ways...its why chanting etc is so big in cultures... artists focus on melodies and lyrics but that isn't where the magic lies
If they aren't together there's a reason. If they are meant to be, who knows, maybe it will work out. But please stop with all the "HE NEEDS YOU! GET BACK TOGETHER! THE WORLD IS OVER WITHOUT THEM TOGETHER!" They have personal lives and we have to respect their reasons.
Alright, now I've had enough likes on my comment and this warrants a debate! Haha, I don't know about you, but I find Damien uninspired. His music is almost always risk-free and unchallenging. He keeps dishing the same old sound he started with and hasn't been particularly prolific to say the least. Whereas Lisa has evolved and she keeps building up and fusing more and more styles and genres from one album to the next. Her most recent album is an incredible testament to all this. She finds the right people to collaborate with and her lyrics and singing are just through the roof. Mesmerizing to witness. Same with the two albums before. I genuinely don't think Damien has had much to say on his most recent album (2014). He just skirted around familiar territories with the same old sound, same old indie-ish kind of style and not much musical innovation. In fact, I think Lisa was responsible for a big portion of his appeal in his heyday . There. I said it!
I'm in complete agreement with razzberry's comment abt looking at this from a grown perspective ~ & respecting their decisions. In the heat of the moment, we sometimes say things, hurtful things we don't necessarily mean but can never take back... Perhaps in acknowledging that what they had was good, and enjoying the beauty of the music they made together -as well as apart-, we can better appreciate how far they've come since then :)
They did have a very public meltdown afore a show several years back, and at the time Rice couldn't deal with it according to his interview with HOT PRESS. I know for myself it is hard to work with your mate as well as being their lover. A hard thing to find a balance you can live with when you go down that path. Godspeed to them both!
She really has good taste... David Byrne, uncoordinated dancing... Gotye... She's playing in the OLT on 25 of august! Your letter sent me to their website... I ordered tickets for us ;-). Lus!
:-) There seems to be an undertone of sadness there for her, and an all too public heartbreak for D. If one could write a chapter for closure, I would love to see D joining her tour as a backup vocalist/musician but just out of the spotlight for a couple gigs so no one knew he was there, just something familiar in the performance. He experiences how it was for her. Then they each find the closure each has needed before they move apart. Breaks my heart how things seemingly have gone.
Since this interview, they have recorded a songified version of the classic Kahlil Gibran poem, “On Love”, for the movie “The Prophet” (on Netflix, HIGHLY recommend). I never followed them before I heard their track on that movie, but boy will I now.
@@monkeyman1327 In fact it is. There's the song that Glen Hansard made with Lisa and there is another song that Damien Rice sings: On Children. The backing vocals are Lisa's. I doubt they met to record, but it's them.
supposedly he kicked her off stage one night and that was it. Why would she work with him again? Damien learned a hard lesson. Once a woman is done, they are done. She seems like one of those rare ones you keep for life.
I'm wondering how often someone asked her about Damien ? It's not very "polite", will she be eternally "the girl who was on Damien records" ? And as far as I know the story, he decided to leave her, so maybe it's not easy for her to talk about that... I really love the song they play together but I also think that she has reached a "new step" without him and that what is really important now. She's such a wonderful singer and songwriter :)
I'd love to see her work with David Byrne. Lovely multi faceted artists the both of them. They are both kinda hometown artists to me in a few ways so I'm biased.
Lisa way better with her own stuff than she was with damien. Her albums full of different atmospheric songs. Damian hadnt change. album by album the same monotonus dearly shit. Song by song. all the same. Yes they were good together. But that days gone. and im happy about it. cause now Lisa makes something realy great.
@@ianradcliffe2319 That didn’t age well Damien Rice is on a whole different level he is an infinity more creative artist and powerhouse. His mistake was making her into some kind of muse.
Look. The often missed truth is that they are actually 2nd. cousins. I see them around from time to time, and their relationship is a healthy and respectful one. I've heard on the grapevine they will be recording together next year. Yay!
After the question while she answers, she thinks for a sec and starts stuttering , and she rubs her arm ( touch to the skin ) after that she starts avoiding her eyes , looking the floor thoughtfully , and then she finds an excuse for herself with sayin " im pretty busy " and at the and her voice goes down with a broken smile she gives !! man i did NLP many times, but this one is really easy to see .. she still has feelings for him :)) but anyway not for me , so not my business ;))
She certainly doesn't need him, Their music was awesome, but Damien's music will never ever be close to Lisa's. Compare styles. For me Lisa's music is way more... 'alive' and related to her roots. So beautiful!
She's way better than him. He has been milking ancient songs for eternity, not going anywhere. He is stale, not progressing in style, and far from being a prolific writer. They were magical together and when he fired her his music lost its soul. Lisa has a lot to offer and I am sure she was actually the key to their success.
I get her not working with him again, but what I honestly want to know is: did she ever forgave him? Or at least ever spoke to him again since they parted ways?
He seems to have changed a lot, but they split on horrible terms and he used to be a jerk. lol Just google that interview he did for his most recent album where he mentions Lisa and that stuff should come up. Anyway, he does seem to have changed a lot to me. He's certainly matured and been through some important experiences.
She's busy BECAUSE she's working with Byrne and doing her own stuff, you idiot. And if you don't know her then fucking google her Mr. wiseguy. The fact that you don't know her says something about YOU in first place...
i'm in the same situation, your voices together are unobtainable on any other level, but then things get weird and it's always the strong female who end up leaving to do better things, based upon the shitty treatment she had to endure
Gotta admit, her collaboration with Damien was a stepping stone after all.. if I get to meet Damien in person, I'm gonna tell him that he's such an idiot for letting her go! Miss them together.....
He's an amazing artist and doesn't NEED her. However, she's also a great artist and considering their relationship it would be nice to have them back together. At this point with Lisa having a great solo career there's no reason for a reunion. In the future, who knows though.
It should've been Damien Rice & Lisa Hannigan billing in the first place. They're a great team together. I like them both separately but they're not the bomb like they were together. But Damien probably screwed it up and now she don't want anything to do with him lol.
Follow up: Now that I have asked you for the 4 billionth time whether or not you would be working with Damien again, do you think I could count on doing another interview with you again sometime? Answer: I don't think so.
Have you heard any of his unreleased covers without her? I wouldn't call it fucked up. They were 4 artists together - they're 1,5 artist seperately. Still better than the average. ;)
