GRAMMYs On The Road At Austin City Limits With Marketa Irglova And Elizaveta

The Recording Academy Texas Chapter played host for GRAMMYs On The Road At Austin City Limits Music Festival during the festival's 10th anniversary from Sept. 16–18 at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas. The Chapter conducted exclusive backstage interviews with artists including GRAMMY-nominated vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Marketa Irglova and composer Elizaveta.

Irglova discussed recording her debut solo album, Anar, advice for aspiring artists, performing with Iron And Wine, and the impact on her career of the movie Once.

"This project is my vision," said Irglova regarding Anar. "It's songs that I've written. [The record is] very feminine. It definitely doesn't have Glen [Hansard's] masculine, powerful energy."

Born in the Czech Republic, Irglova began playing piano and guitar at a young age. After meeting Hansard of Irish rock band the Frames at 13, Irglova performed with the group and appeared on their 2002 live album Breadcrumb Trail. In 2006 Irglova and Hansard formed the Swell Season and released a self-titled album featuring the GRAMMY-nominated song "Falling Slowly," which later appeared on the soundtrack to the 2006 film Once, which cast Hansard and Irglova and was directed by former Frames bassist John Carney. In 2007 the Once soundtrack earned a GRAMMY nomination for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media, and was certified gold in 2008.

The Swell Season released Strict Joy in 2009, topping Billboard's Top Independent Albums chart and peaking at No. 15 on the Billboard 200. Irglova released Anar on Oct. 11 and she is currently on tour throughout the United States and Europe through the end of November.

Elizaveta discussed advice for aspiring artists, songwriting and musical influences and style.

"I consider myself an alchemist in general," said Elizaveta. "Because music at its best is alchemy."

According to her own cryptic bio on her website, Elizaveta was born in New York, raised in Russia and spent her teenage years in an Italian monastery. She migrated back to the United States where she studied opera, and the rest, according to her, is "history." A pianist, vocalist and songwriter, in September Elizaveta released a self-titled EP featuring the song "Dreamer." Elizaveta collaborated with producer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Greg Wells on her debut album, which is due Jan. 24, 2012. According to her website, Elizaveta seeks to "sing in a manner which would create within your chest a safe, magical, truthful place of power beyond the slow burn of stars."

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