Glen Hansard recorded his new album in front of an audience, and that choice tells you everything about where he’s at right now. ‘Don’t Settle (Vol. 1, Transmissions East)’ is out now, a live record that strips away the studio and puts the songs exactly where Hansard believes they belong, in a room full of people who came to listen.
“The song lives before an audience,” Hansard says. “A song needs witnesses. It’s where I feel like I can really grab hold of it. And know it, the way that it’s meant to be known.”
The album delivers on that conviction. Recorded live, it captures the warmth, weight and immediacy that have made Hansard one of the most compelling performers working today. These are songs given room to breathe, to stretch, to mean something in the moment they’re played.
‘Don’t Settle (Vol. 2, Transmissions West)’ follows, with release date details coming soon. In the meantime, Vol. 1 is available now across all streaming and digital platforms, and on gorgeously packaged vinyl with a signed insert through the official Glen Hansard store.
Hansard describes himself as being “in the middle of a good life,” and his current momentum backs that up. “I’m at an age where I either take my foot off the gas or I put my foot on the gas,” he says. “I think I need to put my foot on the gas.”
The EU/UK tour kicks off in Paris on April 30th. Tickets are on sale now for all remaining dates.
EU/UK Tour Dates:
April 30 , Paris