The inspiration for the song came from Markéta contemplating women’s position in society throughout history, combining two timelines, and bridging the gap of about 500 years between the present 21st century and the past age of Renaissance. It uses the renowned Mona Lisa painting as a window through which to transport the listener into a Florentine society of the early 16th century. “A time when women were expected to find their life’s purpose in being their husbands’ wives and bearing them children their highest priority. Women were not considered to be equal to men, therefore they did not have the same rights. In fact they were considered their father’s and later their husband’s property and they had no real independence or freedom. The the free thinking, artistic women especially, must have dreamt of having a stronger voice in society, wishing to be seen and heard. I imagine they dreamt of a better future for their daughters and I believe they did fight for that dream when possible.” While some things have changed since the 16th century, others remain the same and in some parts of the world women’s position in society has worsened if anything. “This brings me much sadness as I consider all the women and girls around the world being harmed and exploited, their voices silenced and their rights taken away. I am one of the lucky ones, having enjoyed a life of freedom and independence, and the opportunity to build a career as well as a family on the foundation of love and equality. I wish every woman had the possibility, and I certainly believe every woman should have the right.” Markéta asked MALINDA to be the voice of Mona Lisa in this song, given her background in Musical Theatre and her experience in stepping into different characters. MALINDA played the role of GIRL in the Washington production of Once the Musical, and that is how the two became acquainted with one another. “MALINDA travelled to Iceland from New York and it was a joy to watch her work her magic. The strength in her expression matched by its tenderness were the perfect tools for delivering the message of this song. I am so grateful to Malinda for lending her powerful voice to this character and bringing it to life.” The music video was conceived and produced by Sigga Soffia, a dancer and choreographer, and Marino Thorlacius, photographer and videographer. “Their ability to connect to the very core of this song and create visuals that so perfectly match the emotion behind each line is awe inspiring, much like Sigga Soffia’s willingness to dance in freezing Icelandic waters while making it look not just easy but elegant and graceful too. Marino has a unique talent for capturing raw reality while making it feel like utter poetry. His cinematography finds pristine beauty in the most ordinary of moments.” The song was recorded and produced by a long time collaborator Sturla Mio Thorisson. “Mio helps me bring all of my songs into being, to mind and care for them until they are fully grown and ready to fly into the world. He also created the lyric video for all who enjoy being able to read the lyrics while listening. This song has been in the works for a few years now, and it is simply wonderful to release it now.” The cover is created by Amy Salomone, whom Markéta discovered on Instagram under forms_most_beautiful. She saw some of Amy’s mixed media collage pieces and asked her to create one for Mona Lisa.

No one really knows why Mona Lisa
Is smiling in her portrait by Leonardo.
Imagine all the hours Mona Lisa
Sat there observing Leonardo study her every feature. 
I wonder was she thinking, that her own husband Francesco
Never looked at her that way – why?
Picture a room bathed in daylight,
Suspended in stillness,
Only brushstrokes and birdsongs breaking the silence.
And then I see something ineffable in Leonardo’s face,
An impenetrable focus, unapologetic fervour in his gaze,
This place, reminding me of what I left behind
When I signed my name on that certificate,
With God as my witness, ‘till death do us part…
Don’t get me wrong, I have no regrets,
I would do it all again!
I just wish the world could know the sacrifice I make, 
Being a mother to my children,
A wife to my Francesco,
‘Till death do us part, 
Where do I start?
Florence is a place where people come
From all over of the world,
Artists kneel before her beauty and wait
To have their wings unfurled,
But the women of this city, if you’re lucky and you’re pretty
You might serve one as a muse, oh but if I could choose,
I too would fly!
I have danced with creation, giving my children life, 
They say a good wife is content with that being her legacy,
Oh the hypocrisy of such double standards for my kind! 
It takes a strong mind to remember your one true self
In a society that disregards your power and your strength, but
The world is very different today to a hundred years ago. 
You never know, maybe a hundred more before we’re free, 
My sisters, my daughters and me. 
Free to have voice, free to have a choice,
Free to make some noise!
Artist at heart, till death do us part,
Where do I start?
Leonardo, he may be free, but
Florence is wasted on me…

MUSIC CREDITS
Mona Lisa
Written by Markéta Irglová
String arrangement by Marja Gaynor
Produced by Sturla Mio Thorisson

Vocals, piano and sampled instruments by MARKÉTA IRGLOVÁ
Vocals and flute by MALINDA
Violin and viola by MARJA GAYNOR
Drums & percussion by MANUEL BARRETO
Acoustic and electric guitar by PETER MOC

Recorded, edited and mixed by Sturla Mio Thorisson at Masterkey Studios in Iceland
Mastered by Scott Hull at Masterdisk

Cover art by Amy Salomone
Graphic Design by Mio Thorisson

Released on Masterkey Sounds 2024
© 2024 Masterkey Sounds
? 2024 Marketa Irglova Music
Admin by Warner Chappell Publishing (ASCAP)

VIDEO CREDITS:
Direction MARINO THORLACIUS
Cinematography MARINO THORLACIUS
Choreography SIGGA SOFFIA
Editing SIGGA SOFFIA & MARINO THORLACIUS
Color Grade MARINO THORLACIUS
Graphics MIO THORISSON
Starring SIGGA SOFFIA, ÍSOLD & NÓI

I was looking for a male vocalist to sing the song with me, and was introduced to Marcell, by our mutual friend Jan P. Muchov. We organized a long distance recording collaboration between Iceland and Czech, and the result is something we are excited to be able to share at this point, ahead of the film’s premiere. I am both grateful and honored to have been given an opportunity to write music for a film, and delighted by the opportunity to collaborate with both Marcell and the David Lanka the director of the movie. David also made a video for our song, combining footage from the movie with footage of Marcell and me, shot in a studio in Prague during my summer visit to Czech.

Kam te? mám jít?
Chci jasno v tom mít,
Když všude jsem nevítaný.
Nikam nepat?ím,
A vždy se prozradím,
Sv?j osud dávno napsaný mám.
Ne, není to lehké,
Ne, není to lehké,
Ne, to mi v??!
I p?esto srdce ví,
Že jak ?eka doproudí
P?ímo do mo?e,
Tak on mi neodep?e
Svoji lásku a sv?j cit,
Šanci všechno napravit,
Jeho náru? m? chytí
Nad propastí.
Ne, není to lehké,
Ne, není to lehké,
Ne, to mi v??!
Bože, dej mi znamení,
Že jsem na správné cest?,
Dej mi varování!
Ne, není to lehké,
Ne, není to lehké,
Ne, to mi v??!

Lyrics by Markéta Irglová
Music by Markéta Irglová & Marcell

Produced by Sturla Mio Thorisson

Vocals by Markéta Irglová and Marcell
Piano and sampled instruments by Markéta Irglová
Drum & percussion programming by MIO

Recorded, edited and mixed by Sturla Mio Thorisson at Masterkey Studios in Iceland
Mastered by Scott Hull at Masterdisk

Lyrics by Markéta Irglová
Music by Markéta Irglová and Marcel Procházka (50/50)

Released on Masterkey Sounds 2024
© 2024 Masterkey Sounds
? 2024 Marketa Irglova Music
Admin by Warner Chappell Publishing (ASCAP)

MUSIC VIDEO

DIR. David La?ka
DOP. Václav Tlapák
ED. Lenka Gmitrová
MU. Jana Zimandlová
Filmed at Pokrok Studios
Trademark 2024 No Stress Production

It pains me to see the world in constant conflict with itself, and the pointless loss of lives and people’s suffering trouble me deeply. Writing songs whose objective is to uplift myself and others by offering hope in the place of despair gives me a sense of purpose these days.

This song is a collaboration with a Czech orchestra called Jiho?eská Filharmonie (The South Czech Philharmonic) based in ?eské Bud?jovice. It’s manager Otakar Svoboda and I have known each other since we crossed paths at the Sundance film festival in 2007 when Once came out. It has been a long time dream of mine to record and perform with an orchestra, and I am grateful to Otakar for helping me make it come true. 

Given the importance this particular Czech collaboration represents for me, I decided to present the song in my native tongue in addition to English. I translated the lyrics myself, trying to stay as true to the original meaning as possible. We decided to include an instrumental version in the release as well, so that those who wish to enjoy the sound of the philharmonic in all its beauty can do so. 

The song was arranged for the philharmonic by Karel Chudý and conducted by Alena Hron, first female chief conductor in Czech Republic. Coincidentally Alena and I are from the same town and graduated from the same high school, although this collaboration was the first time we had an opportunity to get acquainted.

The cover art is once again by my long time friend Nahid Hagigat out of her series titled Hand Painted Etchings from 1970’s Plates.

I am very proud of this song for peace and solidarity and it is a joy to finally release it into the world. 
– Markéta Irglová, May 2024

I command my spirit and my body,

I and I alone!

I release my spirit and my body 

To you and you alone!

Everybody’s lighting candles,

Giving signals in the streets,

Speaking up against the violence,

Praying only for peace.

There is something in the water,

Something in the air,

Something in the earth,

Sending shockwaves everywhere,

Something in the people,

Something in their eyes 

Then it’s open fire long before you realize,

Spirit, Spirit is here too!

Spirit, Spirit is here too!

There is no water in the well,

The bread is just a shell,

Just a shell!

There is no substance anywhere,

Nothing left to share,

Left to share.

Everybody’s lighting candles,

Giving signals in the streets,

Speaking up against the violence,

Praying only for peace.

There’s something in the water,

Something in the air,

Something in the earth,

Sending shockwaves everywhere,

Something in the people,

Something in their eyes 

Then it’s open fire long before you realize,

Spirit, Spirit is here too!

Spirit, Spirit is here too!

We need water,

We need shelter,

Clean air to breathe.

We need people

To come together,

History is on repeat!

We need so much more

Than food and amenities.

We need the wars to stop!

We need love and solidarity.

There is still hope for humanity.

There is still hope for humanity.

Markéta Irglová and Jiho?eská Filharmonie

Conducted by Alena Hron, Arranged by Karel Chudý

Written by Markéta Irglová

Produced by Sturla Mio Thorisson

Performed by Markéta Irglová and Jiho?eská Filharmonie

Conducted by Alena Hron, the chief-conductor of Jiho?eská Filharmonie

Arrangements and Musical Direction by Karel Chudý

Additional percussion by Manuel Barreto

Recorded by Roman Kamba at the Church of St. Anne in ?eské Bud?jovice 

and Sturla Mio Thorisson at Masterkey Studios in Iceland

Mixed by Sturla Mio Thorisson

Mastered by Scott Hull at Masterdisk

Cover art by Nahid Hagigat

Graphic Design by Mio Thorisson

Released on Masterkey Sounds 2024

1. Spirit Is Here Too

2. Je Tady Mezi Námi

3. Spirit Is Here Too (Instrumental)

Heartfelt thanks to Otakar Svoboda, Linda Neumanová, Karel Chudý, Alena Hron, Nahid Hagigat, Manuel Barreto, Jana Irglová, Marek Irgl, Maria Rawlins, Roman Kamba, Scott Hull, and Jiho?eská Filharmonie.

© 2024 Masterkey Sounds

? 2024 Marketa Irglova Music 

Admin by Warner Chappell Publishing (ASCAP)

High upon this hill,
Lives a king and daughter,
Can you hear their songs,
Echo across the water,
They sing of times long past,
When the world was quiet,
Simplicity and beauty,
Reigned over the realms,

There was time to savor,
There was time to spare,
There was understanding,
Among the people everywhere,

That God was our Creator,
But without Nature we’re no more,
Than seeds of promise and potential,
Floating rootless as before,
Through the vast and empty spaces,
Trapped in somewhere in between,
Conscious thought and dreaming,
Projecting and perceiving,
Reality’s a construct,
Agreed upon by all.
It’s time to reawaken and
Hear the Spirit call.

Deep inside this forest,
Lies a fairy kingdom,
Can you hear the bells,
Carried on the breeze,
They feel somewhat familiar,
Like memories from childhood,
A faint and distant calling,
Your senses are enthralled.

Your heart is filled with longing,
Grace permeates the air,
Now the chiming starts subsiding,
Until it’s barely even there.

Where it’s gone you can not follow,
You are forced to look within,
There you find a crystal chamber,
Now the journey can begin.
There’s a pyramid in Egypt,
You have travelled there before,
See it now in your mind’s eye,
And walk toward the door.
Enter with your body,
Enter with your soul,
The world has been divided,
Through you it is made whole.

– ( Swahili )

Kwanza kalikuwa na sauti.
(First there was sound)
Kwanza kalikuwa na nafasi.
(First there was space)
Nafasi ikazaa hewa,
(Space gave birth to air)
Hewa ikaaza moto,
(Air gave birth to fire)
Moto ilizaa maji,
(Fire gave birth to water)
Maji yakazaa dunia.
(Water gave birth to earth)

ABOUT

Quintessence, also called Aether is the fifth element. Some believe it to have been the sound and vibration released by God during the creation of the Universe when the words “Let there be Light” were spoken. It is further believed that the phrase “In the beginning was the Word” from the Gospel of John also refers to the creation of Quintessence as the primary element. Aether (or space) created Air, followed by Fire, Water, and Earth. In this sense, Quintessence can be considered our Source and our way home to the Circle of Spirit. It permeates and animates all of Creation, like an invisible thread through which all of Life is connected.

CREDITS

Music and Lyrics by Markéta Irglová

Produced by Sturla Mio Thorisson
Arrangements by Markéta Irglová

Performed by:
Emiliana Torrini on lead vocals
Aukai (Markus Sieber) on ronroco
Markéta Irglová on vocals, piano, bodhrán
Una Sveinbjarnardóttir on violin
Helga Þóra Björgvinsdóttir on violin
Þórunn Ósk Marinósdóttir on viola
Sigurður Bjarki Gunnarsson on cello
Stefán Jón Bernharðsson on french horn
Asbjørn Ibsen Bruun on french horn
Frank Hammarin on french horn
Nimrod Ron on tuba
Einar Scheving on percussion

All I could have, would have,
should have told you,
All I never even thought to ask you,
Plays on my mind like a broken record,
And I can not bring myself to speak.
All that there was left for you to teach me,
All you tried to make me understand,
Isn’t lost on me now that you have left me,
Proving nothing ever goes as planned.

Since you’ve been gone I’ve been frozen,
Unable to feel,
Your leaving stripped the world of meaning,
Tell me how do I go on,
When I see nothing but fog now,
All around me pillars of smoke rise,
Where our dreams burned to the ground,
There is no light to be found.
I’m swimming in a deep lake of memories,
I walk when I can’t sleep,
And all I do is think about you,
And wish that you were still here.

Tell me it’s all been a terrible dream.
The kind where you want to,
But can not scream.
Tell me I’ll wake up and all will be as before,
I’ll be back in our hometown, and
You will walk through the door.
I never knew I had so much to lose,
Until I lost you…

And I wonder if you can forgive me,
For all the times I have done you wrong,
I’d give anything just to embrace you,
Among the living, where you belong.

Somebody tell me how to make peace,
With circumstance begotten of mistakes,
How to accept that there can be
no second chances,
When your soul escapes for grief
and your heart breaks.
Breaks into a thousand little pieces,
Shatters like a cup that used to keep,

All your memories, your dreams and
your desires, and
Now all you want to do is go to sleep, and
Sleep until the living nightmare is over,
Sleep until the pain of it is no more.
Until the thought of facing the world
doesn’t petrify you,
And you can pick yourself up off the floor.

Mother Mary, won’t you keep me steady,
For my mind is weary and heavy is my heart.
I’m still not sure if I can even do this,
Could you bring me right back to the start?
There is so much about the past
that I’d like to change,
To take all of the pieces apart, to re-arrange,
The complex puzzle that is life,
Ever-changing with each choice one makes.
I was young, I was foolish, I was restless,
I made many mistakes.

Azrael, take good care of my baby,
Raphael, help ease the pain,
Gabriel, will you give my message to him?
Chamuel, let us know peace.
Jophiel, please illuminate this dark
and lonely time,
Zadkiel, let compassion grace each step
of this steep and rocky climb,
Jeremiel, mercy of God, will you be his guide?
Help my brother journey over to the other side?

Out of my reach and into your arms,
Profoundly calm and peaceful a place.
Life on earth can be so hard,
They are better off there in some ways.
And though I grieve now, though I cry,
This is not our last goodbye,
We will meet again I am sure.
Another time, another life,
Brother, sister, mother, wife
For love does even death endure.

May the love between us
allow me to find you,
When we are reborn in another form.
I shall live the days,
I have left on this earth in honor of you.

May God bless and keep you.

ABOUT

Death is an inevitable part of life. We are born and we die and life is what happens in between. But knowing this to be the only certainty of our existence does not make the loss of a loved one any easier. The widely known and recognized stages of grieving are Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. I explore these stages here, though I think denial begins long before loss. We might know that none of us are here forever, but our way of being does not always reflect that. Perhaps that is the reason Regret is such a big part of the journey from Denial to Acceptance.
We need faith to overcome the challenges of such an arduous journey. And so, it is Faith that I invite you to explore with me.

CREDITS

Music and Lyrics by Markéta Irglová

Produced by Sturla Mio Thorisson
Arrangements by Markéta Irglová

Performed by:
Markéta Irglová, Siggi String Quartet
and Aida Shahghasemi

Piano, Organ, and Vocals by Markéta Irglová
With Una Sveinbjarnadóttir on violin,
Helga Þóra Björgvinsdóttir on violin,
Þórunn Ósk Marinósdóttir on viola,
Sigurður Bjarki Gunnarsson on cello, and
Aida Shahghasemi on Vocals.

Mother you brought me here, gave me a body,
What you have done for me could have
nobody else done for me.
For 9 months you carried me within your own body,
Counting the days till having somebody to reap,
All the warmth of your love.

When I arrived you put me in the centre,
Orbited me like the Moon bound to the Earth,
Self-appointed to serve.
You gave me a name you knew I could carry,
Watching me grow you hoped I would marry for love,
Have a daughter of my own someday.

Being born under a full moon gave me a blessing,
Of family and home, two pillars of your core beliefs,
They made me who I am.
The fruit of thy womb, the blood of thy blood,
Filled with your strength, made of your love,
I was born with wings so I could fly,

But I was your world, I was your everything,
I know it broke your heart to see my wings unfurl,
Knowing you could no longer protect me,
Had to learn to just trust me,
Waiting to hear from me, to know I was ok.

Mother, you made every sacrifice,
I am sorry to realise that no one was keeping score.
Mother, oh mother, I shall lay the world at your feet.

Mother I come from a long line of believers,
Keepers of knowledge, guardians and healers,
I know it’s not been easy to survive,
Facing whole centuries of abuse and oppression,
Being denied all unbridled expression,
You withdrew and went deep beneath the ground.

There you’ve resided, silenced, downtrodden,
In the million years past you’ve been nearly forgotten,
All the same, there are those
who remember your name.
In the deepest of depths, all the way in the centre,
You gave rise to a realm very few may enter,
I ask your permission to pass.

The world is in a state of perpetual chaos,
People divided by forces who play us against
Each other in defense of a lie,
That says greed isn’t greed, just basic survival, and
Nothing is gained by quoting the Bible,
To most, the truth remains obscured.

I have come to collect you, and
Bring you back up with me,
I have felt you calling me every time
I closed my eyes, and
Wondered what future awaits us,
You whispered that you would rise,
To the Master of the World’s surprise,
He, who thought you buried alive.

Mother, oh mother,
We need you now more than ever before.

– Maa Durga ( Sanskrit )Ayi Sumanah-Sumanah-Sumanah
Sumanah-Sumanohara-Kaanti-Yute
Shrita-Rajanii Rajanii-Rajanii
Rajanii-Rajanii Kara-Vaktra-Vrte

– Hymn to Isis ( Egyptian )
Dwa Nthrw Nebet, Dwa Nthrw Nebet
Ta Nets Henut Wa´t, Ta Nets Henut Wa´t
Senj N Ist, Bagh N S Djet F
Senj N Ist, Henut Ament

– Hymn to IxChel ( Mayan )
SHUO NANAJHENA JHE
PASHUO NANAJHENA JHO
SHUO NANAJHENA JHE
PASHUO NANAJHENA JHO
HUMKETHOKOJI MAIO
HUMKETHOKOJI JHEINU
HUMKETHOKOJI MAIO
HUMKETHOKOJI JHEINU

– Hymn to Anahita ( Persian )
Ey Anahita,
Baa-Shad Ke tu az bung e
Neeaa-yesh
Be Faryad e ma Rasee.
Ba Zaban e Kherad, Ba Andishe,
Goftar va Kherdar e Neek.
Baa-Shad ke hame-ye
Don-ya Ra az Cheshm e
Maa-dar. Be bee nad.

– Hymn to Yemaya ( Yoruba )
Yemaya Assesu,
Assessu Yemaya,
Yemaya Olodo,
Olodo Yemaya,
Kai Kai Kai Yemaya Olodo
Kai Kai Kai Assesu Olodo

CREDITS

Music and Lyrics by Markéta Irglová

Produced by Sturla Mio Thorisson
String Arrangements by Marja Gaynor
and Patrick Dexter

Performed by:
Markéta Irglová on piano and vocals
Charley Webb on guitar
Hattie Webb on harp
Charley and Hattie Webb, The Webb Sisters, on vocals
Marja Gaynor on violin and viola
Patrick Dexter on cello
Manuel Barreto on drums and percussion
Sturla Mio Thorisson on sound design

“Quintessence” 

Markéta Irglová, featuring Emiliana Torrini and Aukai 

“Mother” 

Markéta Irglová and The Webb Sisters 

featuring Marja Gaynor, Patrick Dexter, Manuel Barreto and Mio 

“Among The Living” 

Markéta Irglová, featuring Siggi String Quartet and Aida Shahghasemi 

“Magdalena” 

Markéta Irglová, featuring Schola Cantorum and Peter Moc 

– All songs written by Markéta Irglová 

Recorded, mixed and produced by 

Sturla Mio Thorisson 

at Masterkey Studios, Iceland in 2020/2021 

Mastered by Scott Hull 

Vinyl Cut by Garrett Robinson 

at Masterdisk, Peeskill, NY in 2023 

Additional Recordings on “Mother” by: 

Darren Heelis in England 

John Fitzgerald and Patrick Dexter in Ireland 

Manuel Barreto in Spain 

Cover art by Nahid Hagigat 

Graphic design by Sturla Mio Thorisson 

Photography by Ma?gorzata Ma?ecka 

Mother logo by Mary Reynolds 

Quintessence logo by Markéta Irglová 

Magdalena logo by Julia Davila-Lampe 

Released on Masterkey Sounds 2024 

Marketa Irglova Music 
Admin by Warner Chappell Publishing (ASCAP)
all rights reserved 


THANK YOU

Sturla Mio Thorisson, Emiliana Torrini, Charley Webb, Hattie Webb, Aida Shahghasemi, Marja Gaynor, Markus Sieber, Tina Dico, Helgi Hrafn Jónsson, Páll Sólmundur Eydal, Karl Friðrik Hjaltason, Karl Petersson, Mary Reynolds, Zohreh Shayesteh, Nersi Nasseri, Yannier Oviedo, Berglind Jóhannesdóttir, Sion Fullana, Anton Kawasaki, Lena Bushart, Peter Moc, Manu Barreto, Patrick Dexter, Siggi String Quartet, Nahid Hagigat, Malgorzata Malecka, Julia Dávila-Lampe, Hörður Áskelsson, Schola Cantorum, Howard Greynolds, Tarina Aumiller, Marek Irgl, Jana Irglová, Zuzana Irglová, Vilborg Árný Valgarðsdóttir, Thórir Albert Kristinsson, Siobhán McDonald, Maria Rawlins, John Rawlins, Mother Mary, God and the Archangels, our guides and guardian angels, our dear children Karítas, Árveig Mía, Eyvindur, Fróði.

COVER ART by Nahid Hagigat

Graphic design by Sturla Mio Thorisson

Photography by Malgorzata Malecka

Mother logo by Mary Reynolds

Quintessence logo by Markéta Irglová

Magdalena logo by Julia Davila-Lampe

My happy place, is a state of mind brought on by a combination of things coming together and creating a feeling of well being, serenity and joy in a given moment in time.
Since I was a little girl, Christmas has represented a time of magic for me. The anticipation, the preparations, the air of something other than usual, otherwise intangible all around. During Christmas, there is more emphasis on family and togetherness, playing, singing, eating good food and enjoying the moment. We experience a lightness of heart and peace of mind, we feel more charitable and generous of spirit.
Throughout history, Christmas was a time when people got to experience a respite from war, from crime and poverty through charity. Christmas was holy and any disruption of peace was condemned as unlawful. The music that came from these times communicated that peace and that joy.
I wished to write a song that had this kind of festive but utterly peaceful atmosphere. One that immediately brought the listener to a place of feeling at home and at ease with themselves as well as the world. A song that reminded us what Christmas is all about.
Growing up, I loved the nativity story above all others. The magical night in Betlehem when Jesus was born, the messenger Archangel Gabriel appearing to Mary, the three kings who followed a star in the night sky, all of it. Even though it may seem as a fairytale to many of us in our day and age, to me it remains real. As real as can be.
May we not forget the true reason we celebrate Christmas in some fever dream of consumerism, but honor our traditions and our history, so that we may know and remember who we are.
I hope this song strikes a chord with you and inspires you to create a stress free, joy filled holidays for you and your family. To say prayers and light candles, to give thanks and be merry.
I leave you with the words of Thorin Oakenshield to Bilbo in The Hobbit:

“If more people valued their home above gold, the world would be a far better place indeed.”

Merry Christmas everyone.

Music and Lyrics by Markéta Irglová

Performed by
MARKÉTA IRGLOVÁ: Lead vocal, Piano, Cymbalom, Percussion, Organ

STRINGS:
Una Sveinbjarnardóttir – violin
Ása Guðjónsdóttir Skelton – violin 
Þórunn Ósk Marinósdóttir – viola
Sigurgeir Agnarsson – cello

CHOIR:
Sara Gríms, soprano
Ásta Marý Stefánsdóttir, soprano
Ella Camille Budzinski, alto
Svanfríður Hlín Gunnarsdóttir, alto
Páll Sólmundur H. Eydal, tenor
Karl Friðrik Hjaltason, tenor
Gísli Gamm, bass
Ragnar Pétur Jóhannsson, bass

© 2023 Masterkey Sounds
? 2023 Marketa Irglova Music
Admin by Warner Chappell Publishing (ASCAP)

all rights reserved

Glen was getting married, and that was big. It was significant and it felt joyous. And so it made its way into the song, probably also largely due to the fact that the chorus chants of YES kept reminding me of a person saying “yes” during a marriage proposal, or while standing at the altar. I imagined being able to take the energy and enthusiasm of the easiest yes any of us have ever given and bringing it into other, less important yeses of our lives. For anything worth doing is worth doing fully, and no yes should ever be said with half a heart.

When I was half way through writing this song, I sent it to Glen in hopes of having him finish it with me, but he was busy mixing his upcoming record and the song finished itself before he could chime in with ideas. It felt as if it had long waited to be written, and it grew impatient on its last stretch. It simply knew what it wanted to be. Positive, celebratory, joyous and yes, nostalgic. For there is, after all, a lot to reflect upon and be nostalgic about.

When Glen agreed to come to Iceland and record this and one other song with me, I was beyond excited. Both about recording with Glen and doing so in our own studio. It is my favorite and preferred place to work, and it meant we could keep things cozy and comfortable, which in turn absolutely benefited our creative process, yielding way more material than we originally set out to write and record. Not to mention the time it gave Glen and me to catch up and our families to become as close as they did in this relatively short time.

Mio assumed his well “broken in” position of producer and studio engineer, and Glen and I agreed to keep things simple and invite local musicians to join us in the session, with the exception of Marja Gaynor and Bertrand Galen who recorded string parts remotely in Ireland with Cormac O’Connor. Our lovely neighbors and dear friends Tina Dico and Helgi Hrafn Jónsson joined us on vocals, and Þorvaldur Þór Þorvaldsson and Guðmundur Óskar Guðmundsson on drums and bass. I later asked my dear friend Peter Moc, a fellow Czech based in Ireland to record some electric guitar parts on a couple of other songs, ones you have yet to look forward to hearing.

It made sense somehow, for this song to be the first single for us to release. We wanted to open with this kind of positivity and celebration, inviting others to join in our joy. The cover of the single was taken by David Cleary, who also captured all stills photography in Once, and documented our recording process in Iceland.
I had a vision for the cover involving a Claddagh ring, traditionally used as a wedding band in Ireland, and David was just the man to execute this vision. I liked the idea of it resting on blades of grass and wild flowers, as if it had been lost or still waiting to be found. The two hands holding a crowned heart is one of the most beautiful symbols I know. Originally the heart stands for love, the crown for fidelity and hands for friendship, but to me it symbolizes that love is the highest authority there is, and to serve and safe-guard it, the highest honor.

Glen and I have been friends for a long time, and our friendship is a manifestation of deep love. The kind that does not die and nor does it end, it simply is and always shall be. As I grow older. I cherish having people in my life who I’ve known for a long time. It means that certain things need not be explained. There is a quiet understanding. We were both there when it happened and there is a comfort in that. We know it wasn’t all roses and glory, but we have a lot to be proud of and an even more to be grateful for.
The little set of live shows we did together in March of 2022 blew my mind. It was our first series of shows in more than a decade. On the opening night, when I walked on stage and saw, heard and felt the audience, eager and excited to have us back, a part of me couldn’t believe they were still there, after all this time. It certainly offered many moments of deep appreciation for the loyalty and generosity of such a loving audience. Becoming still and looking around, we received all the confirmation one could ever need, of it all having been absolutely worth it. Not that I ever doubted that for a second.

Thank you for listening, I hope you enjoy.
Markéta

You don’t need to tell me the whole story,
I was there when it happened.
It wasn’t all roses and glory,
But we have a lot to be proud of, and
I don’t need to tell you,
That I really missed you,
When you went and moved on without me.

´Cause I loved you more than I could ever say,
And the songs were not enough to make them go away,
The feelings that
made me regret,
Being who I was and not who I could be,
When you found me,
And you saw me,
You saw a spark in me before anyone else did.

Was it all worth it?
Was it all worth it?
Look around you, it is more than a guess,
The answer is,
Yes, yes, yes, the answer is
Yes, yes, yes, the answer is
Yes.

Today is the day you get married,
I wasn’t sure it would happen,
You were always everybody’s,
While somebody’s one and only,
And I’m happy to see, that
That much has changed, and
You have finally gotten out of your way.

‘Cause I love you more than I could ever say,
And our friendship isn’t something that can go away,
And I promise you, that
I will never forget,
I am where I am today all thanks to you.
‘Cause you found me,
And you saw me,
You saw a spark in me before anyone else did.

Was it all worth it?
Was it all with it?
Look around you, it is more than a guess,
The answer is

Dream as if you’ll live forever, and
Live as if you’ll die today,
Don’t worry too much about it,
Don’t be afraid to just say,

Yes, Yes, Yes, the answer is
Yes, Yes, Yes, the answer is
Yes, Yes, Yes, the answer is
Yes, Yes, Yes, the answer is
Yes.

Written by Markéta Irglová

MARKÉTA IRGLOVÁ: Vocals and piano
GLEN HANSARD: Vocals and acoustic guitar
MARJA GAYNOR: Violin and viola
BERTRAND GALEN: Cello
ÞORVALDUR ÞÓR ÞORVALDSSON: Drums
GUÐMUNDUR ÓSKAR GUÐMUNDSSON: Bass
TINA DICO: Backing vocals
HELGI HRAFN JÓNSSON: Backing vocals

Produced by Sturla Mio Thorisson
Recorded & mixed by Sturla Mio Thorisson at Masterkey Studios, Iceland 2023
Strings recorded by Cormac O Connor at the Maple Rooms Cork
Mastering by Scott Hull at Masterdisk, Peekskill, New York 2023

String arrangement by Marja Gaynor
Cover photo by David Cleary

© 2023 Masterkey Sounds
? 2023 Marketa Irglova Music
Admin by Warner Chappell Publishing (ASCAP)