Markéta Irglová

Markéta Irglová is a Czech-Icelandic multi-instrumentalist whose career is defined by a rare blend of commercial success and artistic restraint. Rising to global prominence via the 2007 film 'Once' and her collaboration with Glen Hansard in The Swell Season, she famously won an Academy Award for 'Falling Slowly'.

Her solo work, beginning with 'Anar' (2011), marked a departure from the indie-rock leanings of Hansard toward a refined chamber folk aesthetic. Her move to Reykjavík significantly influenced her later work, introducing elements of choral music and more expansive, nature-oriented themes. Critically, she is lauded for her technical proficiency on piano and her ability to maintain emotional intensity through minimalist arrangements. Her influence web connects the tradition of Eastern European classical piano with the modern singer-songwriter movement. She occupies a unique cultural space as a bridge between cinematic soundtrack work and deeply personal, independent folk music.