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Danny O’Donoghue is in good spirits as he catches up with Kyle Meredith, juggling tea, talk of Irish bars, and tales from the road. The Script frontman has spent much of 2024 playing to stadium-sized crowds while opening for Pink, squeezing in intimate guerrilla gigs at small pubs, and diving into urban exploration on days off. But there’s something undeniably reflective about O’Donoghue as he discusses Satellites, the band’s first record in five years and their first since the tragic loss of guitarist Mark Sheehan in 2022. “Even if it makes you angry, you’ve got to keep going,” he says, capturing the resolve that fuels the album’s hopeful spirit. Listen above or wherever you get your podcasts.
The album’s title track, “Satellites,” is a quintessential gut-punch of a song. Inspired by a moment of heartbreak when O’Donoghue realized the star he was wishing on was actually a satellite, the track exemplifies the band’s ability to pair devastating truths with sweeping melodies. “It’s the last song Mark heard and loved,” O’Donoghue reveals, and that emotional weight echoes throughout the record. Songs like “Home Is Where the Hurt Is” and “Both Ways” delve into loss and resilience with a stripped-down sincerity that feels like the band is peeling back its stadium-sized layers to show something more intimate.
Touring has provided both an escape and inspiration. While opening for Pink, The Script has been turning stadium nights into three-part marathons: the main gig, a follow-up show at a local bar, and sometimes even a radio set in between. On days off, O’Donoghue finds creative outlets in places like Detroit’s urban ruins or a science center’s planetarium, where they filmed a makeshift music video under simulated starlight. “You’ve got to keep busy, or the road will occupy you,” he explains. You can catch more of The Script on the road next year in the EU, UK, Australia, and beyond by getting tickets here.
As Satellites signals a new chapter, O’Donoghue acknowledges the weight of time. “Most of the bands we came up with aren’t around anymore,” he says. But rather than feeling like a survivor, he sees it as a testament to hard work. “Music can unlock the deepest of feelings,” O’Donoghue says. “It’s the best way I know to keep going.”
Listen to Danny O’Donoghue discuss Satellites and more above, or watch the interview below. Keep up on all the latest episodes by following Kyle Meredith With… on your favorite podcast platform; plus, check out all the series on the Consequence Podcast Network.
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