The brilliant things
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Sunday Jul 19 2009
Singer Marie Junior grew up with The Corrs hanging around her house and borrowing clothes. Her dad, John Hughes, is their manager, and Marie was a teenager when they hit the big time. "They used to raid Mum's wardrobe because they didn't have any money," she recalls. "Now they have the nice stuff, we're always saying, 'Can we have some clothes?'"
Her dad initially tried to talk her out of pursuing music as a career. But by the time Marie was a teenager, it was too late. "Instead of reading us stories, Dad played guitar," she says of how she got hooked. "Me and my sister would do backing vocals. We were like the Waltons." Having accepted his daughter's determination to pursue a career in music, Hughes is now the manager of The Brilliant Things.
Marie's father suggested the collaboration with Greg French, who had worked with The Corrs and is now the other half of The Brilliant Things. Greg and Marie had known each other for years, but it was only when they started to play together that they became a couple too.
They almost missed their slot opening the Isle of Wight Festival when their tour bus broke down at Fishguard. After a mad dash to make it in time, the gig was a hit. Then, Greg had to head off, while Marie and her dad stayed on to party with Sharon Corr, who was also playing at the festival. "Me and my sister go off and get drunk and he just ignores us," Marie says of the festival experience with her dad.
Greg describes Marie as his muse. He grew up playing in bands, studied at the Conservatory of Music in Rathmines and he writes all the songs for The Brilliant Things. "If I give her a line and it doesn't sound good, it doesn't stay," he says. While Marie jokes; "I drive him mad and give him inspiration. That's my job. I do it every day. it's great.."
Working together all day, every day can be intense for the duo. Marie admits they do "kill each other. But a triumph shared is a triumph doubled, too."
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The new single 'Rise' is out now and the band are currently on tour nationwide. For more information, visit www.thebrilliantthings.com
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