Billie Eilish, Finneas and their mother Maggie Baird have paid tribute to Glen Hansard following the Irish singer-songwriter’s death in a motorcycle accident aged 56. They said his music, particularly “Falling Slowly” and the film Once, had profoundly shaped their family and helped inspire Billie and Finneas to become musicians.

Finneas recalled performing “Falling Slowly” publicly at 11 and described Hansard as a formative songwriter and generous person when they met in Dublin in 2019. Baird said Billie and Finneas “would not be who they are” without his work, while Eilish said she was devastated; Hansard, who won the 2008 Oscar for “Falling Slowly”, is survived by his wife Maire Saaritsa and son Christy.