John Carney is the founding Frames bassist, touring and recording with the band from 1990 – 1993. He left the band to pursue a career in directing film and television, helming various successful projects over the years. In 2001, he co-wrote and co-directed (with his brother Kieran Carney and Tom Hall) the hugely successful RTÉ TV series Bachelors Walk. The independently-produced TV series proved the most successful in Irish television history.

In 2006 he wrote and directed the movie Once, which starred Glen and Czech singer Markéta Irglová, and won the Sundance Audience Award in 2007. In 2012, Once was turned into a successful Broadway musical, winning 8 Tony Awards. In subsequent years, John has directed more films and television projects. Most recently, the film Sing Street – which he wrote, directed, and composed most of the music for – was adapted to a stage musical that will open on Broadway in March 2020.