An interview with Hanson

I love live gigs. The experience that comes of sharing a space with twenty thousand people, all united in their passion for their chosen artist is a unique high. I have been fortunate enough on my travels to see some of the world’s greatest artists perform live, from Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson taking over Wembley, Faith No More rocking the stage in Moscow, attending a studio recording with Sonu Nigam, Radiohead in Manchester or a private set with Marc Almond.

I haven’t yet seen Hanson. But I have heard amazing things about their live gigs from friends who have. They're currently in London, kicking off the UK leg of their 'Shout it Out' world tour. 

Described as a rock/pop band, the trio from Tulsa, Oklahoma, comprising brothers Isaac (guitar, vocals), Taylor (keyboards, piano, vocals), and Zac (drums, vocals) Hanson have been performing together for twenty years. They are the youngest ever Grammy nominees and scored a number 1 in 25 countries when they were barely into their teens.  Their third album ‘Middle of Nowhere’ scored five hit records and sold 10 million copies worldwide, and they were belting out songs to packed audiences when most of their friends were still struggling with their school homework.  

Known for their upbeat pop tracks with a Southern rock edge and high concept ideas, Hanson were perceived as something of an antidote to the abrasive grunge sound that dominated the 90’s. David Browne of Entertainment Weekly described their music as “pure, exhilarating pop” and said of the trio "... lack of guile is Hanson's most endearing quality."

They were writing music and lyrics that were beyond their years and their achievements were widely met with high praise, with the likes of U2’s Bono describing them as “genius.” They also had their detractors, but there is a tendency for folk - usually those devoid of any discernible talent of their own - to deride young people who have extraordinary talent or achieve inordinate heights of success ahead of their time.

But that was a long time ago and the Hanson boys are all grown up now. They very clearly betray distinctly individualistic traits in their style and their demeanor, that separates them and contributes to making the band a whole. At 31- years-old, Isaac is the eldest of the siblings and at the off seems like the more sensible one, the voice of reason and rationale, at least when he’s not on the road and goofing about for the benefit of the band’s vast You Tube following. Taylor has the cool of River Phoenix about him, with the instant likeability of Michael J Fox, while Zac is all energy and effervescence. The most vocal of the three, it’s clear that age don’t mean a thing and he is not about to be reined in by anyone. Like he says “I’m the drummer. I’ll do whatever I want.”  Inordinately talented and vastly underestimated, they are blessed with good looks and great voices.  

While other bands have floundered, Hanson has been performing together for 20 years. Isaac explained how the brothers work together creatively.

“We have our good and our bad moments and when we creatively work it’s much like the way we interact. I mean, everybody has different styles. You try as much as possible to blend and I think over 20 years we’ve more or less figured it out. Everyone’s their own ways that they create music.”

“What we’re really saying,” says Taylor, “is that we’re all different and we draw on what each person has to contribute.”

Married with kids of their own, their personal evolution is reflected in their music and ‘Shout It Out’ is a departure from ‘The Walk,’ where they appeared to be drawing on their growing awareness of the world around them and the issues of the age that bore heavy on their minds. They have championed the fight against Aids in Africa and led ardent fans on fundraising walks, barefoot and in the rain. There’s meaning behind the words they write and real heart behind the causes they lend their voices to.

As Zac explains, every song tells a story. “If you look at Hanson song lyrics across the years, usually the songs have a moral to the story at some point. It gives you the adversary, the problem and by the end of the song there’s some sort of resolution and ‘this is what I’m gonna do about it.”

They are audacious and have the unstoppable spirit of people helplessly driven by their passion and they are refreshingly immune to current trends, choosing to set their own. 

While ‘The Walk’ appeared to encapsulate the broad range of musical influences they have been exposed to, ‘Shout it Out’ draws keenly on their early musical influences such as The Beatles and Motown.

“We’ve always been into the sixties soul, the classic Beatles and great song writers, so it probably sounds more true to the direction we have taken with this album as an overall record today,” explains Isaac.

Indeed, ‘Shout It Out’ is an out and out feel good album and a great way to start everyday, the title itself perhaps an homage to Elvis's celebratory song of the same name from the Frankie and Johnny album. ‘Waiting for This’ sets the tone. It’s a rousing track that demands that you sing along. ‘Thinkin’ Bout Somethin’ is the first release from the album. Its high energy and pure, unadulterated fun, the Motown influence evident in the lyrics. I defy you not to get up and dance the very first time that you hear it, as the music gets you in the guts, compelling you to move in time, just as the Motown sound would seep into your very soul. ‘Make it Out Alive’ has a Beatles-esque quality in the chorus and where there’s light, there’s shade in the album, with tracks like ‘Carry You There’, ‘Use Me Up’ and the plaintive ‘Me, Myself and I.’  While ‘And I Waited’ has an 80’s vibe  to it, it’s the infectious ‘Give A Little’ that has you smiling from ear to ear and which I have playing endlessly on repeat. Uplifting and energizing, ‘Shout it Out’ feels like sunshine in your soul. It’s sheer joy.

The album appears to reflect where the band is personally and professionally

“If you look at it that way, I think we’re in a pretty good place,” says Zac. “I think it’s a record that’s loud and proud and happy to be where it is. Our last album was called The Walk and I think that was indicative of the slow steady climb and I think this record is almost the opposite of that. It’s sort of reveling in the achievement of the time that has passed. The fact that this is our fifth album, it’s a landmark time for us. We’ve been doing this together for 20 years. It’s a big deal. There is a serious excitement in the feeling that is worth remembering and reveling in.”

But after twenty years of performing, touring, and writing and producing their own material, you can only wonder how the band feel about the current trend for overnight celebrity, as people are picked off the street and manufactured into overnight music stars. One of their songs happens to be featured on The X Factor and the guys are less than impressed.

Speaking on Gabby Logan’s Channel Five show Taylor says of Janet Devlin’s flawed rendition of ‘MMMbop’, “It’s a bit like someone turned the place into a karaoke bar. It wasn’t good.”

Zac tells me how he feels about the X Factor phenomenon.  “I don’t mean to be mean in saying this, but you’re not gonna really find the best artist like that. You can find talented people at some level, but that’s that – it’s TV. As long as you look at it from that perspective and just enjoy it. Don’t expect American Idol to crank out the superstar or somebody that gonna be the voice of a generation. The voice of the generation is not just the voice, even somebody like Elvis who never really wrote any songs, it was the heart of who he was and the connection of white black culture and growing up in the south and that part of why and he was a good looking guy and with a great voice.”   

There’s no doubt that these guys will be making music for years to come, but apparently, they won’t be encouraging their kids to follow in their footsteps.

“No. There won’t be a Hanson 2,” says Taylor.  

“I’d be amazed if none of our kids were musicians and I’m sure one or some  of them will choose that lifestyle even if its just a creative outlet that they become musicians or painters because there’s so much music and art around them,” says Zac. “Everything we do is about artistic expression and that’s basically our job and turning it into a creative outlet, helping other people to express their own feelings through their music and art. So if they weren’t I’d be surprised, but the thing we’ve all said about this job is we’d never let any of our kids do this job. They would do it on their own, in a way that you couldn’t stop it. It would never be like “you should be a drummer” because honestly, it’s just too hard. There are many amazing artists that noone ever hears or ever knows about. 99% of musicians qualify for government aid.”

“And then they’ll come to us for money,” says Taylor.   

For the moment, Hanson are relishing in the unique experience that making music affords them. 

“Thing is, when you write a song and the public responds to it, it’s a pretty amazing experience,” says Isaac, “and I think we feel lucky to be in that position, but there’s much more still to come.”

I don’t doubt it. And while everyone knows Hanson, we’re about to hear a whole lot more of them.

Don’t make the mistake of underestimating the boys from Tulsa. Hanson’s music will stand the test of time.

Hanson will be performing at London IndigO2 on November 29^th.

Check out the brilliant Blues Brothers inspired video for ‘Thinkin’ Bout Somethin’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmG0DqhfDbY&ob=av2e

and the infectious ‘Give a Little’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56VPiS8dPDE&feature=relmfu

NB: Saw Hanson play at the IndigO2 last night. Truly lived up to their reputation as live performers. Exhilarating!