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The Times-Delphic (TD): I hear you’ve got five shows in six days going on. Sounds like you’ve been pretty busy.
Eric Hutchinson (EH): Yeah, we stay pretty busy on the road. We’re on pace for over 200 shows this year.
TD: Geez, how do you stay energized?
EH: Really, I get the energy for the shows from the crowd. A good crowd makes the show so much better for themselves. Every show is fun for us on stage, but that extra energy the crowd brings to the show is always fun for me.
TD: How do you find the college audience differs from a broader audience with a lot more people?
EH: You know, I don’t really see a huge difference except maybe that I can joke around more with the college kids. And I got started out doing college shows, so, from the very beginning, I always played at colleges and stuff. I think that maybe college kids are more excited about new music.
TD: You’re touring with Kelly Clarkson now, correct?
EH: Yeah, we toured this summer with her and it just extended through the end of the year, so the concert at Drake is in the middle of that tour.
TD: What’s it like touring with artists who are established? What are you learning from them? What are you getting out of the experience?
EH: I’ve been lucky to tour with a lot of interesting people like Jason Mraz, O.A.R. and Kelly Clarkson. I try to learn something from each person. Hanging out with Kelly has been cool. She’s really down to earth, friendly. Every artist does their show a little differently so it’ll be interesting to see what works for them, and what part of that could apply to my show.
TD: You really hit the big time a couple years ago, right?
EH: Yeah, I’ve been doing it full time for about seven years, but the last two years seemed to really pick up momentum and have been going well.
TD: Have you noticed changes in yourself, in how you’re addressing your music or your shows? Are you the same person you were when you started out?
EH: I think I’ve gotten a lot better at what I do and hopefully every show I’m getting a little better still. I always keep learning. I’d like to think I’m the same person. I paid a lot of dues early on, even at this point it’s definitely a lot of work involved. I think that not skipping the steps along the way has given me a good base to be able to handle everything. At this point, really, I’ve come across every kind of show possible, from really great to really horrible. I think I’ve developed some really thick skin.
TD: A lot of artists haven’t gotten to where you are yet. What do you tell an artist who is working for that goal of being mainstream or getting into the national spotlight? What kind of advice would you give to them?
EH: Yeah, I’m always happy to help people out. I spent a lot of years opening for anyone I could. The acts that were friendly to me and supportive – I always remember that so I try to give that back. The thing I mainly tell people is, “The thicker your skin, the better.” It’s a constant reminder that there are a lot of people who don’t like your music, no matter how popular you are, many people who like to tell you they don’t like it. I think it’s thick skin combined with persistence and never saying “No,” and I think the other side is making sure you really love it. I tell people that, if they want money or fame or something, that stuff’s not going to get you through the hard times.
TD: Are there any staples to your show that you do every single time you give a performance, such as appearance or clothing that people would want to know about?
EH: I think that the main staple of the show is just that we’re trying to capture the energy and environment where people can come see the show and feel like it’s the highlight of their week. I’m all about trying to make it the celebration of music and trying to get people to clap and dance. I just want people leaving and feeling like they had a great time.
TD: Correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t you have the highest-charted album by an unsigned artist on the iTunes music store?
EH: Yeah, that happened a little while back when I made the album independently and then got picked up by Warner Brothers Records.
TD: What did you do when things started picking up? Was there a single moment or was there a steady buildup?
EH: There was a single moment that kind of got things started. Perez Hilton, a celebrity blogger, he liked the tracks when the album first came out and put them on the Web site. It put a spotlight on the album at a time when it was very much a
do-it-yourself kind of thing. It just got people excited about it. Then the attention kind of died off after a while. It’s been a slow, steady grind, it’s been really good and I’ve been really proud of where I’ve come so far.
TD: Do you think that being a musical artist in this day and age of technology has helped? Do you think it would have been a much different experience if you had put this out 20 or 30 years ago?
EH: Yeah, well I think people have a shorter attention span now. Bruce Springsteen or Billy Joel didn’t break through until their third or fourth album they put out, and you don’t get that kind of lease these days with a major label. If your first album doesn’t do well, you’re lucky if you get a second one. I think listeners are a lot more fickle than they used to be because there’s so much out there. I think my goal is to build a meaningful relationship with the fans and create a relationship that goes beyond when they’ve heard my song on the radio.
TD: You’ve played on a variety of other venues such as Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Kimmel Live – how do you keep your cool at such a big venue?
EH: Well, you have to treat it like any other show. The only difficult part is, with those shows, you get one song, and then it starts playing, and then it’s over. In a real show, like at Drake, we get going and the crowd has a chance to get into it and we get a rhythm together, so it’s a little easier to get a gauge. Playing TV shows, you’re playing for an audience you never actually see. It’s a little weird. I like playing all the TV shows, it’s always fun, just high energy, very exciting to be a part of. Letterman is the one we haven’t done yet, I’d like to do the Letterman show.
TD: Which one did you like the most?
EH: They’re all kind of cool, but “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno was the first one we did and, man, that was kind of special and fun. I’d grown up seeing Leno on “The Tonight Show.” That was definitely a cool moment, for sure.
TD: Have you ever been to Des Moines before this?
EH: Yeah, I’ve been to Des Moines many, many times. We were just there with Kelly Clarkson at the Iowa State Fair. When I was touring a lot, I would go to Ames, Iowa a lot. I’ve always had a good reaction with Iowa; I’m glad to be coming back.
TD: What’s the No. 1 thing you hope an audience member feels in response to your music?
EH: I think just having the person just feeling it was worth their time, that they enjoyed it, that it makes them feel better than they did when they came. I’ve been to a concert or two where the presenter inspires you – not only in your music, but the rest of the week feels a little better, you’re a little more interested in doing other things. Good music can make you excited to do lots of things that aren’t even
music-related. I’m just trying to spread goodwill and have people enjoy themselves.
TD: Is there anything you’d like to tell Drake fans specifically?
EH: Come out to the show, learn the songs ahead of time, get ready to come out and sing and dance and clap. I’m looking forward to the show. It should be fun.
