Eric Hutchinson
What’s that sound? Can you hear it? It sounds like soul, it sounds like rock ‘n’ roll, it sounds like Eric Hutchinson — whose latest album, Sounds Like This, is a collection of ten songs written throughout the last several years. “To me, the album is a collection of songs that I wrote while I was trying to understand the people and places in my life. Most of the songs are me trying to cheer myself up or tell myself things will turn out fine.”
The optimism that Eric incorporates for himself into his music definitely shines through the album as it exudes a relaxed but fast-paced musical documentation of his world. If you’re looking for a new favorite song, you’ll find ten of them right here. Give him a listen and I won’t need to give you anymore reasons as to why you need this entire album in your collection!
Lucky for you, Eric is in the middle of a worldwide tour – making stops in Australia with Jason Mraz this month and then making several stops in the United States and Canada through the end of June. He was kind enough to take a break and answer a few questions about life on the road and his latest record.
Hey Eric! You’ve been touring like crazy and it looks like you’ll be going non-stop until at least June, how has the road been treating you?
Eric: Yeah I’ve pretty much been on tour for the last year and a half and it’s been really exciting to see the crowds continue to grow. The response to my music has been unbelievable.
Have you been “road-testing” any new material lately? If yes, how’s the crowd reacting to it so far?
Eric: Yes, I’ve been writing a bunch of new songs and testing them out at some of the shows.
How do you prepare for a show? Do you have any particular way that you like to get in the groove of things?
Eric: I usually try to take the half hour before the show to collect myself. I’ll get dressed, do some vocal warm-ups, talk with my band a little. Just get myself in the zone before I go out on stage.
You’ve faced a lot of obstacles when it comes to getting your latest record released – you had a label, lost a label and now you have one again. Do you feel like your experience in the music industry so far has been more of a blessing or a challenge for you?
Eric: At the time, all the challenges seemed horrible and daunting, but as time has gone on, I’ve learned I was lucky to take this path. I learned a lot about myself and the kind of musician I wanted to be. I was also reminded why I got into this profession in the first place: because I love writing and singing songs.
One of the things I really dig about you is your dedication to keeping the music as organic as possible when you record in studio. Why is this so important to you?
Eric: I believe that people pick up on the details of music. The great albums of the 60′s and 70′s had human errors in the songs. Little note flubs or pitchy singing. These days, with computers you can remove every mistake, but I think you take a little bit of the human touch along with it.
What’s the writing process like for you? How do you put it all together?
Eric: The writing process can be difficult. I try to write everyday when I’m not touring. I’m a big believer that you have to go out and live some life before you can come home and hope to collect some thoughts to put into a song.
I love the video for “Rock & Roll,” it’s simple and fun – just like the song. Where did you shoot the video and what was the music video filming experience like for you?
Eric: We shot the video in Pasadena, CA on a day off from touring. I was a film major in college, so it was fun to re-connect with that world.
The video had lots of extras and props and costumes, so it was a lot of fun to shoot.
I love that you included Perez Hilton in the video, by the way, since a lot of people found out about your music through his site…How did that come about? Do you still keep in touch with Perez?
Eric: I’ve gotten to know Perez and he’s been really great and supportive of my music. He’s a huge music fan and his love of it all comes from a very real place, which is why I think when he recommends something he loves to his readers, they take the time to check it out.
What does Sounds Like This, in its entirety, represent to you?
Eric: To me, the album is a collection of songs that I wrote while I was trying to understand the people and places in my life. Most of the songs are me trying to cheer myself up or tell myself things will turn out fine.
How do you feel about having your music featured on TV shows and movies?
Eric: I think these days there is more music than ever and more avenues to discover music. I think a new artist like myself needs to take the chance and give listeners every opportunity to get exposure to my songs. I’ve been very lucky to get some great placements in TV and Movies that have really helped me make new fans.
What do you think you’d be doing right now if you weren’t making music for a living?
Eric: I think I’d like to get into sociology or something maybe? I think a lot of my songwriting is about trying to understand why people act a certain way, so I’d like to explore that stuff more.
Did you grow up in a musical home?
Eric: Yes, music was always important in my family.
So where do you go from here? You’ve got a very successful album, a record label and lots of exciting touring under your belt, what would you like to do next?
Eric: I have lots of things I would like to try, but for now I’m just continuing to tour and make new fans. When I feel like I’ve got the right songs for a new album, I’ll make it then.
Lastly, one of the things I like to do on the site is let others know what kinds of things you’re into – so what kinds of books, music and films do you like right now?
Eric: To get that answer, you’ll have to check my April Favorite Things on my website! 
Keep checking back for tour dates in your area and visit Eric Hutchinson’s Official Website for more information on Eric and his music. Also, don’t forget to add him as a friend on MySpaceand then become a fan on Facebook! Thanks for reading!
