Eric Hutchinson is a 32-year-old singer-songwriter originally from Washington, D.C. Known for his upbeat, feel-good music, Hutchinson’s work has been featured in movies like “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” and he’s opened for artists like Kelly Clarkson and OneRepublic. To promote the release of his newest record, Moving Up Living Down, Eric is currently performing acoustic versions of his songs on the aptly named, Almost Solo tour. To find out more about Eric, his inspiration for the album and tour dates near you, check out the interview below.
What is your dream tour lineup?“Me, Paul McCartney, Prince and Stevie Wonder. I would open up, and then I could watch all their sets from backstage.”
Who influences you musically and what artists inspired you to get into the music industry? “I’ve loved music my whole life. It was very important in my house growing up. My Grandma was a classical violin player and would take me to her concerts. My parents loved The Beatles and were always playing their records in the house.”
Your song “Rock and Roll” was featured in the movie “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.” What was your reaction when you found out that the song would be in the movie? “I was really excited! It was a great way to get my song to a bunch of new listeners. I still get fans at my shows who say that movie was how they first heard me.”
What is your favorite memory from your time at Emerson College? “I co-founded a comedy troupe when I was there. Writing the skits and performing them helped get me comfortable being on stage. “
What do you consider to be the most difficult part of the songwriting process? “I love writing songs. There’s a lot of glory in it for me, starting with a blank page and then being able to leave the room a few hours later with a song that didn’t exist before. The hardest part of songwriting is sticking with it, when I’m not in the mood that day. I try to write something every day and some days it’s just not clicking. I try not to force it then. I’ll go for a walk, see a movie, look at some art. Something to inspire me.”
You’ve toured with artists like OneRepublic and Jason Mraz. What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned on the road? “I’ve learned from every artist I’ve ever been on tour with. It’s great to see how people run their shows. But I learn the most when I go to a concert as an audience member. I never want to forget what it feels like to be part of the crowd, watching the show. My shows are a partnership with the audience. We split the show 50/50. “
On the Almost Solo tour you’re performing stripped down, acoustic songs. Why did you decide to go that route? “I wanted to get back to my roots, when I used to tour the country, driving myself around in my Honda Civic. This was a way to reconnect with the audience in an intimate setting. I tell stories and joke around with the crowd. It’s been really fun and gotten me to reconsider my music in a fresh way.”
What was the inspiration or meaning behind the title of your latest release Moving Up Living Down? “This album is all about New York City. I moved there right before I wrote the songs and the city really inspired me. Moving Up Living Down is about trying to grow up and be successful, while still staying true to yourself.”
In what ways did you want Moving Up Living Down to be different from your previous albums? “I’m always changing and so are my songs. Even if I wanted to make the exact same album twice, I don’t think I could. I’m working on my third album now which will be out in 2013. I’m really excited to have people hear the songs!”
What advice do you have for aspiring singers? “Learn an instrument. Start writing songs. Perform whenever you can. Don’t give up.”
For updates on Eric like him on Facebook and check out his website to find out about tour dates near you!