Q & A with MAINstage performer Eric Hutchinson

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Editor’s Note: Student Life Editor Eric Dresden spoke with MAINstage headliner Eric Hutchinson this summer about his experience in Hollywood, future plans and what life as a performer has been like.

Eric Dresden: When you were first asked about coming to CMU, (since) it’s a more remote campus, what was your reaction?

Eric Hutchinson: I’m excited to come out. I do a lot of college shows and I find that some of the more remote places those can be the best shows.

ED: You have gotten a spike in attention. In 2008, VH1 named you as an “Artist You Should Know.” How are you dealing with the attention?

EH: It’s been good and kind of an even flow. It’s been one step at a time which has been good for me to get used to. I love being out on the road, I love playing shows, and I love connecting them. To me, I’m having a good time.

ED: Are there any specific shows that you look back and have some fond memories of, specifically college shows?

EH: Yeah, there’s been lots of good shows. There’s been lots of challenging shows as well. That’s how I made my living, in the beginning, was playing college shows and I enjoyed doing it. I liked connecting with fans like that — just in the music, and I’m looking forward to the show.

ED: You’ve been playing on many late night television shows lately. How has the experience been for you?

EH: We did Jay Leno and Conan (O’Brien), before they kind of swapped, then we did Jimmy Kimmel and some other ones. That stuff is always fun, it’s just fun to be a part of it and the actors coming in it feels like one of those ‘pinch me’ kind of moments. It’s always a fun day. The musicians have to be there a lot before the actors and guests, we have to get their before anyone is there. You walk through the set and seeing the stage dark before anyone gets there is always cool. It’s cool to be behind the scenes.

ED: You’re are a big hit in Australia. What’s going on there?

EH: It’s been going really well in Australi,a as well as New Zealand and Norway and a couple other spots. I’ve just been lucky. I’m on Warner Brothers Records and they have divisions all over the world. People just believe in the music and help get it out there. It’s exciting.

ED: Is there anything awkward or funny that has happened to you?

EH: Not awkward — I don’t really get involved with that stuff. I love having fans come out to the shows, but I keep it about being on stage and my whole thing is trying to involve the crowd and get people into the show. People yell all kinds of stuff, but it’s more about me focusing the crowd and trying to have the best time we can.

ED: You’ve been on tour with Jason Mraz, OneRepublic and Jack’s Mannequin to name some. What’s that been like for you?

EH: Opening up is always fun, it’s cool to get up there and see how different bands do their thing and what the different fans like. It’s cool to see how different people act. I’m always able to learn something from watching the other acts. I try to make music for everybody to listen to, so I like being able to get out and try as many different audiences as possible.

ED: What are future plans for you?

EH: We’re going to keep touring for probably the rest of this year and providing new songs, always, and hopefully the new album will get made one of these days. (I’m) just out here having a good time on the road and I just like putting on a fun show.

ED: We found a funny video of you poking some fun at Justin Timberlake on YouTube, what was that about?

EH: Just having some fun. I did it a few times and than it got up on YouTube. (I was) just joking around.

ED: What interesting things do you plan to bring to CMU?

EH: My whole thing is just getting people to have a good time. When on stage, it’s very much about getting the audience involved and have that energy go back and forth. My goal is to have people come out to the show and, I don’t know, maybe it’s the highlight of their week, maybe it’s the highlight of the day, whatever. I want people to leave feeling great.