Bio
Starting out nearly 15 years ago in 1992 by releasing their first self-made albums, HANSON could not have predicted that one day the whole world would sing their song. Yet that's exactly what happened in 1997, when the band's sunny single “MmmBop”, a song about the ephemeral nature of most relationships, became a worldwide number one hit. Their pop-Motown flavored major label debut, Middle Of Nowhere, pierced the gray fog of 1990’s grunge and earned the band three Grammy nominations. The follow-up albums kept the hooks and the critical acclaim while revealing HANSON's evolution. Their sophomore effort, This Time Around, leaned toward rock, blues and gospel while 2004’s Underneath was a more richly textured and organic twist on the band's signature brand of pop-rock, as heard on the album’s lead single “Penny and Me”, which made it to #2 on the Billboard Singles Chart and notched the band a top 10 in the UK Singles Chart.
The Walk combines all three approaches as seamlessly as HANSON itself, drawn together by the tight performances that are the foundation of the album, with each member of the band bringing a distinct sensibility to the fold. Zac, understated and poetic, is the master of the sweeping and structured melody, audible on songs he initiated like the anthemic “Fire On The Mountain”. Taylor, forever in search of the perfect hook, adds the soulful pop punch of “Georgia” and the relentless drive of “Blue Sky”. Isaac, technically-minded and truthful, brings the groove, which you can hear on the album's opener, “Great Divide”, and the straight-to-the heart emotion of “Watch Over Me”, a song he co-wrote during one of HANSON's annual songwriter retreats.
“Every year we invite about 15 songwriter friends to Tulsa Oklahoma”, says Zac, who co-wrote “Go” and “Running Man” at the last retreat. “But it's less about what comes out of it and more about community building. It used to be that musicians would drop in on each other's recording sessions, and you'd have really big events like the ‘Concert for Bangladesh’, where everyone played together. That type of thing is far less common these days.”
Whether it's a trek to Africa motivated by hope, building a community of like-minded musicians or a vibrant community of online fans, HANSON's ‘from the ground up’ ethos is inspirational. The weekly podcasts of “Strong Enough To Break” and “Taking The Walk” will show that philosophy in action, connecting listeners to the notion that a small step can lead to anything from making music on your own terms, to helping in the fight against a deadly illness.
Even a great message, though, is lost without great songs, and writing great songs, as you'll hear on The Walk, is what HANSON does best. Each brother brings his own artistic inclinations into the studio, but their collective vision and extraordinary talent result in a band that's in it for the long haul.
The Walk full length album was released in Summer 2007.
