On October 23, HANSON joins the Houston Symphony for HANSON STRING THEORY, a musical manifesto with new and career spanning works from HANSON. Get ready for the concert when Taylor, Isaac and Zac answer the questions below.
Q: Last year, HANSON celebrated 25 years of playing music – what an achievement! What is one of your favorite shared memories during this time?
A: It is always difficult to select one moment, but some stand out. After we founded our record label in 2003 following a tumultuous period with a former label, we concluded our first major tour as an independent band at Carnegie Hall in New York to a packed house. Standing on that legendary stage after the tour that had lead to it felt like a real accomplishment.
Q: Your band launched in 1992 when you were eleven, nine and six years old. What was it like to grow up in the music industry?
A: We have spent our whole lives working in music and most of it working in the ‘industry’ at large. Regardless of how the medium or the structure of an industry changes, whether you survive the challenges that unfold will always be up to you as an artist. You have to first know your purpose and work hardest to achieve it.
Q: How was the concept for the String Theory Tour initiated? Can you tell us a bit about what our guests can expect from this concert?
A: This concert is really a story, more than any other show we have done. We selected and composed our core material with several things in mind: the opportunity to take full advantage of the majesty and dynamics that come with a full orchestra alongside us, the importance of telling a story with our songs and the craftsmanship which we take pride in. The show takes you high and low, and we believe it pairs the world of pop-craftsmanship and rock ‘n’ roll with symphonic textures in a way that is both engaging to the audience and refreshingly different for us as performers.
Q: You’ve recently kicked off your tour and adjusted to life on the road. What helps you all get from city to city? What are some essential travel items for you?
A: Yes, road life is crazy, but we are also right at home on the road having spent most of our lives traveling. We each have our essentials. For Taylor it’s a leica rangefinder camera and a laptop; for Isaac it’s a notepad and an audio book; and for Zac it’s a gaming device—these days either a Nintendo Switch or an Xbox.
Q: When you run into fans, what’s a common first reaction you get?
A: We are so grateful for the amazing fan-base that has stuck with us for many years. There is no greater affirmation of what we get to do than seeing people come back time after time.
Q: What is your favorite song to perform and why?
A: It’s impossible to pick one song. On String Theory there are definitely songs that stand out, among them, Got A Hold On Me, Siren Call, No Rest For The Weary and Reaching For The Sky.
Q: What are you most proud of?
A: The ability to still maintain our music career two decades after we began while still craving what’s ahead. We still feel a great deal of excitement for what is ahead and that is why we feel confident there are still many more years of music to come.
Don’t miss HANSON STRING THEORY on October 23, 2018! Get tickets and more information at houstonsymphony.org.
