![Hanson](https://cdn.hourdetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2019/12/Hanson.jpg)
It wasnβt long after Hanson released βMMMBopβ that it became the summer β97 anthem of teens across America. In the years that have followed, the pop-rock band of brothers out of Tulsa, Oklahoma has continued to churn out hits without losing its trademark wholesome sound. In honor of the holiday season, the trio has embarked on its Wintry Mix Tour, in which theyβll perform some of the seasonβs classic hits and give fans a preview of songs from the seventh studio album, set for release in 2020.
Prior to Hansonβs show at Royal Oak Music Theatre on Dec. 17, ΒιΆΉ·¬ΊΕ Detroit chatted with Zac Hanson β vocalist, drummer, and the bandβs youngest member β on what itβs like to work with your siblings, their new album, and performing in Detroit.
ΒιΆΉ·¬ΊΕ Detroit: Tell us about your sibling dynamics.
Zac Hanson: The benefit of being siblings is the shared experience and the fact that you generally have similar values. Thereβs a lot of aspiration in our music. Even though we write about it in different ways, itβs very much about our desires of where we want to be, how to overcome things, and our dreams. So, itβs a huge asset growing up together β not just meeting at some point along the way and discovering youβre similar. Also, it sounds kind of funny, but youβre almost trained to work well together. We really do, genetically, have similar vocal chords, and it lends to us sounding good together. The blood in your veins plays a big role.
Why do you feel that Tusla is a better home base than Los Angeles or New York?
Being from Oklahoma, being from Tulsa, is always so important. Not because of what Tulsa is, but the idea that youβre from somewhere. You have roots and somewhere to go back to. Youβre not just one more band from Hollywood. Weβve always wanted to represent something and be recognizable as a band thatβs about something. So, Oklahoma just happens to be right in the middle. If you go to Google maps and you zoom in somewhere in the center you land near Tulsa. Not as many bands are from a place like that, and if they are, they move. Thatβs fine, but we just felt that Tulsa was part of who we want to be.
Can you talk a bit about your new album?
I think itβs full of a lot of joy. As it stands, itβs unfinished. Itβs fairly comfortable with itself, and I mean that in the best way. Itβs a lot of βI donβt care what Iβm supposed to sound like, I donβt know care what people think Hanson is. I know what I am.β So, every song presents itself like that. It presents itself and says itβs fully formed and happy to be who it is. Thatβs all I can share.
How do you feel about being back in the Motor City?
Zac Hanson: Detroit is a good music town. Weβve played at Royal Oak a bunch of times, and we had a death threat there once, but we played the show anyway. I remember that very vividly. I was like βOh, shoot! Somebody said theyβre going to come kill us, do we play the show?β We looked at each other and we were like, βYou know what? Weβre going to do it, and if weβre going to go out, letβs go out on stage in Detroit.β Not the best Christmas memory maybe but weβve had great times [laughs]. Itβs always about the experience onstage. We always joke that going on tour is just dumpsters and dives and back alleys and shuttle vans, because thatβs sort of what you see, but weβre not there for the sights. Weβre there for the people.
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