The brothers are MMMBack! They've ditched their record label, cut their hair and hit the road! We caught up with Isaac, Taylor and Zac Hanson.



Team Digital: A few years ago you guys took Michelle Branch on the road and now she's a big star! Do you guys feel like you sorta discovered her?

Taylor: Yeah, Michelle had a couple of independent records and was touring around Arizona. She was a big fan of ours and contacted our manager. She was interested in getting music to us and played for us at a couple of small shows. Then she got signed and we stayed close friends. She's not only a great artist - she's an awesome person.

Team Digital: Can you tell us something we don't know about her?

Taylor: I don't think I'm at liberty to tell you things that Michelle wouldn't already want you to know - but I will say she's an awesome sweet girl and really talented.

Zac: Yeah, we're friends - not enemies!

Team Digital: We saw a clip of Isaac playing the accordion on your website - how did you make the accordion rock?

Isaac: I think what it all comes down to is that there are textures and when you feel that the instrument is appropriate. There's something about an accordion that is lonesome and melancholy and it really works in certain cases.

Taylor: The accordion is actually on a couple of our songs! I can't play it but it's one of those instruments that are really cool that people just don't use. Y'know Weird Al can play the accordion like a mofo and he rocks!

Zac: If you play anything loud enough - it rocks!

Team Digital: So there aren't any polka tunes on the album?

Zac: We considered it but we ended up saving them for some b-sides.

Team Digital: You made your own label, 3CG Records-thinking of signing any other artists to the label?

Taylor: We'd absolutely love to do that in the future, but our focus right now is us. Our goal is to do other side projects with friends and create music. We also want to help other bands by signing them and giving them the opportunity to get their stuff out there.

Team Digital: Your new album is electric but when you're on tour you're playing an acoustic show - what do you get from the experience of unplugging that you don't get from plugging in?

Taylor: One analogy we like to use is that coming to our live show is like coming to a song writing session. This is how we write a lot of the songs, with acoustic guitars and vocals. You see our music in a different way, whereas when you see us live with electric guitars and a full drum set it rocks in a different way.

Isaac: It's just more intimate in general. Sometimes you get a bit distracted by the rockness or loudness of the music. By breaking it down and making it acoustic your songs speak more powerfully that way. We like to give people the option of liking the acoustic version better.

Team Digital: Are there bands that you're into that people would be surprised to know you like?

Taylor: I don't know what people imagine what we listen to. I listen to anything from Nick Drake to Led Zeppelin to Pink Floyd. The Cult might be a band that people would be surprised I listen to but I think they're a great band.

Isaac: Black Crowes, Aerosmith. When it comes to R&B I like OutKast, Black Eyed Peas...

Team Digital: So there are no Scandinavian Death Metal discs hiding in your CD players?

Taylor: Y'know, not a huge Scandinavian Death Metal fan - but I'm always looking to be turned on to something new.

Zac: I think you can like any music because there are people who do it and there are fans. Like I'm not really a death metal fan but I can appreciate that there are fans out there that get something out of it.

Team Digital: Right on! So finally, is there anything you guys get asked about all the time that you're sick of being asked about?

Taylor: Probably the biggest is "Can I be the 4th Hanson?"

Zac: That, and whether we like Scandinavian Death Metal...that question comes up all the time.

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