New York Post
Apr 23, 2004 |
Good looks and catchy melodies helped the three brothers sell 15 million albums since they took the "MMMBop" train out of Tulsa in '97 when they were still kids. These days, guitarist Isaac, now 23, and his brothers - pianist Taylor, 21, and drummer Zac, 18 - have business smarts, too.
When the Hansons' "This Time Around" fell curse to the sophomore jinx, discontent developed between the band and its label. Hanson wanted a more mature sound; Island/Def Jam wanted another rocket that sold 10 million copies.
The stage was set for the band's departure.
Since the Hansons didn't know how impossible it is to start a successful independent record company, they went ahead and did it.
On Tuesday, the brothers' label, 3CG - short for the three-car garage where they recorded their first demo tapes years ago - released "Underneath," their third full-length collection.
Their past songs were sweet pop confections that had teenage girls tossing teddy bears at the stage. The brawny, guitar-driven rock on "Underneath" deals with love, lust and life - and will have a new generation of adoring females tossing room keys at them.
That will no doubt delight handsome Hansons Isaac and Zac, who are single and share a TriBeCa loft. Taylor's taken: He lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Natalie, and their 17-month-old son, Ezra.
Post: Like most bands, Hanson started as an indie act and then graduated to a major label. You're an indie act again. What gives?
Isaac: We saw an opportunity we had to take. The [music] industry is changing, and when you're involved in an evolving business, it's better to be in control.
Taylor: It's hard for some people to understand what we're doing because the entrepreneurial spirit and the artistic spirit seem to conflict. But all three of us have interests beyond just performing.
Post: Such as?
Zac: Well, making this record company means we're going to be able to find other artists and help them become successful in releasing new music.
Isaac: We had to start somewhere, so we figured we'd build our company with our own record.
Post: How does releasing independently affect your album financially?
Zac: You take on all of the costs of the investment and the risks of failure - the bigger the risk, the greater the reward.
Isaac: The goal isn't about more money - it's more artistic control.
Post: Forbes magazine projects that by working under your own label, Hanson can keep as much as $6 per CD sold, vs. $2 under a standard major label contract. True?
Zac: Those aren't exact figures, but they're close.
Isaac: The thing is, success becomes easier because all you have to do is sell between two and three hundred thousand copies. That earns enough to recoup our production costs, but if we don't hit those numbers, there are no rewards.
Zac: We want this to be successful enough so we can make another record, and then another after that one. We want to do this the rest of our lives.
Post: Do you feel any anger toward your old label?
Isaac: I'd be lying to say there wasn't a struggle to connect between us and them.
Zac: The problem was, we've always had a clear image of what we do - and they didn't.
Post: What's that image?
Zac: Passion for music and contact with our fans.
Isaac: We're three guys who love to play and write music. Listen, Island/Def Jam and us came to a very cordial parting of ways. There is no animosity between us.
Taylor: The real thing we want to say is that we're more excited about what we're doing now than back then, but there are no hard feelings today.
Post: You say that, but on VH1's "All Access" documentary this winter, Isaac is shown shouting into a cell phone, "You just don't get the band." Who was he talking to?
Isaac: I was talking to our A&R guy.
Post: Who is it harder to break up with, a girlfriend or a record company?
Isaac: Definitely a girlfriend.
Zac: No, a record company. Remember all the lawyers and papers?
Post: When Taylor got married, did the rest of you fear that might be the end of the band as you knew it?
Zac: Natalie is a great friend. She couldn't have been his wife if she didn't love the music we all make together. Honestly, she strengthens what we do. She makes Tay better at making the music we love.
Post: Taylor, when you broke the news to your brothers about getting married, were you worried that . . .
Taylor: . . . that I was bringing in the Yoko factor? Yeah, it went through my mind before I told them I was going to get married. It was a pretty intense moment, and they were amazingly supportive because they knew Natalie was the one for me.
Zac: We were more worried about her having to spend the rest of her life with him.
Isaac: We pulled her aside and asked, "Are you sure you want to do this?"
Post: Who's the better babysitter, Isaac or Zac?
Taylor: It depends on what you want done.
Post: How about getting the baby back to mom safe and sound?
Taylor: They are both pretty good. I'd say Zac is more physical with Ezra - swinging and rolling around.
Post: Isaac, you're the oldest. Are you the wisest?
Isaac: Maybe in terms of chasing girls. I don't know if I'm more street-wise or just have a worse track record. I'm just looking for intelligence and inspiration.
Taylor: I think that means no. He's more of a wiseguy.
Zac: You know what they say - a wise man learns from his mistakes and the idiot, well, he doesn't.
