| Eric Hutchinson | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 8, 1980 Washington, D.C., United States |
| Origin | Takoma Park, Maryland, United States |
| Genres | Pop, rock, folk, power pop |
| Occupations | Singer-songwriter, guitarist |
| Instruments | Singing, guitar, piano |
| Years active | 2003-Present |
| Labels | Let's Break, Warner Bros. |
| Website | www.erichutchinson.com/ |
Eric Hutchinson (born September 8, 1980) is an American singer-songwriter. He signed with Madonna's Maverick Records, but the label shut down before his album was released. Hutchinson recorded and released the album Sounds Like This on his own. The album won praise from gossip blogger Perez Hilton, which sent it to the top ten on the iTunes Store, where it peaked at number five in September 2007 and debuted at #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. The album was picked up by Warner Bros. Records, who released it in May 2008.
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Born in Washington, D.C., Hutchinson grew up in Takoma Park, Maryland, attended the Communication Arts Program at Montgomery Blair High School, and went to Emerson College in Boston, where he lived for about four years before moving to Los Angeles. Hutchinson began playing guitar around 1995, and later added piano to his repertoire. When on acoustic guitar, he plays with exuberance, often laying down percussive hand slaps on the strings. He says he "should've taken more guitar lessons," but was always "more interested in playing and singing songs I knew and liked better than Hot Cross Buns out of a workbook."[1][2] As of February 2007, he resides in New York City.
On September 15, 2008, he performed his song "Rock and Roll" on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Eric has also performed "Rock and Roll" on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Eric debuted his single "Ok It's Alright With Me" on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien on July 24, 2009.
Before his opening date in New York on the Kelly Clarkson tour, Eric was interviewed by Scott Vollweiler, owner of Broken Records Magazine. Eric told BRM that "he just wants to write stuff he will enjoy playing. It's all about songwriting". He goes on to mention that Stevie Wonder, Elvis Costello and the Beatles were all primary influences on his style of music writing.
His song "Rock and Roll" was used in the movie Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, and was included in the soundtrack. "Rock and Roll" was also used as the song to end the final episode of 2008 series of Packed to the Rafters. Packed To The Rafters was the highest rating Australian show in 2008. It was featured in the Platinum selling Packed to the Rafters soundtrack. "Rock and Roll" went on to attain the #1 position on the Australian airplay chart in early April 2009.
"Rock and Roll" has reached #9 on the ARIA Australian Singles Chart and has been certified Platinum in Australia. "Rock and Roll" has also reached Gold in New Zealand, Gold in the United States and Gold in Norway.
Hutchinson has also been named an AOL "About To Pop" artist, Yahoo! Who's Next Artist, MSN "One To Watch" Artist and a "VH1 You Oughta Know" Artist.[3] Hutchinson recorded a theme song for ESPN's popular "Fantasy Focus" podcast.[4]
Moving Up, Living Down - which will be released in sometime of 2011 - is the follow-up to Hutchinson's breakthrough debut, Sounds Like This.
Hutchinson plays venues across the U.S. and Canada, and has toured with Joe Jackson, Justin Nozuka, Jason Mraz, G. Love, Marie Digby, Anya Marina, Matt Hires, Matt Nathanson, Meaghan Smith, Pete Francis, Rachael Yamagata, Bob Schneider, Blind Melon, David Mead, Marshall Crenshaw, Jonatha Brooke, Ari Hest, Cary Brothers, Jack's Mannequin, Steadman, OneRepublic, O.A.R., and Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers.[5][6] Eric Hutchinson played in Omaha at the Sokol Auditorium on April 2, 2009. The concert was a philanthropy event which supported ALS in the Heartland. In the summer and fall of 2009 and spring of 2010, Eric was one of the opening acts for Kelly Clarkson's North American, Australia and New Zealand legs of her "All I Ever Wanted Tour".
Hutchinson has been widely acclaimed for his prowess as a pianist, songwriter, and performer.[1] He has been called "one of the most talented singer-songwriters that Boston has to offer," with comparisons to Pete Francis, Jason Mraz, Stevie Wonder, Ben Folds, Cat Stevens, Ryan Montbleau, Billy Joel, Squeeze, Neil Finn, and even The Beatles.[7][8][9][10][11] Journalist James Campion calls Hutchinson "a major talent with nary a trace of pretension" and "a sure thing."[12]
Hutchinson placed second at the 2002 Los Angeles Songwriter's Grand Slam.[13]
His song "Ok, Its Alright With Me" was featured in the premiere episode of American Idol's ninth season.
He performed in the 2010 Macy's Thanksgiving Parade.
His song "Rock & Roll" was featured in advertisements for Season 1 of Australian drama series Packed to the Rafters, and appeared on the accompanying soundtrack.
"Rock & Roll" was also featured in the trailer for the film Away We Go.
His upcoming single "Watching you watch him" was featured in Grey's Anatomy premier episode of season 8.
Hutchinson's music walks a line between rock, folk pop, and powerpop. It has been called "intelligent pop" with "painstakingly placed lyrics, brimming with sarcasm and wit",[14] and "sunshine pop" with "feel-good playfulness" and a "plucky demeanor".[15] In particular, "Rock and Roll" has a ska-inflected groove that busts into a rapid-fire bout of wordplay. Eric Hutchinson wanted to achieve a raw and vintage vibe to his debut album Sounds Like This. As the album progresses, he ranges from buoyant, thoughtful, soulful, and jazzy. Hutchinson cites his influences as Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Elvis Costello, Paul Simon, Prince, Billy Joel, Ben Folds Five, and G. Love & Special Sauce.[16]
| Album | Tracks |
|---|---|
That Could've Gone Better
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Before I Sold Out
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Sounds Like This
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