Phil: We're live, we'll start off with Isaac Hanson comin' out to Australia, of course for the Ugly Phil Hot 30 Countdown in October. How ya doin', buddy, what have you been up to?
Isaac: Umm, not a whole... well a lot actually, and not a whole lot at the same time, right?
Phil: Yeah, sure. So you back in the studio? I think Taylor...
Isaac: We're back in the studio, uh we've uh... at the moment we're takin' a short break, but uh we're back in the... we've been doin some work in the studio. Everything's been going real well and we're looking forward to getting this album done and out pretty soon.
Phil: So what happens when you're in there? Do you spend like 6 in the morning till 6 at night, there and then you walk out completely exhausted?
Isaac: Well, actually its more like 1 in the afternoon to 1 in the morning.
Phil: Does it get frustrating for you?
Isaac: Ummmm... not really. I guess you could say we're kind of perfectionistic and tend to work long hours at our own beck and call, I guess. We tend to work pretty long hours because we like to do that I guess.
Phil: Yeah, have you been having any band arguments? It's like a family, isn't it really?
Isaac: Well, no not really. We all have a pretty good idea of where we're going. You know, everything takes time. You know, there's a lot of down time between there and you know, setting up certain things. If you decide you need to get a different instrument or re-mic something 'cause it's not sounding very good things like that. Hours go by. That's why you tend to work longer hours because there's down time.
Phil: Are you trying anything tricky in the studio now?
Isaac: Umm, not anything particularly tricky you know trying to make everything sound just right.
Phil: Sure, sure, hey listen how much has your life changed in the last three years now?
Isaac: Umm, well you know I mean it's been quite crazy. It's calmed down a little bit for us, which has been nice. We kinda purposely, we're trying to wait a moment and get everything calmed down before we jumped back into the studio only because we wanted to take a little bit of a break. Of course, we toured last year in the States, unfortunately we weren't able to get to Australia. We'll be coming to Australia.
Phil: Yeah, well you know your fans will be hanging out to see you down here.
Isaac: Oh, I know! At the same time, we've been cooling down, we've had a lot on our plate and just trying to make sure that everything..that we're ready to get in the studio and get all the songs finished up and that kind of thing.
Phil: Aside from that, what have you been doing? Have you got your drivers license?
Isaac: Oh yeah, you know I've been doing plenty of driving and all that kinda of stuff. Actually Taylor has his drivers license.
Phil: Got it? Did he right? Excellent. What are you driving? What's he driving?
Isaac: Well, we're pretty much driving family cars. So, you know, it one of those things where you have your designated family car. Whatever. We're just spending a little time with our friends, taking a little time off.
Phil: Of course. Who's made the most dents in the family car?
Isaac: A couple little small, small fender benders.
Phil: Your dad hasn't found out about it yet, so I won't say anymore.
(Laughing)
Isaac: Luckily, it wasn't bad enough for it to be a big deal, okay?
Phil: Yeah, you hang on there a second. I want to talk to Zac about our side project, the rap thing, and also to Taylor Hanson.
Phil: I got Taylor Hanson on the line from their studio in Los Angeles. They're putting together the new album. How many tracks do have for the new album, Taylor?
Taylor: Um, well we've written all the new songs on this album.
Phil: But, I mean how many did you go into the studio with, ten?
Taylor: Um, well, basically we started with 16. We said, well these are kinda like the runners up for the album and there's other songs we're still working on right now that will probably get presented to the album. But, sorta 16 is where we started off with for the fun of it that we've talked about.
Phil: Right, right. Any covers?
Taylor: Any covers? Um, we're actually considering that. We were thinking about maybe doing an Isley Brothers song or something like that just kinda like for the fun of it that we've talked about
Phil: Sure, sure. How many tracks are you gonna have for the album?
Taylor: Uh, you know, there's the unlucky number..13
(laughing)
Taylor: We're kinda of going for unlucky..off the wall, because actually we had technically we had 13 on the last album, so we're probably thinking in that range.
Phil: So, have you got a working title for it, yet?
Taylor: You know what, the titles are almost always the last thing that you come up with but, we have a lot of ideas. Nothing that's sticking yet.
Phil: Sure, so tell me about some of the new songs. I heard that it was going to be a little older than the stuff on the last album, I mean well, you had on the first album, anyway.
Taylor: Older? As in like more mature?
Phil: More mature sounding, yeah.
Taylor: Umm, you know it's hard to say exactly (in deep voice) Yes, it's more mature.
(Laughing)
Taylor: You know, every song is different, I guess you experience different things and the songs are gonna change. You know, I think people are gonna hear and still go... That's Hanson... 'cause there's always gonna be that sound that you hear.
Phil: Sure, that's right
Taylor: But, yeah, they're definitely changing and we're really, really excited about it.
Phil: Can you tell me about some of the song titles so that, you know, the fans can get an idea of what to look forward to?
Taylor: Hmmm, let me think. Um, well there's a song called "Runaway Run." I can just throw songs out there, but...
Phil: Hey, what's happening with MOE? Is that still going?
Taylor: That is going strong. We're still trying to really branch it out in Australia, but it's been going really well. You know, writing articles and that. It's just really fun.
Phil: Have you been doing any touring? There's been, you hear sporadic tours from you guys, but you've been really quiet haven't you really?
Taylor: Well we've been working on music, is really what we've been primarily focusing on really making this album. You know thinking about this a lot and writing songs and things like that.
Phil: So, have you been working on any new instruments, trying to learn anything new?
Taylor: Umm, a little bit here, a little bit there. I've been working on trying to learn a little bit of guitar, but you know that's not exactly... I can play like five chords, but I'm working on it.
(Laughing)
Phil: Yeah, right. It's good to talk to you, man. We'll talk to you soon.
Taylor: Okay, bye.
Phil: That's Taylor Hanson, and I'll talk to Zac about the side project what's happening with the rap act. We'll find out after this.
(Later)
Phil: Back to Part Three of our Hanson interview, and I've got Zac on the line. For the folks that don't know, Zac Hanson and myself are gonna do a side project a rap thing down the track. We've got Isaac here and I've got Zac, Hey buddy, I've been working on trying to get us a contract.
Zac: Oh, cool.
Phil: I hope you're still going to be part of the action.
Zac: Yeah, well you know, I was thinking I not gonna quite be there the whole time.
Phil: Oh, that's cool.
Zac: Yeah, well you know, while you're on tour, I'll come and make some appearances while you're in the States.
Phil: Well, I was thinking you could just call yourself "Zac Daddy" or "Puff Zacky". What do you think?
Zac: Uh, uh, I was thinking "Zacky Boy"
Phil: Zacky Boy. Okay, I like that
Zac: I was thinking, well nobody's really used... everybody's like "Zac Man"
Phil: Well, no one's used boy that's right.
Zac: Or daddy. I was also thinking "Zac Momma".
Phil: "Zacky Momma"
Zac: But, it didn't quite work.
Phil: No, I wouldn't use that, you'll end up on what's his name... Jerry Springer show if you use that name, man.
Zac: It'll be bad.
Phil: Well I was thinking I was going to use MC Tone Deaf, what do you reckon?
Zac: That's a great name!
Phil: Hey, I've been working on that, I don't come up with this stuff flippantly I've been putting a lot of (work?) into this side project.
Zac: Yeah, well you know it takes a while to come up with some good names.
Phil: So, what can you tell me about some of the new songs on the album?
Zac: All I can tell you is I like the songs. Umm, obviously, I think they're good.
Phil: Taylor and Isaac wouldn't give me any clues about it at all. They told me I had to sit down and wait and see, you know.
Zac: Yeah, you're gonna have to wait, man. Some songs have the note "C" in it.
Phil: C note?
Zac: Yeah, C note.
Phil: You know, there's a band called "C Note" now
Zac: There is?
Phil: Yeah?
Zac: Huh.
Phil: So there ya go, you can't use that. What about the Moffatts? Have you heard of them?
Zac: I actually have heard of them.
Phil: There just doing your act, man.
Zac: Yeah, I know... I don't know... I don't know... I haven't actually heard any of their music, so you know better than I do.
Phil: Yeah, while I've checked them out in a video and you guys would win in a fight. That's all I can say.
Zac: Well, thank you
Phil: No problem. Zac, there from Hanson. Hope you got the bits of the interview with Isaac and Taylor so you can put 'em on your tape and listen to them later. They will be here in October. In the meantime, let's get back to the Hits.
TAYLOR: Do you mean can we cook? Not really, I can cook hot cakes and scrambled eggs, but that's about it.
ISAAC: Well, if I was to make myself dinner it would probably have to be cheese on toast!
ZAC: I can't cook a thing!
TVH: You have quite a big family - who does the washing up at home?
TAYLOR: If I have to I do, but we all take turns helping out with the chore. That's the worst thing about having a large family - there's tons of dishes to clean and loads of clothes to wash!
ISAAC: I wash up - a little! But there's always things to do round the house. Like any other family, we all help each other out!
TVH: So you can use the washing machine?
TAYLOR: I have tried - it just isn't something I make a habit of!
ISAAC: I can do the easy things, but I've not had much experience of using the machine - mom usually takes care of that!
TVH: How about using the iron then?
TAYLOR: If you have anything to iron I suggest you keep it away from me - I'm not very good at it and end up burning everything.
ZAC: I can't remember trying to iron, but I don't think I'd be very good.
TVH: What are you like at babysitting your younger brothers and sisters?
TAYLOR: We've had to change plenty of diapers in the past, and I'm thankful I don't have to do it too often!
ISAAC: I've definitely changed a couple of hundred diapers in the past!
TAYLOR: When our little brothers and sisters are with us, we all help out. But when we travel together they tend to stay in places longer then catch up later, so we don't babysit that often.
TVH: What do you spend your money on?
TAYLOR: I buy anything music related, like a vintage guitar, or a keyboard - I'm not really a money person.
ISAAC: This year I bought a couple of guitar amps and I took them on tour - I was real pleased with them.
TVH: So, what's your favourite way of spending an evening in?
ISAAC: I'm definitely a movie lover - I'd probably watch a few movies, then play a game of basketball.
ZAC: I like to play on our Playstation - I'm a whizz at it!
ISAAC: Zac's definitely very good. We actually took it on tour with us so we got plenty of practice - our favourite game's Street Fighter.
TVH: Taylor, have you started taking driving lessons yet?
TAYLOR: No, but hopefully I will soon, I'd like to buy a car. A very fast car would be nice - something like a Porsche. But I don't want to worry every time I go round the corner that I'm going to crash - maybe I'll need to re-think that!
TVH: Isaac, do your parents still tell you what time to come home?
ISAAC: No, they're cool - they just like to know where I'm going and when I'm coming home. Besides, they only worry 'cos they care!
TVH: Do you have to go to bed at a certain time?
TAYLOR: No, but it does depend what we have to do in the morning. We're usually in bed by 12 o'clock, though.
ISAAC: If we have an early morning we like to get to bed by 10 o'clock to make sure we're wide awake the next day - we have to be sensible!
TVH: When were you last told off by your parents?
TAYLOR: Probably when I did something stupid! When was that? Erm, I can't remember - I'm not stupid that often!
ISAAC: Mine was pretty recently - mom and dad were a little bit angry, but I can't think why. It wasn't for anything really bad - but then again, I wouldn't tell you if it was that bad anyway!
ZAC: I haven't been told off for ages!
TVH: Will you be taking exams next year?
TAYLOR: Yeah, I'm sure we'll have more next year! It really depends on what our parents say, 'cos they teach us.
TVH: Have your neighbours ever complained about the noise coming from your garage?
ISAAC: No, they've been very good to us 'cos we're all very noisy! The only time they've complained is when loads of fans started turning up at our house.
ZAC: Between our house and the neighbours there's two acres of land, so even if we tried they wouldn't be able to hear us - unless they had supersonic hearing, of course!
TVH: OK, one last thing - do you still hang out with your friends?
TAYLOR: Yeah, most definitely. What? Even at the shopping malls? Yes, but obviously only when we've got time.
ZAC: I don't really like hanging out at the shopping malls anymore - I did that when I was younger!
Interviewer: So, do you guys have girlfriends yet?
Tay: Yeah, I'm going out with a 17 year old, Tracy.
She lives in Tulsa. We've known each other for 3 years and we started dating about 5 months ago.
Ike: Yeah, my girlfriend's name is (oops..i forget sorry guys!!) and we've been going out for about a month now.
Tay: Yeah, but I mean Tracy and I have a normal teen-age relationship... you know, the whole holding hands, huggy-kissy thing.
Ike: Yeah, me too. Itz pretty great.
Interviewer: So I guess you (to Tay) have had your first kiss by now.
Tay: Oh yeah, a LONG time ago...kissing is a daily thing for me now.
Zac: Yeah, I have a girlfriend, too. Her name is Demeitre. THEN THEY ALL START BURSTING OUT LAUGHING. IT WAS A JOKE!!!!!
Tay: We've done this on two other shows and we just wanted to see what everyone's reaction would be. None of us have girlfriends. :o)