Taking the Walk

Taking the walk
By Rosalyn Stevens

Mid October in Detroit is not the place most people would imagine getting excited for a barefoot walk. But that was the atmosphere outside The Fillmore on Oct. 10, when about 100 or so people gathered to take the walk with Hanson. I was one of them.
Taking the walk can mean different things to different people, but to the three brothers from Oklahoma, it’s about suffering with cold and sore feet for a few minutes to put into perspective the realities of many others living without basic necessities around the world. It’s about doing something simple, yet tangible, to create a change for a better society, a better world.
For each person who joins the brothers on the mile, the band donates one dollar to various causes, from putting shoes on the feet of children who’ve never owned a pair, to building wells and supplying access to clean water for villages in Africa. The dollar can also be given to supply antiretroviral medication, to prevent the passage of the AIDS virus from a pregnant mother to her children, or to maintain text-message technology to keep patients in touch with doctors around the world.
It’s nothing new for a band or celebrity to take on a cause, but there’s something different about what this group has taken on. It’s not all about them. The decision for where the money is donated is up to each walker, and decided through a registration form completed at the end of each mile. In addition, the band encourages individuals and groups to host their own walks, and once completed, the band pledges to contribute a dollar for each participant.
On our first walk this year in Detroit middle brother Taylor explained why his band chose to focus on the problems in Africa. He said the problems related to poverty, lack of education, unsafe water, and AIDS/HIV infections come together to create a seemingly unstoppable force.
While recording their last album, appropriately titled “The Walk,” the band visited villages in Africa to see first-hand the struggles that people faced day after day. They saw struggle, but beyond the struggle, they saw solutions. In one case, the band teamed up with TOMS shoes, which donates shoes for each pair purchased, to a child in Africa. In 2007, Hanson joined the TOMS team to deliver the first crate of 50,000 shoes.
“You guys already have the tools that can make a completely tragic situation into something that is completely turned around,” Taylor told us. “A pair of shoes really does change a child’s life.”
I’ve completed about 16 miles with the band, from trudging through the snow in 2007 to taking a nice stroll in the springtime of 2008. The last six walks I completed posed no challenge to a seasoned walker like myself, but looking around at the bare feet beside me, ahead of me and behind me, I was inspired.
Yes, it’s an absolute thrill to have an opportunity to walk beside a band I’ve loved since my pre-teenage years. But it’s an even greater thrill to see that these men have the ability to inspire action in others. Last year, the band set out to ‘walk around the world,’ with a target of 24,902 miles. To date, more that 34,000 miles have been completed.
During each walk, the group stops at a midpoint to talk about the reasons for walking barefoot. It’s not a push for awareness, they explain. It’s taking the step from awareness to action.
“This is about you guys doing it,” he said. “This is about the walkers, the people that are actually here, realizing your power to do something.”
The power to make a difference lies within today’s young generation. With the endless technology available to us, the world’s become a smaller place. Problems that once seemed too far away for comprehension are now, seemingly, in our own backyard. We don’t need awareness, because we all know the problems the global society faces.
We need action, one step at a time. We all need to take the walk.

Gas to London: $40, Crutches: $60, Meeting Hanson: Priceless

Like a little girl again
By Rosalyn Stevens

It started out as a little girls’ dream, and ended with this writer in crutches. Gives new meaning to the term ‘no pain, no gain.’
But who cares if I couldn’t walk for a day, was in excruciating pain and spent hours sitting in a wheelchair at the Civic Hospital emergency room. I met Hanson.
Following my initial interview with middle brother, Taylor, I wasn’t sure I’d have the chance to meet the band, and have another interview in person. But it seems someone upstairs is smiling on me lately, because it happened.
The story of my incredible two-day Hanson spree actually starts last Sunday, when my friend Daniela (remember her? My childhood best friend, and fellow ‘Fanson’) drove to Toronto to catch the band’s first Canadian show. We were on the phone off and on throughout the morning, and for the minutes leading up to the scheduled 3 pm walk with the band. During one of those phone calls, I had my first brush with Hanson.
Walking side-by-side with Zac, the youngest (our age) in the band, Daniela asked him to say hello, just for a sec. True to his style, the jokester grabbed the phone, and said, “Hello! Just for a sec!”
Queue first bout of childish squeals, after I hung up the phone in shock, of course.
The next day, Daniela and her oh-so-patient boyfriend Wendell, were in Hamilton for Canadian show number two. More phone calls, text messages, and of course, more squealing.
On Wednesday, we woke up to have breakfast and plan out our “Hanson Day.” There was no stopping the giggling at that point. Daniela’s mom was in on the excitement too, telling everyone around us what we were up to that afternoon.
My interview was lined up for about 2:50 pm, and we made our way to the venue to find my contacts. Just like that monumental day I spoke with Taylor, my heart started to race, and I could feel my temperature rising.
After the rigmarole of tracking down the right official, we were lead to seats inside the venue, and asked to wait. Then it happened.
The stage door swung open, and three young men made their way through.
“HELLO HANSON” I said as calmly as possible through the side of my mouth. Less than ten feet away from me, Taylor sat down at the piano, and started messing around with different tunes.
After a couple interviews with other local media, my heart almost stopped when Zac started walking towards me. Some kind of weird professionalism took over, and I extended my hand.
“Hi Zac, great to meet you. I’m Rosalyn.”
Queue more internal squealing.
We sat down, but not before achieving number one on the list of goals Daniela and I set out for this trip. We had our photo taken with the brothers. If you look at the photo, Daniela’s hands are in fists, and I’m hanging onto her for dear life. Completely unreal!
During the interview, both Zac and Isaac fought over each other to talk, making me almost entirely unable to speak. They were so excited by the questions I’d asked, they were talking over one another, trying to one-up each other, and giving me some incredible answers to use in my story.
Following the interview, in which Taylor said all of about two words, I handed the crooner a copy of my original story. As calmly as possible, I walked out of the hall, and ran into the arms of Daniela’s mom.
There are a ton a little details I could bore you with, but I won’t. You’re welcome.
The show was fantastic. I sang along at the top of my lungs, with a smile from ear-to-ear. I could have sworn I was eleven years old again.
Following the show in Ottawa, Daniela, Wendell and myself piled into the tiny Hyundai Accent, and made our way to London, for the next days show.
This is where magic happened. During the pre-show walk, Daniela and I managed to walk beside Zac for about fifteen minutes, and carry a conversation for at least that long. As we walked, my friend and I took turns telling the drummer our Hanson story. We’d seen our first show together at age 12. We drifted apart, and hadn’t seen each other for years until recently. We’re almost inseparable again, and having the time of our lives with Hanson.
He loved it! The smile on his face is stuck in my memory. We told Zac our story, and he loved it. He even asked us questions about it, because he loved it so much.
The story continued. Daniela told Zac that when I was eleven years old, I’d tell everyone who would listen that when I got older, I’d become a journalist and interview the three objects of my eternal affection. And that too had just happened. Zac looked at me, and beamed even more. He let out a laugh, and then a few other fans stole his attention.
So, ok, these minute little details, like the way he lets his hair fall over his eyes when he smiles, or the way his voice gets a little higher when he’s interrupting someone—I can understand how they might be a little too much information. But it’s those exact same little details that keep me smiling each day.
Now that my trip is over, and it’s back to reality, the memories are all I have to hang onto. Well, those, and the 600 some photos and autographed newspaper.
So do I really care that I spent the weekend on crutches, hobbling around my little apartment in pain? Of course not. I met Hanson.

Article I wrote after the show in Ottawa, and after an interview with the guys at the venue

Hanson reflects on ten years of music
By Rosalyn Stevens

Pop-rock sensations Hanson played to a crowded Bronson Centre last week, performing a range of music old and new as The Walk tour made it’s stop in the capital.
The band, which is generally most well know for it’s 1997 hit Mmmbop, proved to fans and critics alike that during the ten years following the almost instant success, they’ve grown and matured both personally and musically.
Guitarist Isaac Hanson, 27, said one of the greatest highlights of the past decade, in his view, was seeing the group’s success continue without the aid of a major record label.
“Well, honestly, the biggest highlight for me was seeing Underneath hit number one on the indie charts,” he said. “First independent release (going to) number one was a really satisfying experience.”
Along with being the band’s first independent release under their label, 3CG Records, Underneath marked the turning point for the band, he said.
“During that record we, after a couple of years of really trying hard to get a rap label to understand pop rock music, we finally decided, you know what guys, we’re done,” he said.
“We’re going to make this record, and we’ll talk to you once we’re done, and let’s see if we can come to terms with how we’re going to get this record out. And it just didn’t make sense. It was really clear that there was a lack of understanding of passion on their part.”
Drummer, and youngest brother Zac, 22, had a different take on his favourite moments of the past decade.
“I think that was definitely an impact-full moment,” he agreed. “But I mean, there’s so many different things. Playing at the songwriters hall of fame for Brian Wilson was pretty incredible, or playing in China for the first time. You go up to the Great Wall of China, and you’re like, ‘holy crap, this does exist!’”
Beyond that, Zac continued, some of the most incredible moments have come from the past couple of years, including recording with children in Africa for the latest album, The Walk.
“Not, wow, this is so incredible that we’re a band. It’s more of a life experience thing that you go, ok, what really matters here? What’s the importance of things?”
Zac, who’s been in the spotlight since he was just nine years old, said he’s also enjoyed seeing first hand the power of music on the international stage.
“I think also, you talk a lot about the power of music, and pushing boundaries, and music is the international language,” he said. “And then you actually see in a very personal way, the reality of that when you’re halfway around the world and kids are singing in English your songs. It’s a very, personal, real thing that kind of hits you, and you go, Wow! I guess the impact you can have with music.”
Music, to these guys, is not just a phase, they explained. And though they were barely teenagers when the first album, Middle of Nowhere, hit stores everywhere, the brothers said they don’t think their success had changed them.
“I think music shaped us before any of the kind of post or pre-success things happened,” Isaac explained. “I think music is what we were kind of programmed to do on some level. And the experience that we’ve had over the past the year is just, I guess, a further confirmation of our passions and our goals, and your drive to do things.”
Zac, who has essentially known no other life, said he’s unable to imagine his life without music.
“We’ve been a band, we started off just singing acapella when I was six,” he said. “And we’ve been kind of the band as you know it since I was nine.”
“So I’m not sure if music has shaped who we are, or if music is just who we are. But I don’t know if I would know who I am if I didn’t do music,” he said. “People as me that question, and go ‘So, what would you do if you didn’t do music?’ I haven’t met that person before, but if I ever meet him, I’ll let you know.”
Though it’s not common for bands who initially hit the stage as teen pop to hang onto their fans, the brothers agreed that they’re blessed with great fans who have stuck around, and not only supported the band, but introduced new friends to the band.
“I think I’m still blown away a lot of the times by the fact that we really have been able to have people come along with us for ten years,” Zac said. “Sometimes bands don’t stay relevant. And the fact that so many of our fans have been fans for ten years, from age 11 to age 21, from 14 to 24, (is amazing.)”
The reason fans have stuck around, Isaac and middle brother Taylor, 24, agreed, is a lot to do with the fans themselves.
“It’s not necessarily just about us, I guess,” Taylor said.
“And also, I think it’s really exciting because we’ve seen, over the last couple of years, we’ve started to see some really new faces,” Isaac continued.
During the early years, the trio often told reporters the band could never break up, after all, they’re family. In retrospect, the boys laughed, they were just having a bit of fun.
“We were kind of having fun with everybody,” he said. “Because …especially when the interviewers were 15 years older than you, and were very condescending about, oh, you’re young, you don’t know what you’re going to do. And there’s that degree to which you want to very literally flip them off and say, you don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Zac agreed.
“I don’t think we’re a band because we’re a family,” he said. “I think saying that back them was almost more of a joke, in that, I’m going to see him at Christmas. But many people who are in families don’t even see each other at Christmas. They just don’t go. You just have your own.”
But being family has effected the bands ability to play together for so long, the youngest brother reflected.
“I think being brothers is a real strong reason why we were able to start the band young,” he said. “I think the reason why we’re still a band today is more a testament to us all loving what we do, and saying, I don’t want to lose the ability to make music. I don’t want to be so catty with you that my ability to be a band and enjoy what each guy brings to the table, I don’t want to screw that up. I want to find a way to work through that.”
In typical Zac style—the youngest of the three has been known for his wacky antics from day one—he explained that every work environment required tolerance and compromise.
“I was just joking with a guy in the other interview, saying like, you don’t necessarily like your boss or all your co-workers all the time. But you still work together. You don’t just like, punch him in the middle of a board meeting,” he said, before imitating someone leaping over the table to throw the punch.
“So you just work through the bad times to get to the good times,” he said.
The current tour, named after the band’s latest album, which reflects the groups sound a little truer, Zac said. And while band is completely independent of major labels now, he said the sound of the band hasn’t really changed.
“Going independent has affected the way we release music a lot,” he said. “The way we make music has been not necessarily effect that much.”
In fact, it’s a process to make music faster. Take out some stages where you’d have to be (saying) ‘ok, label this is what we’re doing, this is the sound of this record, this is where we’re going’ and bring people around like they’re on some sort of scooter or something, pull them along in the red wagon.”
“Now we don’t have the wagon where we have to pull people along, we just do it.”
Another factor that makes the current album different, he continued, was the style it was recorded.
“It was done live off the floor, and that adds a different kind of energy I think to the record where you hear, there’s just a spontaneity on the record that you get when you record it that way,” said Zac. “And not every song works that way, but when you have the opportunity to use that, I think it’s a really powerful thing.”
Most importantly, the decision to take their own path was the decision to do things their own way, the youngest brother said.
“It was saying, like, we need to put ourselves in a place that allows us to keep leading by our own passion and things that inspire us,” he said. “You don’t need to shuck and jive, you need to lead with passion.”
And lead with passion is exactly what they do. Throughout the tour, the band has joined it’s fans on a one-mile walk through the community before the evening’s show, to raise awareness of the AIDS crisis and poverty in Africa. During the trip to Ottawa from Hamilton, however, the band was told the temperature was going to drop dramatically, and made the decision to cancel the walk for Ottawa. As it turned out, the temperature really wasn’t so bad, but the band explained, they couldn’t execute the walk since they’d cancelled it the night before. Regardless, many fans took the walk anyway.
The message of the album, and the bands latest efforts, is also reflected on the title track. The song, which was written just after the release of the band’s previous album, touches on just about everything the band is saying right now, explained Zac, who penned the moving lyrics.
“And I think it was about, it wasn’t written directly about anything, but the decision to be an independent band, the decision to take on so much risk, doing things that could possibly end your career permanently,” he said. “And just saying life is about essentially conquering fear. It’s essentially saying so many things in your life are just about you getting over your own fear of failure.”
“And I think now, The Walk still, with the things that we’ve been doing, talking about Africa and trying to do the walks, those things I think it also relates to that. The message is as true to who we are now as much as it was when we wrote it.”
While the brothers readily admit they’ve never really fit with a specific genre of music, Zac said he feels the band fits best with music now than ever before.
“We came out as teen pop, but we weren’t really teen pop,” he said. “Grunge was before us, and now, I don’t even know what the genre (is). Rap’s been huge. And then now, whatever we’re going into now. We’ve never quite fit into anything.”
The song reflects that too, he said.
“It’s saying we’re just walking. We’re not running, we’re not trying to hide anything. We’re not trying to be anything. We’re just walking.”
The band wrapped up the Canadian portion of the current tour last Thursday in London, ON.

The article previewing the Hanson show in Ottawa, Dec. 2009

Hanson coming to Ottawa Dec. 5
By Rosalyn Stevens

Ten years after they hit the music scene with their infectious pop beats, Tulsa OK based Hanson is getting ready to bring their new music—and new message—to Ottawa.
For only the second time in a decade, Hanson will be bringing their tour to the capital, playing at the Bronson Centre on December 5.
The tour, named after their latest album The Walk, is bringing the music with a bit more punch, explained keyboardist and vocalist Taylor Hanson.
“I think the whole show has a slightly more, I don’t want to say tougher, but it definitely has a bit more punch to it, sort of a more in your face kind of attitude,” he said during a phone interview from San Francisco.
Traveling hand in hand with the band’s more mature sound is the message of hope and empowerment, which Mr. Hanson said comes out loud and clear on the new album. The first track on The Walk was recorded in Africa, at an orphanage the band visited during a short stay in the troubled region. The chilling sound of children chanting “Ngi Ne Themba,” which is translated to mean, “We have hope,” prefaces the song Great Divide, talking about coming together to overcome difficulties and challenges.
“We want you to hear this record and get it, get what we’re talking about,” he said. “And I think if you don’t hear the African chant at the front of the record, and then hear Great Divide and understand that there’s some really strong messages on this album, then you’re definitely not listening.”
Mr. Hanson said the band has always relayed strong messages in their music, though he said he’s aware many people didn’t hear them in earlier albums.
“We’ve always been really metaphoric in our lyrics, and I think a lot of times people are lazy and they don’t really pick up what we’re talking about in a lot of these songs and getting the meanings.”
The band, which consists of brothers Isaac, Taylor and Zac, was inspired into action by a recent trip to Africa, where they saw and experienced firsthand the hardships of AIDS and poverty. From that point on, Mr. Hanson said he and his brothers realized they had something they could use to help out those in need around the world.
“I think the world, the global economy has grown, and we’ve become more connected,” he said. “And we just came back and said, ‘you know what, we’ve got something we can use. We can use music.’”
Unique to this tour, Hanson precedes each show with a one-mile walk, designed to inspire fans to get directly involved in the fight they’ve taken to heart. Mr. Hanson explained that by inviting fans to join the walk, the band is showing their fans that they too can help those in need around the world.
“Our whole message after Africa has been to promote the idea that everyone has something they can use,” he explained. “Everybody has something that they can put to work. And I think that the walk is the idea that we’re doing something as simple as walking.”
“The direct action that we’re trying to inspire is for people to buy a pair of TOMS shoes. TOMS is a shoe company where every time you buy a pair of their shoes, they donate a pair to a child in poverty. And we’d like people to walk barefoot.”
To date, Hanson has helped TOMS reach its goal of donating 50,000 pairs of shoes to children in poverty. On tour in San Francisco when he called The Now, Mr. Hanson said the band would be walking its 31st mile before that show last week.
“That first batch (of shoes) has been delivered to Africa, and after our 35th show, we are joining TOMS back in Africa for our first trip back, to help deliver shoes and really connect,” he said. “What we’re trying to do is really connect the idea that, especially average Americans, that we can begin to look at the things we do—the things we buy, the jobs we take—and the simple actions, and really connect to the problems in Africa.”
Over the past ten years, Mr. Hanson said he and his brothers have watched their fan base grow and change with them.
“Ya, we’ve noticed a big change,” he said. “I mean, many of our fans have grown up over the last ten years with us. Our most devoted fans are the ones that were 16, 17 years old, or for that matter, maybe nine or ten, depending on, and they’ve grown up with us.”
Now in their twenties—Isaac is 26, Taylor 24 and Zac 22—the middle brother said it’s been fun to watch their fans grow and change, but remain connected to the band.
“It is really interesting too, because they’re a very diverse group. I mean, when you come to a Hanson show, you’re going to see the guy in the khakis next to the girl with piercings, next to, you know, somebody who’s the hippie, all hanging out next to each other. And I think a big part of that is the fact that people have changed, and they still maintain a connection with this band, even though they’re totally different than they were originally.”
And lately, since the release of their previous album, Underneath, and with the current release, Mr. Hanson said new fans are being turned onto the music.
“It’s also even, kind of a weird thing of young kids that are introduced to the music through an older brother or sister, or some friend that knew the band from when we first came out,” he said. “So it’s kind of cool to see the cycle of the fans that have kind of been passionate from the beginning and now also fans that are just getting turned onto the music.”
Fans planning to see the show in Ottawa will be happy to know that the precursor walk is on the schedule—and they’re even planning to walk barefoot—before the show. And when the band hits the stage, Mr. Hanson said fans should get ready for an interactive show. Fans will be treated to a mix of a decades worth of Hanson, blended with covers of music that’s inspired the band over the years. With a “more in your face attitude” on this tour, Mr. Hanson said he and his brothers hope fans will get involved in the show.
“It’s about coming in and being a part of something. We don’t like people to be sitting down, and sort of golf clapping, you know? This is about getting up and enjoying a rock and roll show,” he said.
“This is about getting involved. We want you to sweat. We want you to get on your feet and clap with us, and sing along.”

My first Hanson column, published just after my first interview with Taylor in Nov. 2007

Our very own Hanson fan

By Rosalyn Stevens

My name is Rosalyn, and I’m a Hanson fan.

Making an admission like that, at my age is, by some, likened to an admission of guilt, shame or other ‘bad’ feelings. But to be honest, folks, it makes me smile and giggle like a little girl again.

My love story with Hanson began back in spring of 1997, when at the tender age of 11, I fell instantly for the trio. Mmmbop was the song of the summer, and for years afterwards, every cent I had was spent on something to do with Hanson. Magazines with glossy photos, albums, single releases, fan club memberships, and concert tickets. Hanson was my life.

So imagine my surprise when, 10 years later, I’m faced with the reality that the next call to come through on my phone will be from one of those three brothers. Life stopped for a few days leading up to the interview.

It’s funny how life unfolds. My partner in crime a decade ago was my best friend Daniela. We spent every second together, and that time was spent obsessing over our “future husbands.” Yup, we were those girls. As the years passed, and grade six turned into grade 10, Daniela and I parted ways. A period of a number of years passed without a word exchanged between us. I moved on, graduated high school, and a few years later, graduated college an accredited journalist. Off I went into the world, to find my own way. Funny thing is, through all those years, there was a seed of curiosity within me, wondering just what those beautiful boys were up to.

Fast forward to April this year, when I made the spur-of-the-moment decision to call Daniela and catch up. The instant we’re together again, we revert to our 11-year-old selves, gabbing endlessly about, life, growing up and of course, the objects of our childhood affection.

And then here we are today. Hanson, in case you weren’t aware (and really, I don’t expect many people are), will be playing the Bronson Centre on December 5. A reporter for The News, EMC, I had to take advantage of this opportunity to “help out” my colleagues from The Now EMC. The instant editor Desmond returned from his wedding, he was attacked with my proposition to cover this concert. With his approval, I got the ball rolling. My heart stopped the morning of November 2, when a phone interview was confirmed for the following Monday. Great timing, too, since Fridays are deadline time for us News reporters. Concentration went right out the window that day.

So we fast-forward again, to Monday morning, when I know that in a matter of hours, I’ll be speaking with one of my three childhood idols. Even though I’m not sure which of the three brothers will be on the opposite end of the phone, it’s clear that there was to be no working for me that day. Yes, I am a professional, and interview notable people each and every day. But this one was different. A message scrawled on a yellow post-it note, stuck to my computer directly in my line of sight said, “It’s just another interview. Breathe!!”

Time ticked by slowly. 2:00…2:04…2:08. Minutes were passing like hours. Heart racing by now, my breaths were getting shorter. I had to find some way to distract myself from staring at the clock. Daniela had called me a few minutes before 2pm, and I was instructed to go directly to her house after the interview.

At 3:00 pm—exactly—the phone rang. It was Hanson’s media relations woman, and I think my heart stopped when she said, “I’ll go get Taylor for you.”

For the next 20 minutes, I did my best to sound professional and collected, while completely freaking out on the inside. I spent 20 minutes of my life talking with Taylor Hanson, who when I was 11, I swore I would someday marry.

When the interview came to an end, I made my confession to the bands frontman, telling him, “I’ve been a fan since ’97,” and explaining how great it was to talk with him. I hung up the phone, turned around to my colleagues, and took a deep breath.

I survived it. I survived my 20 minutes with Taylor Hanson. The little girl in me squealed with delight.

Hey!

I've been really fortunate in my life and my career. I was able to make my childhood dream come true---I know, cheesy right??--and interview the band Hanson.
Being a fan of this band is a huge part of my life, and with that, I've taken it a step further and used interactions, tour experiences and just general feelings as fodder for my regular column in a community newspaper in Ottawa. All content posted here has been previously published in the EMC Community Newspaper, in Ottawa, ON.
I wanted to take this opportunity to share my various writings with anyone who might be interested in reading it, Hanson fans in particular!

Hope you like what you see, and thanks for reading!
Dreambig