Curiocity: Q&A With Aquatennial Headliner Tonic
After 15 years, four million records sold and six top 10 singles, the band Tonic is nowhere near ready to throw in the towel.
Call it overachieving, but lead singer Emerson Hart says even after all they've accomplished, they still have more to say -- and more to explore.
After a two-year hiatus -- more than a decade on the road deserves a break -- the band got back in the recording studio, full of inspiration and ready to start the next chapter. Best known for its mega-hits like "If You Could Only See" and "You Wanted More," Hart said they're sticking to their signature sound while highlighting the growth of their music.
The band will perform Friday at the Aquatennial Block Party -- and live on WCCO 4 News This Morning, starting at 6 a.m. Before the band gears up for its highly anticipated return to Minneapolis, Hart was kind enough to take a few minutes out of his busy schedule to talk about what the band's been up to and what's next.
Q: What kind of feedback have you been getting from your most recent album, now that you've been touring and performing those songs for live audiences?
A: I mean, the feedback's been great. The record came out a year ago so we're wrapping up the touring cycle for this record but it's been really fantastic. I mean, we broke up for a little while, just because we needed to take a break from each other. Fifteen years on the road will do that. But we got back together, because we still had something to say. It's been fantastic, the feedback's been great, the shows have been great. You know, and I really didn't know, who was coming back around. But we've really had a great attendance and everybody's been very accepting of the new songs and I'm halfway through writing the next one, so it's going to be a great couple of years.
Q: So after 15 years, what keeps you guys motivated to keep going and write new songs?
A: You know, it's really the music. I know probably every artist says that but it's really the truth. Still having something to say and still enjoying what you do. Your work has created a sense of urgency constantly in this path -- I want to say this, wouldn't it be cool if we could do this -- and just working from that standpoint. And also, because we're all parents now, and have moved on in that stage in our life, we have to really work efficiently. We can't, you know, go to London for a month and drink --- you have to really focus on what we do and I think that really reflects in our work and the quality of it. I think we put a lot of effort into what we do.
Q: You mentioned you all have kids now, do they know what's going or understand dad's job?
A: Well, I have one daughter and she's going to be four in October. She knows that daddy goes on an airplane because he loves his work, and that's pretty much it. She knows it's not about the money, it's not about any of that stuff. She's always like, "Daddy, when can I come?" And I'm like, "Well, when you're a little bit older. Right now, you need to be home playing and having fun." She'll go to shows that are close but in general, I don't want to expose her to all of that. She has to be a little bit older to understand what daddy does. We played Poland last summer and we played for about 350,000 people and they televised it over the internet and my daughter was watching it. I came home and she was like, "I don't understand daddy, why were all those people there?" and I was like, "They were there to see daddy" and she's like "Just to sing?" So yeah, not there yet.
Q: At this stage, are you trying to create different music or stay true to the history that's already there?
A: You know, there's always going to be a bit of what the quality is when three things get together. You can make a pasta sauce and add garlic and something else, it's always generally going to taste a certain way. But the difference is that, for me as a writer, I live in Nashville and I'm writing everyday so I'm always growing as a writer. That has really made a difference in the writing. I feel like I can say things a lot quicker and a lot more honestly -- as efficient as possible. I hate the word efficient but you know what I'm saying.
Q: You guys just came back from playing at another one of our great Midwestern music festivals -- Sommerfest. What was that like?
A: It was amazing. We haven't played there in five years, and I didn't expect to see that many people. It was really, really fantastic. And they were, as always, in true Milwaukee fashion, ready to party and ready to have a good time. And ready to listen. It just was so much fun, so, so much fun. And we were just on a high because we were in Iraq two weeks ago, for 12 days playing for the troops. So to come home and get to play -- and we promised everyone over there that we would just put on the best shows we could in their honor and spirit, so it's been great.
Q: Wow. What was that experience like for you in Iraq and how long total were you there?
A: We were there 14 days. It was kind of hairy at some points. Since the peace accord has been signed, they really are letting a lot of the bases have it, missile-wise. And that's really kind of a drag. We did get attacked one night in Baghdad -- a rocket went off about 40 feet from me. And it was frightening. But I was like, you know, we have to stay here and keep doing this because these guys deal with this every night. So we just stuck it out and really got to know a lot of the soldiers. And we have done USO stuff every couple of years, we were in Bosnia during the war, but this was definitely a different experience. I just really support the troops. No matter what anyone thinks about why we're there, how we're there, or how long we're going to be there, it's really just about the job their doing and what fantastic Americans they are.
Q: What is it like for you to be able to say thanks to the troops in such a personal way, through your music?
A: It helps me sleep better at night. You sleep better because you don't meet the kid who is 19 years old, doesn't want to get a job and is begging on the streets of San Francisco. You meet the kid who is 19 years old, who has a degree in English and is serving his country. We tend to forget about those guys because we're inundated with the other guys.
Q: You said before that you're halfway through writing your next album? What can fans expect?
A: It's going to be a heavy-rock album, I mean, I say heavy but I mean, a heavy pop-rock record. It's not a Metallica record. But it's going to probably go back a little more to (debut album) Lemon Parade, as far as the tonality of it right now. Somewhere between Lemon Parade and Head On Straight.
Q: Have you been to Minnesota before? What are you looking forward to?
A: Oh yes, many times. Number one, I'm looking forward to the people. I'm all about people. That's just my deal. I love going to a new city and heading there a day early. I like spending time with people. Other than that, it's really just about the general good sense. I love the summertime in Minnesota, because people are just like, "let's do this" like all summer. There's no holding back because everyone's been shacked up all winter. I love that spirit.
Q: So what can we expect from your Friday night show?
A: Just a little bit of everything. We really try, in the band, to play as much as we can from all different records. I think there's already been some Facebook requests for certain songs so I'll put those in the set.
Q: Looking into the future, what's next for you guys? Where do you hope to go?
A: Make another record obviously, but really it's just about being able to be happy in our work. That's the only goal I ever have. I've had times when we were not happy, it's a drag, nobody wants to do it, it feels forced and I don't ever want to see that again. It's just my hope that we'll be able to still do what we do as long as we can -- without looking ridiculous.
Tonic will perform with The Irresistibles and Tim Mahoney on the Stanley stage at the Minneapolis Aquatennial Block Party on Friday. The event begins at 5 p.m. and goes until 11 p.m. The block party is located on Nicollet Mall between 3rd and 4th streets. You can also watch Emerson Hart perform live on WCCO 4 News This Morning at 6 a.m.
