The Creative Process Interview Series

Eric Hanke, Singer-Songwriter

In terms of lyric writing, do you look for ideas? Do you build from a few lines that occur to you, or maybe sit down and work from a starting point based on an artist's style that you admire?

A songwriter is always writing, that's how our minds work. Some people might see a street corner, writers might see a story, I think it has to do with perception. I've found most artists' responses to this question to be nebulous, which is maybe one of the best words to describe the process. How does one paint? Write a novel?

Are there any few songs from the past few years that you've most enjoyed performing – or maybe even ones that are tougher to sing in terms of the emotions and subject matter involved?

I perform pretty much the entire record at live shows, some songs are harder to sing from a technical standpoint, but not from an emotional one. I have other songs in reserve and some on the way.

I noticed a lot of guest appearances on the CD. Can you say anything about how Austin artists support each other?

I get by with a little help from my friends.

How do you read an audience to get a feel for what's working best? Do you ever alter your setlist or performance style based on the responses you're getting, based on the vibe?

Yes, you can't put too many slow songs together in a set, you need to vary it up and change things when they aren't working.

Do you have plans for going out on the road in other parts of the country?

I did some touring this summer to the midwest, TN, AR, always going different places in Texas. I plan to go everywhere eventually.

As a singer-songwriter, where do you see yourself in five or ten years' time? Recording and touring, with Austin as your home base?

I'm pretty much doing that now, I would like to tour more, right now I am playing shows and working on the next record.

Pt 1 / 2 << | MORE INFO AT WWW.ERICHANKEBAND.COM