Lindzi.com: How have things changed for you over the last year?

Eric Hutchinson: Things have changed. Everything’s bigger. I’ve got more people helping me get the music out there. Everything’s gotten bigger, but the art is still the same thing. It’s still me playing songs I’m passionate about.

Lindzi.com: How important was Perez Hilton in helping you break?

Eric Hutchinson: That was a big moment because it gave new attention to the album. I made the album independently after being dropped from my label. I put the album out by myself. When Perez put it on his website, it went into the top 10 on iTunes. Suddenly, I had all these labels calling. It was a big spotlight for it at the right time. Since then, it’s been even more work than it was before that. It was a great moment and a great break.

Lindzi.com: What do you attribute the success of Rock & Roll to? When you wrote it did you know it would be a break out song?

Eric Hutchinson: The main comment I get about the album, that I wasn’t really prepared for, is when people come up to me and say, “I put your album on when I’m in a feel good mood. It’s my feel good album. All these songs make me feel happy.” It’s great to hear, but it was surprisingly at first because I wrote the songs when I was frustrated and depressed. I looked at the songs as having a lot of despair and isolation in them. Because they sound upbeat, everybody feels like they’re happy. That’s good though.

Lindzi.com: At the time you were writing the songs, what were you frustrated about?

Eric Hutchinson: After I was dropped from the label, everyone I was working with had given up on music. I was becoming discouraged myself. It was a frustrating time. I was living with my parents and broke. I wasn’t really sure what to do with myself. [Background noise interrupts.] Sorry we’re in the car here. 

Lindzi.com: That’s ok. Where are you headed?

Eric Hutchinson: We’re playing Chico, California tonight. It’s a college town.

Lindzi.com: What’s the biggest misconception of living the rock star lifestyle?

Eric Hutchinson: I don’t think I’m living that lifestyle. I’m not doing the rock star lifestyle. I guess the biggest misconception is that people don’t realize how much work it is. I’m traveling all the time. I can’t really drink on tour because my voice can’t handle it. I can’t do what I need to do during the day if I’m drunk or hung over. For me, there’s not a lot of partying, but its fun. I enjoy what I do—though it’s also a lot of work. You’ve got to keep moving all the time. 

Lindzi.com: Is your home base still living with the parents? Or has that changed?

Eric Hutchinson: That has changed. I live in New York now. I’ve been there for about two years now—though I’ve been traveling almost the whole time.

Lindzi.com: When you’re traveling, do you get a chance to see each city?

Eric Hutchinson: I’ve been to every city in America at least three or four times now. I kind of like getting out. It’s fun to have a constant variety. There are so many great cities in the country.

Lindzi.com: What’s been your favorite city to visit?

Eric Hutchinson: We’re going to San Francisco on Friday, which is one of my top favorites. It’s an inspiring city with a lot of energy. We’re going to Australia in a month, which I’m really excited for.

Lindzi.com: Who would you love to collaborate with?

Eric Hutchinson: Kayne West is my number one! I love his stuff. He’s my favorite musician out there these days. All of his albums are excellent. I’d love to do something with him.

Lindzi.com: What would that collaboration sound like?

Eric Hutchinson: It would sound like amazing-ness. I don’t know. I like a lot of soul and hip hop.

Lindzi.com: Where do you draw inspiration from for songs?

Eric Hutchinson: These days, I have an iPhone which has been helpful. When I have ideas for lyrics or a song, I’ll type that stuff in there. If I have a melody idea, I’ll record it on the phone. I don’t have as much time to write songs these days, but I’ve been stocking up on ideas. I’m interested in writing about everyday life. I like writing about the little things that mean a lot to people.

Lindzi.com: Say what you will, but things are really blowing up for you. What has been your “I’ve made it” moment?

Eric Hutchinson: I feel like maybe I’ve gotten out of the minor leagues, but I feel like I’m in the major leagues at the lowest end of the totem poll. I still feel like I’m playing for people to know the music—but we did The Tonight Show back in September and that was a moment that was personal. It felt like, “No matter what happens from here, I got to play The Tonight Show.”

Lindzi.com: When you’re doing these gigs, I’d imagine you meet some of the guests. Who has made you star struck?

Eric Hutchinson: You’re doing these things and you know who they are and sometimes they know who I am, but what do you say? It’s like, “Cool. We know things about each other, but we’ve never met each other before.” It’s more, kind of, awkward. I do get to meet some really cool people though. I met Conan O’Brien and Daniel Radcliffe, who plays Harry Potter, was the guest that night. He was a big fan of the music. That was cool.

Lindzi.com: What’s the best piece of advice someone’s given you for what you’ve set out to do?

Eric Hutchinson: It’s not really advice, but it was a lesson I learned from my manager which is that people will treat you as well as you let them treat you. If you don’t have any respect for yourself, then people will walk all over you. You also have to love what you do before other people can love it.

Lindzi.com: When’s the last time you found yourself in that situation?

Eric Hutchinson: It’s interesting because I’ve ended up mixing my profession with my passion. That can get a little sticky because you’re mixing art and commerce. It’s hard because I want everyone to like the music and I want to get it out to as many people as possible, but every now and then an opportunity comes up that doesn’t quite feel like it’s something I want to be a part of. It’s about figuring out what I’m comfortable with.

Lindzi.com: What’s something you’ve learned about yourself in the last year?

Eric Hutchinson: One thing I’m constantly amazed with is how much or how little I can get done in a day. Sometimes, we wake up at 5 am and fly around the country to do a show at a radio station. You can do so many things in a day. That’s been exciting to see.

Also exciting? Watching Eric's career progress. Listen for his new single "Ok, It's Alright With Me."