5 Questions With - Hot Chelle Rae

Hey everyone! Remember Hot Chelle Rae!?!? Yes, you do. Who can forget the silliest of recent summer anthems “Tonight, Tonight”. You know, the song where they somehow worked the name Zach Galifinakis into a line? To do that – and to actually pull it off – takes balls and talent. Don’t dismiss a song just because it has a silly theme. After all, LMFAO’s “Sexy and I Know It” not only made it to #1, but was nominated for a Grammy. Silly is serious business.
After the success of “Tonight, Tonight”, the band has been bouncing around the world playing show after show, all the while recording their new album. While the album isn’t here just yet, lead single “Hung Up” is, and I’m really happy to hear that HCR has kept their signature sound, including the silliness.
I know I keep saying that word, don’t mind me. I just don’t often get to use it in a positive context (thanks HCR!). Lead singer Ryan Follese answered a few questions for P!B!B! the other day, so why don’t we read this, then go listen to “Hung Up”, then prepare ourselves for the impending SILLINESS THAT IS COMING OUR WAYYY.
(silly)
1. When I look at you guys, I see a rock/pop-punk band, but when I listen, all I hear is pop. What would you call yourselves?
We were once described as elastifunk pop with a hop-hop swagger. I thought that was a pretty creative description of us! In all seriousness I would describe our sound as pop. I am fortunate enough to be in a band with 3 guys who love the same sound I do and it just so happens to be pop.
2. We just reviewed "Hung Up" - well done. Tell me - and be honest - did you intentionally pause after the word "hung" in the chorus to cause an innuendo? Cuz that's what I love most about it.
First off, thank you very much! The pause in the song just happens to be a "huge" perk. We wrote the song on piano with the intention of it being a love song (which it is) and the double entendre just happened to be on the......pause!
3. Is there any pressure to have another hit single after the success of "Tonight, Tonight" (in particular)? Is that something you guys care about?
There's always pressure when you have any kind of success, but for us we aren't a fold under pressure type of group. Also, we are just doing what we love to do and as long as our fans are happy, that's what makes up happy.
4. Does the new record have a name or release date? Any idea how it might differ from the last two?
We do not have a release date yet, but we are working hard on it. We have traveled the world twice over, played hundreds of shows, and be away from home for a long time. That being said we have learned and grown in so many ways both as people and as a band which will totally affect our writing. I think fans and new listeners will be thrilled and pleasantly surprised.
5. (We ask this of everyone) What are some bands or artists that you guys are listening to that you would suggest we all go out and try?
I’m listening to the Icona Pop EP, I think it is really unique and fun. I love Taylor's record all the way through. Hoodie Allen's mix-tape is amazing. In all seriousness I have been listening to the greats, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, and a lot of early R&B. It's very inspiring and motivating to me. It also provides me and the innocent people around me with a horrific display of my dancing!!
Hot Chelle Rae are on Facebook, and "Hung Up is available now!
After the success of “Tonight, Tonight”, the band has been bouncing around the world playing show after show, all the while recording their new album. While the album isn’t here just yet, lead single “Hung Up” is, and I’m really happy to hear that HCR has kept their signature sound, including the silliness.
I know I keep saying that word, don’t mind me. I just don’t often get to use it in a positive context (thanks HCR!). Lead singer Ryan Follese answered a few questions for P!B!B! the other day, so why don’t we read this, then go listen to “Hung Up”, then prepare ourselves for the impending SILLINESS THAT IS COMING OUR WAYYY.
(silly)
1. When I look at you guys, I see a rock/pop-punk band, but when I listen, all I hear is pop. What would you call yourselves?
We were once described as elastifunk pop with a hop-hop swagger. I thought that was a pretty creative description of us! In all seriousness I would describe our sound as pop. I am fortunate enough to be in a band with 3 guys who love the same sound I do and it just so happens to be pop.
2. We just reviewed "Hung Up" - well done. Tell me - and be honest - did you intentionally pause after the word "hung" in the chorus to cause an innuendo? Cuz that's what I love most about it.
First off, thank you very much! The pause in the song just happens to be a "huge" perk. We wrote the song on piano with the intention of it being a love song (which it is) and the double entendre just happened to be on the......pause!
3. Is there any pressure to have another hit single after the success of "Tonight, Tonight" (in particular)? Is that something you guys care about?
There's always pressure when you have any kind of success, but for us we aren't a fold under pressure type of group. Also, we are just doing what we love to do and as long as our fans are happy, that's what makes up happy.
4. Does the new record have a name or release date? Any idea how it might differ from the last two?
We do not have a release date yet, but we are working hard on it. We have traveled the world twice over, played hundreds of shows, and be away from home for a long time. That being said we have learned and grown in so many ways both as people and as a band which will totally affect our writing. I think fans and new listeners will be thrilled and pleasantly surprised.
5. (We ask this of everyone) What are some bands or artists that you guys are listening to that you would suggest we all go out and try?
I’m listening to the Icona Pop EP, I think it is really unique and fun. I love Taylor's record all the way through. Hoodie Allen's mix-tape is amazing. In all seriousness I have been listening to the greats, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, and a lot of early R&B. It's very inspiring and motivating to me. It also provides me and the innocent people around me with a horrific display of my dancing!!
Hot Chelle Rae are on Facebook, and "Hung Up is available now!