Smash Mouth’s Steve Harwell opens up about music, touring, a new album

Smash Mouth, the hugely successful rock band that has sold more than 10 million albums, continues to give their legion of fans what they want: catchy new songs, classic hits and a nonstop touring schedule. Headed by lead singer Steve Harwell, the band has earned a number of recognizable hits, including “Walkin’ on the Sun,” “All Star,” “I’m a Believer” and “Can’t Get Enough of You Baby”.

Currently, the band members are gearing up for the release of their latest album, Magic, and a summer tour that will take them from their native California to New York and back again.

Recently, Hollywood Soapbox exchanged e-mails with Harwell about what fans can expect from the prolific band in the coming months.

Fans are excited to hear the new album, Magic. What can we expect? How did the album come about?

We are excited about this one. Definitely some of the best work we’ve put out in years. We’re just all in a really good place right now and excited about our music and life in general. We’ve been touring non-stop for the past several years and decided it was time to jump in the studio and make a new record for our fans. The fact that our new guitar player Mike Krompass happens to be a killer songwriter and producer didn’t hurt the process either.

You’re quickly approaching Smash Mouth’s 20th anniversary as a band. Could you believe that this many years later, you would still be playing to so many fans and have so many iconic songs?

When we started this we all vowed that it would be for the rest of our lives and that’s fully what we intend to do. We feel blessed to be able to create and perform music as our jobs for our fans. Count on us sticking around for a long time.

The band has impressed the industry with original songs and new takes on old classics. When playing a concert, how do you choose your set list? Do you have to give the audience the classics all the time?

For the most part, yes, we love to play the hits as people love to hear them and sing along. We also love to incorporate our new stuff and the new songs always seem to go over equally as well.

Your influences seem really unique and profound. There’s a great pop vibe, with some garage band attitude thrown in. Who do you see as your biggest influences?

I guess that depends on who you ask in the band and that’s what makes our music so unique. We all come from different places musically. I’m more of a classic Van Halen fan. Paul might say Joe Jackson.

There have been some lineup changes in Smash Mouth. How do you adapt to changes (both in personnel and record labels)?

We as a group are very passionate about what we do. If we’re going to let someone into our camp they need to be equally as passionate. I’m happy to say that our current lineup has nothing but extreme passion, respect, and love for Smash Mouth. In changing labels, it’s much of the same. We’ve talked to many about putting out this new record but wanted to make sure that we partnered with someone that had the same passion with our music as we do and we think we’ve found that.

Making a new album, touring around the world, writing songs … it must get busy. Is it always hard work? How do you keep the energy going for the fans?

It is hard work, but we love what we do. Lots of airports, hotels, and stages but music is our passion so we love every minute of it and can’t wait for the next show.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

• Click here for more information on Smash Mouth. Upcoming tour dates include: Chicago (July 14), Redondo Beach, Calif. (July 21), Massapequa, N.Y. (July 24), Burlington, Vt. (July 25) and St. Clair, Mich. (July 27).