Eric Hutchinson, a singer-songwriter from Maryland, is an artist on the upswing.

He was catapulted to the top of the charts on iTunes’ bestseller list in September 2007 after gaining the support of popular celebrity blogger Perez Hilton.

Inspired by musical greats such as Stevie Wonder, The Beatles and Michael Jackson, this singer-songwriter has created his own brand of funky pop music with smart, charming lyrics. Hutchinson has already released his own hit song with the single “Rock & Roll,” and that teamed with his nose-to-the-grindstone work ethic and nonstop touring schedule, has him poised for big things in 2009.

The State Press recently spoke with Hutchinson about his touring schedule and what fans can expect out of him this year.

State Press: Tell us a little bit about your past touring habits.

Eric Hutchinson: I’ve been touring a lot. I’ve been touring full time for about six years, and then I toured all of last year and got started early this year. Now we’re already booked through May. It’s all about getting out there and making fans the old-fashioned way.

SP: What are some of the pros and cons of being on the road so much?

EH: Well, it’s fun to go all over and see different people. Especially recently, it’s been nice to go places and have people who are excited about the music before I even get there. That’s a cool feeling.

The downside is that I don’t get my see my friends and family as much. It’s kind of hard to establish normalcy in my routine.

SP: In your time out promoting your album “Sounds Like This,” and as an up-and-coming artist, do you notice a larger crowd or more fans singing along every time you play a certain town?

EH: Yeah, for sure. That’s part of the reason why I’m always touring, is I can see a direct result from me playing in Phoenix or wherever and then the next time there [are] more people because someone else told them to come see the show. A lot of it is still word of mouth. I think word of mouth is even bigger now because of the Internet.

SP: You’re touring with G. Love and the Special Sauce now, and you have named them as influences. Is it cool to be playing with them every night?

EH: Yeah, it’s exciting. I’ve done a few shows with them before, and I used to come to their shows and watch them. Now to be a part of the show is a really cool feeling.

SP: Do you feel like you have one song that always gets the crowd going when you play?

EH: Yeah, so far the crowds have been really receptive in general. My song “Rock & Roll” is out there, so sometimes people know that song even though they might not have known who sang it or something. It’s been good so far, and for the most part the whole show has been going over well with the crowd. It’s been fun.

SP: Your single “Rock & Roll” is a hit song; have you had a moment when that has really hit you? Maybe you heard the song on the radio or while you were out?

EH: I’ve only heard it once, but I get a lot of text messages from people saying they heard it all over the place, like Red Lobster, the movie theater or on the radio. That stuff is pretty cool. That’s one weird side of it though — with traveling all the time I just have my own little reality of playing the shows. I don’t really get a bigger sense of it all. I’m right in the middle of everything.

SP: What can a fan expect out of an Eric Hutchinson show?

EH: My whole thing is hopefully anybody, whether they’ve heard the songs 100 times or never heard them, can enjoy the show. It’s upbeat, and I work really hard to involve the crowd because when I go to see a concert I want to feel like I’m part of the show. To me, as the performer, I feel like I’m hosting a party and it’s my responsibility to make sure everyone has a good time.

Want two free tickets to the show? Be the first to e-mail the reporter at jdfourni@asu.edu.