HINDER’s Drummer CODY HANSON Talks About The Band’s New Album, “When The Smoke Clears”, Their Favorite Tour, A Crazy Favorite Memory With The Band And Much More!

Hinder was formed in 2001 and they have released 5 studio albums. “Extreme Behavior” in 2005, “Take It To The Limit” in 2008, “All American Nightmare” in 2010, “Welcome to the Freakshow” in 2012 and finally their latest album was released just last month entitled “When The Smoke Clears” via The End Records. This is their first album with new vocalist Marshal Dutton. They were inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 2007.

Learn more about Hinder in the following interview with co-founder and drummer of the group, Cody Hanson.

Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band:

Marshal Dutton: Vocals

Cody Hanson: Drums

Mark King: Guitar/vocals

Joe “Blower” Garvey: Guitar

Mike Rodden: Bass & Vocals

Can you guys remember the day that you started this band? What brought you all together in the first place?

A: Blower and I met during our first year in college.  After we figured out that we were both into rock music and both played instruments, we would always have those drunken “we should get together and jam” moments.  One day we actually held each other to it.   Our first jam session was in my parents living room.  We recorded the whole thing with one microphone and an old karaoke machine.  We made all of our friends listen to that terrible sounding cassette tape for weeks!

How did your band’s name come about?

A: We had written quite a few songs and and really wanted to start booking shows. However, coming up with the a cool band name can be very frustrating. So we looked up the word “frustrate” in the thesaurus and “HINDER” was the coolest word that stood out.  We never thought it was great but we wanted to play shows so we just said F**k it!

What do you think sets this group apart from other bands?

A:  I think the fact that we have the ability and we’re not afraid to be musically versatile.  One song might be really dark and heavy, and the next could be a clean ballad.  We’ve never wanted to be pigeon-holed and stuck with one sound.  We like to make sure that we can do what’s best for the song instead of what “we” should sound like.

More times than not, influences tend to bleed through. What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?

A:  That’s a tough question.  I spend so much time writing and creating music that I rarely listen to new music.  But I can get into any song in any genre and as long as it’s a good song.  It has to say something and mean something.  On our new album, you will hear several different styles from rock to pop and even some country but I can’t really say that any artists in particular influenced it.

Since this is a radio-based publication, I have to ask, is there anyone new that you are all enjoying now? Any radio hits that you can’t get out of your heads?

A:  Like the rest of the world, I guess I would have to say “I’m all about that bass”…I hate you Meghan Trainor!!!  Nah, I’m just playing.

Your fifth studio album, “When The Smoke Clears” was released just last month. Tell me how it differs from your previous albums? Ultimately, how has the band’s sound changed over the years?

A:  Like I mentioned previously, there are a lot of different styles and sounds on this album.  We experimented with that a little bit on our last album, “Welcome To The Freakshow”, but this time we took it a little bit further.

The lead single from your album is “Hit The Ground”. What was the inspiration behind this song and why did you choose it to be the lead single of the album?

A: “Hit The Ground” was special to me from the moment that we started writing it.  The lyrics and the way it feels are so true and real.  We’ve been through and have seen a lot on our journey to get to this point and we’ve experienced every single line in the song.  If there is one thing that we’ve learned its that nobody is invincible.  If you don’t watch yourself, it’s easy to lose it all.

Tell me about moving over to The End Records. Why was the right label for you guys to be associated with? How has the relationship been so far?

A:  We’ve been doing this for a long time.  We knew that we didn’t want to move into the same label type situation that we had been in for the last 10 years.  From the first time that I spoke with Andreas Katsambas, I knew that he wanted to be in a partnership with the band.  They’ve given us complete creative control and have allowed us to make the album that we want to share with fans.  This is a very new relationship but so far it has been a great experience.

And how are things going with your veteran manager, Mark Adelman, of Career Artist Management?

A:  Mark and his team have been awesome. This can be a brutal business but it’s a great feeling to know that someone has your back and will stand up for you when you need it. Again, it’s a new relationship but hopefully one that lasts for many years to come.

I have read that Hinder like to take cues from rock legends such as Aerosmith, AC/DC, KISS and Guns N’ Roses, and update them with modern guitar sounds. Can you elaborate on that?

A:  Of course we look up to those bands.  That is the music that we grew up listening to.  They would go into the studio, create some kick ass rock, then put together a huge live show to match it. Out of all of our influences, I would have to say that these bands shine through the most.

Living or dead, who would you guys still love to work with and why?

A: I would love to work with Buddy Holly.  His hooks were incredible.  I can only imagine what kind of music he would create with all of the technology that is available today.

What are some of your favorite songs to perform?

A: The thing that I like most about playing live is watching the crowd reaction.  Songs like “Use Me”,  “All American Nightmare” and “Get Stoned” are always really fun to play. Also, besides “Hit The Ground”, we’ve been putting another one of my favorite songs  in the set from the new album called “Wasted Life”.  That’s been getting a great reaction and that’s been a lot of fun to watch.

You guys have toured with some amazing bands, like Mötley Crüe and Nickelback to Aerosmith and Papa Roach. What tour has really stood out to you guys?

A:  My favorite tour so far was our first arena tour as a headliner called “The Bad Boys of Rock” tour.  The lineup was Hinder, Papa Roach, Buckcherry, and Rev Theory.  We had some crazy times on that tour to say the least!

Thus far, what’s a favorite memory or something quirky that’s taken place with the band (in-studio, onstage, or elsewhere)?

A:  We’ve probably told this story way too many times but it’s still one of the funniest things I’ve seen.

We were playing winter festival at a ski lodge several years ago.  We were in a tent with heaters blasting so it was pretty hot inside.  We had gotten several songs into the set when all of the sudden we see a prosthetic leg come flying onto the stage from the crowd.  Since “Blower” is always at the cruel end of our jokes, he knew that someone would pick it up and either hit him with or anything else that could be thought of to inflict pain. However, this time he decided to act fast and pick it up himself. This was his chance to finally get some revenge on the rest of us. But instead, he walked back to the drum riser, picked up his full vodka drink and poured it down into the “cup” part of the leg.  He swished it around to make sure that he got all of  the sweat and whatever disgusting particles were in that thing, and with a big smile, chugged it down.  I thought I was going to vomit.

What would you say the band has already accomplished and what do you have your eyes set on next?

A:  The fact that we’re on our fifth album is a huge accomplishment. As long as we can keep making music and playing to packed venues full of our fans and friends, then we’re happy.

Is there anything in particular that you’d like people to take away from listening to your music?

A:  It’s always been our goal to write songs that people can relate to.  We spend a lot of time on our lyrics to make sure that’s the case.  As cheesy as it sounds, we just hope that our music can inspire someone, or help them through a tough time in their life.  We’re all just people and we all have problems.  Sometimes it helps to know that.  

Here’s the iTunes link to Hinder’s Album, “When The Smoke Clears”: http://smarturl.it/Hinder-WTSC