Hot Chelle Rae Do The Damn Thing Interview

Hot Chelle Rae was founded in Nashville circa 2005 and today consists of Ryan Follese, Nash Overstreet and Jamie Follese. Having grown up in musically-inclined households, the three came of age among the songwriting community in Nashville. Hence the foundation upon which HCR was built and boils down to really good music.

The band gained widespread acclaim from their 2011 triple platinum single "Tonight Tonight," which went #1 across Top 40 radio and sold over 3 million copies, while their single "I Like It Like That" peaked at #28 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Their skills as songsmiths are mirrored by their live performance chops, refined through years of touring alongside the likes of Taylor Swift, Demi Lovato and Justin Bieber, HCR has become known for their incredible musicianship and intoxicating energy on stage.

Garnering over 9M followers across their social media platforms and millions of fans on YouTube the band are consistently engaged with their global audience.

In 2015 they took a break from the limelight, focusing on their careers as songwriters. During this time, their individual crafts flourished, inspiring them to join forces once again. Slated with a batch of A+ tunes and sound indicative of their growth as writers and people, HCR draws on optimistic themes, a general feel-good mentality and snapshots from their personal lives and experiences.

Coming off their char- topping success of their single "I Hate LA," Hot Chelle Rae dropped "Do The Damn Thing" featuring Chord Overstreet and LEVI in the US last week. The track was immediately added to over 24 leading playlists such as New Music Friday, Global New Music, New In Pop, and Pandora, the catchy, fun pop tune continues to build momentum and is out now in Australia on Three Amigos Records.

"We're excited to be releasing Do The Damn Thing. In a time where everything has been negative and heavy, this song is something positive and light for people to have fun and party to." Hot Chelle Rae

Interview with Hot Chelle Rae (Nash Overstreet & Jamie Follese)

Question: How would you describe your music?

Nash Overstreet Our music is a page out of our diary. We have a lot of fun, with great friends in great places, and love life. We make songs for people to have the time of their lives to! Just like everyone, we've been through our share of hard days and nights, break ups, and depression too. So there's the emotional and deep side to the coin... but whatever song it is... it's always the real us.

Jamie Follese I would describe our music as what you want to put on when you are about to go out to a party with your friends. With a mix of crying after you left the party because some bad stuff happened.


Question: Can you tell us about Do The Damn Thing?

Nash Overstreet Do The Damn Thing is our house party anthem! We collab'd with my brother Chord Overstreet, and Levi(who co-wrote our song "I Hate LA") on this one... and it could just as easily be about all the crazy ragers we've thrown where 300 people roll up to the house... or this last year where we celebrated the Covid version of New Year's Eve and birthdays, chugging out of bottles with only a couple of us in a living room.

Jamie Follese Do The Damn Thing came about in a really natural ways. It's kind of an old vibe but when the chorus hits you get that modern fun feeling that we've always loved.


Question: Is there a particular message you hope listeners take from your music?

Nash Overstreet We want to lift up and encourage everyone who hears our music. If you want to get hype and have a good time or need to realize you're not alone in feeling any type of way... writing about our lives seems like it's covered so many bases, and nothing feels better than hearing someone say that one of our songs changed their lives!


Jamie Follese Yeah, we hope that listeners take away happiness from our music. After you listen, we want you to be having a better day than you were before.


Question: Do you prefer performing live or recording?

Nash Overstreet They're two very different things. Recording and writing is so fun, cause every day you've invented a brand-new thing out of thin air. It's really exciting and energizing. Playing live gets us to connect and see and meet our fans and watch the way our music impacts people in person! Such a crazy thing to be lucky enough to do!


Jamie Follese I think we will always prefer performing live because of the energy that fans give us when we're playing to them. The year of 2020 has really made that apparent as well.


Question: What is the story behind the band name?
Nash Overstreet We MAY have lied for a couple years to protect the innocent haha. We got catfished by someone for YEARS when we were first getting started as a band, and we told her story, using the name Chelle Rae. The actual name came from one of our exes.... cause we can't be out here giving the catfisher too much credit!


Question: How did the band come together?

Nash Overstreet Ryan and I met right out of Highschool when we were about 18. Jamie met Ryan simply cause it's super difficult to bring a baby brother home from the hospital and keep it a secret from the other kid. We almost custom groomed Jamie to join the band, and as soon as he was legally allowed to drive and finished primary school... we hit the road!


Jamie Follese Ryan and Nash actually met at a music store about 10 minutes from our house. They didn't like each other. They still don't. ;)


Question: What motivates you most when writing music?

Nash Overstreet Trying to catch a vibe and a mood is huge. There are days when you want to party, and days where you want to nap. It usually goes well to follow your own energy for that.
Finding a unique experience, or combining common experiences is always a great way to come up with ideas too.


Question: Which music/artists are you currently listening to?

Nash Overstreet Constantly finding new fire to blast in the car or on planes! Dominic Fike is insanely dope. Bieber, Da Baby, and Billie Eilish have been putting out bangers non-stop. Jon Bellion is a great artist but we are also huge fans of his writing. And Doja Cat is a personal fave.


Question: What or who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?
Nash Overstreet Our parents were all in music, so it was such a natural move for us to do what we grew up surrounded by. We literally were crawling around in recording studios as children.


Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

Nash Overstreet Doja Cat, Dua Lipa, Blackbear... there's a huge list, but I could die real happy if we link with one of these.


Jamie Follese Or da baby. I think he adds more to a verse than most rappers out currently.


Question: What's a typical day like?

Nash Overstreet The boring version is hit the gym, maybe grab food, and write a song, then watch tv and hang with friends after... but the best times are, get on a plane, leave the country, go somewhere amazing, forget how many tequila we've taken, and go crazy in a pool with an insane view!


Question: What's next, for you?

Nash Overstreet We've got so many new records in the works. We just dropped a music video for Come My Way AND Do The Damn Thing, and the to-do list goes on forever. We can't wait to play live again after such a crazy weird year of quarantine.


Jamie Follese We want to be in your face for the next year straight and hope to be!


Question: What do you love most about Australia?

Nash Overstreet The people! Everyone in Australia is sooo nice and fun. Going out there has made it one of my favorite countries in the whole world. I can hit a bar by myself and leave with 10 new friends(doesn't hurt finally being the one who's got an accent haha).
I wouldn't have got my kangaroo tattoo if I didn't love Australia sooo much!


Jamie Follese I agree, definitely the people. We have never felt more welcome than in Australia. It's honestly our favorite place to travel and to play. I tell anyone anytime they ask me where to go it's always Australia. Hopefully we will be back soon!


Interview by Gwen van Montfort