As Andrew McMahon continues to support his latest album, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, the former Jack’s Mannequin and Something Corporate frontman is keeping the creative juices flowing
The 32-year-old will play a string of shows across the globe in the coming months, but he’s also making time for some good old fashioned collaborations with friends.
“I’m going out to do a writing retreat in El Paso with my old buddy Taylor Hanson and a handful of writers they put together,” McMahon told ETonline’s Sophie Schillaci. “They basically get 10-12 writers from various different walks of life and styles of music, and you pair off and you do a writing session every day — you write and record a song every day for four days in a row. I have no idea if I’ll end up in a room with Taylor or Isaac or Zac or any of the other writers — I have no idea — I’m just showing up with my backpack and a journal, and I’m gonna start writing.”
While we keep our fingers crossed for a McMahon-Hanson collab (hello, teenage dream come true!) McMahon says he admires the brothers’ entrepreneurial spirit.
“Every time I talk to Taylor my mind is blown how he has so many irons in the fire,” he said. “He’s so passionate and has got such a great energy.” Of teaming up in the studio, he adds: “I would love that, they’re great guys.”
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When he’s not recording or posting adorable Instagram photos of his baby daughter Cecilia, McMahon is working hard to raise funds and awareness for his Dear Jack Foundation. The organization supports adolescents and young adults diagnosed with cancer, a cause close to McMahon’s heart as a cancer survivor himself.
ETonline was with McMahon at his third annual Dear Jack Golf Classic in Valencia, Calif., last week, while he’ll hit the stage at New York’s 54 Below forMade for Each Other: Broadway Meets Andrew McMahon on Feb. 19. The artist remains tight-lipped about the event’s “special guests,” telling ETonline only that “I’m looking forward to a great night of music with my friends from the New York City theater community.”
Could said friends include Jeremy Jordan or Katharine McPhee of NBC’s now-cancelled Smash? Here’s hoping! McMahon earned an Emmy nomination in 2013 as the songwriter behind their duet “I Heard Your Voice in a Dream.”
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Among McMahon’s other upcoming gigs is Coachella in April. Fans in Indio can expect to hear “Cecilia and the Satellite” with a tiny VIP in the audience.
“It will be baby’s first Coachella,” he said with a laugh. “We’ll get her kinda hipstered out and dressed appropriately for the event.”
But first, ETonline is thrilled to announce that McMahon will join us to liveblog the GRAMMYs! Be sure to check back here on Sunday, Feb. 8 for all the latest.
COMPLETE COVERAGE: 2015 GRAMMY Awards
For more on McMahon’s upcoming tour dates, check out his website.
Tell us: Who would you like to see McMahon collaborate with? Hit the comments with your picks and join the conversation online using #ETNow.