Put Your Hands Together

What makes the perfect "song of the summer?" Perfection can be pretty subjective but usually, the most popular songs of the hottest months of the year tend to have a few things in common: a danceable tempo (complete with one or more "beat drops"), generally upbeat lyrics or visuals and a dance move that goes along with them. And what dance move is more simple or more classic than the hand clap?

"From the very beginning, we've been envisioning the audience doing the hand clap with us. We wanted to know that when we play it live, it will be really exciting," offers Jeremy Ruzumna, the keyboard player for Fitz and The Tantrums.

The new self-titled album, released June 10, is the group's third. And the single is "HandClap."

"It was a labor of love, and we're very happy people are on board with this train, wherever it's going," Ruzumna continues. "It's true we're always evolving. Each album sounded very different from the album before it. More and more, one of the biggest places we've pulled inspiration from is our live show. We're trying to envision how these songs will come off live."

The alternative pop band has become known for their explosive live shows, which they're bringing to George's Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville with Zella Day, another rising name in indie pop, on Thursday. "HandClap" certainly isn't their first successful single, but Ruzumna says, "no matter how cool you play it, you're always excited when your album does well."

Ruzumna mentions how focusing on the live show has allowed the band to have an even greater give and take with the audience. But "HandClap's" immediate popularity, including a top spot on Spotify's U.S. Viral chart and ample radio time (including on local station 104.9 The X), came as a bit of a surprise even to the group.

"All you can do as an artist is you make stuff that you like and hope other people like it," Ruzumna says. "You're very fortunate when your taste happens to align with the audience's. You're friends for a while."

-- Jocelyn Murphy

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NAN What's Up on 07/15/2016