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"The UK's hot new group, Lawson, has all the ingredients to be crowned the next go-to pop-rock band of the season. They've toured with everyone from Jessie J to the almighty Bruce Springsteen, written songs about heartbreak (lead singer Andy Brown dated Mollie King of The Saturdays), and they're British. What more could we ask for? With addictive lyrics and catchy melodies that make you want to grab your hairbrush and dance like no one is watching, Adam Pitts, Joel Peat, Ryan Fletcher, and Andy Brown remind us not to judge this band by their perfectly coiffed hair, but instead by their music.\n\nWe talked to the boys about teaming up with talented musicians, overcoming major obstacles, and more.\n\nLawson is a unique band name. Can you explain the story behind it?\n\n Andy Brown: \"Lawson is actually the name of a surgeon back in the UK. About five years ago I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. It was a traumatic time in my life and I was petrified. Dr. Lawson who operated on me was such an inspirational guy\u2014he saved my life basically. So, we named the band after him.\"\n\nWhat makes Lawson different from other bands?\n\n Ryan Fletcher: \"When people see our poster we automatically look like a boy band so they think 'boy band Lawson,' but when you see us live it makes sense. Andy will write the songs and then bring it in and we put all our bits into it and make it sound like Lawson. We play everything and write everything ourselves compared to some boy bands who have their songs written for them.\"\n\nHow did you guys get discovered?\n\n Joel Peat: \"It's actually a weird story. We put a cover of Bruno Mars' 'Grenade' on YouTube, and our now manager had checked the video out and had also seen us gig. A week later he was in Brighton of all places, and while walking down the sea front with his mates he had no idea we were sound checking at a nearby bar. He was telling his friends about us and as he was having this conversation, he heard Andy belting these high notes and he walked in and was like, 'This is the band!' It was such a small world. We chatted after for a bit and that was it!\"\n\nWho would you most like to collaborate with?\n\n Adam Pitts: \"We're all huge fans of John Mayer and have been for years. We would be terrified of meeting him though. Kings of Leon as a band would be madness as well. We all have John Mayer lyric tattoos and Andy promised the lads if we got number one he would also get one.\"\n\nCan you tell us about the amazing artists you've worked with?\n\n AB: \"We've done some gigs with The Wanted, The Script, Jessie J, Coldplay, Bruce Springsteen, and Avril Lavigne. We also had the privilege of having a song writing master class with One Republic's Ryan Tedder who is awesome; he is such a nice guy. He taught us a lot about his experience with song writing and we talked about our process as well.\"\n\nWhat's been your band's biggest oh-my-gosh-this-is-really-happening moment?\n\n RF: \"We got recognized outside the Empire State Building the other day and that was weird. In England, we're used to it, but in America, we've done nothing. It was such a weird experience to get recognized. Since we've come to America it's just felt really good. Here they're really into the music and everyone gets what we're all about as a band.\"\n\nHow did your album Chapman Square come to be?\n\n AB: \"Most of the album is about heartbreak to be honest. I just got out of a severe break up. It was a horrible break up and I can imagine a lot of people experience that. In America, a lot of people have said, 'Your album has gotten me through so many hard times,' which is what we love to hear.\"\n\nDo you have any guilty music pleasures? What influences the band's sound the most?\n\n JP: \"At home, you never hear country on the radio and to be able to listen to a country station in the US is so cool! We're massive fans of Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, and Brad Paisley. In our music lyrically, we try to take from those country stories. We're probably the only four British guys to like country music, like ever!\"\n\n AP: \"'I'd never tell my friends at home that we like Taylor Swift. But we did a gig at the O2 Arena and she was there and we didn't know. We came off stage feeling like we were on top of the world and she came up to us and said 'I've been watching your videos on YouTube, I love your song \"Standing in the Dark.\" I'm just a massive fan.' We're massive fans of hers! The fact she introduced herself, we were like 'No, Taylor, we know who you are.' We got into the dressing room, closed the door and fell. We may have squealed like girls. We've been a fan of hers since the first album. Lyrically, its heartbreaking and we love all of that.\"\n\nDid music help you get through your recovery, Andy?\n\n AB: \"Definitely! That's another reason why I want to get a John Mayer tattoo. I used to listen to the Continuum album when I was in the hospital. It just changes your whole perspective on life in general. When you go through something that big you realize how lucky you are just to be doing stuff like what we're doing right now. When I came out of the hospital after the three months I was there, I just said, 'I have to go for it and do what I have to do to achieve my dreams.' I moved to London, met the lads, and gave it a good go.\"\n\nNow check out their music video for \"Learn To Love Again.\"\n\n"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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