If you’ve been to a club, dance party or just turned on the radio within the past few years, you’ve probably heard a song by 3OH!3.
The duo of Sean Foreman and Nathaniel Motte exploded into the pop music scene in 2008 with their second album, ***Want, which reached no. 44 on the Billboard top 200. The song “Don’t Trust Me” reached no. 7 on the Billboard Top 100.
Since then, 3OH!3 has collaborated with pop idols Katy Perry and Ke$ha, and has toured with bands such as All Time Low, Boys Like Girls, and Cobra Starship. Originally from Boulder, Colorado (area code 303, hence the name), the pair has gotten to travel the world to play their music.
On Friday, 3OH!3 will be headlining Osprey Productions’ concert that takes place in the Coxwell Amphitheater.
Despite the fast-paced nature of the music industry, Nathaniel Motte, who provides half of the band’s vocals, said touring and making music does not get old.
“There’s definitely certain times that are a bit more procedural than others,” he said, “but I think we’re fortunate to have a lot of fun doing what we do and take that attitude into everything — whether it’s being in the studio or on stage.”
Motte said some of the highlights for him have been getting to travel to places like Brazil, Europe and the UK. He said shows are fun, but can be exhausting.
“We try to have our shows be really inclusive and upbeat, and I think a lot of times it just kind of spirals into a big party,” he said.
To keep up vigor on tour, Motte said the band goes out and has fun, but doesn’t “party like crazy” every night after shows in order to ration their energy.
Things move fast in the pop music scene, but Motte said he and Foreman try to concentrate on making music they like and that they think fans will like, instead of getting caught up in trying for the next big hit.
“I think if you try to project pop success on yourself while you’re creating music, you kind of… at least for us, we’d never be able to write anything,” he said.
The band is releasing its fourth album early next year. Motte said the sound has evolved; he and Foreman have experimented with different forms and sounds for songs, but tried not to deviate too far from what they do well.
“I think we found a great balance on this record,” he said. “There’s a lot of new-sounding stuff, and then there’s stuff that’s kind of harking back to our older styles.”
Osprey Productions’ concert will take place this Friday, Oct. 28, from 8-11 p.m. in the Coxwell Amphitheater. Admission is free for UNF students and $15 for the general public.
Here’s a little bit about each band playing alongside 3OH!3:
Genre: Electronic rock
From: Denver, CO
Members: Kyle Evan, vocals — David Schmitt, vocals, drums, guitar and keyboard
Albums: It’s Classy, Not Classic (2008), Hello Fascination (2009), Hell is What You Make It (2011)
Genre: Pop rock
From: Fairfax, VA
Members: Cameron Leahy, vocals, guitar — David Pavluk — bass and vocals — Wes Dimond, guitar and vocals — Kyle Rodgers, drums
Albums: Let’s Be Animals (2011), and a few earlier EPs
Samuel Sanders (Winner of UNF’s Battle of the Bands)
Genre: Rock pop
From: Jacksonville, FL
Members: Samuel Sanders and some backup band members
Albums: Under the Shadow EP, currently working on a second EP
