Tonic appeals to the 1990s generation but captures all ages
6/4/2025
The year 1997 is remembered for the release of the movie “Titanic” and the first “Harry Potter” novel. In the music world, the most played rock song was “If You Could Only See” by Tonic.
Tonic’s success continued with six more top-10 singles, two Grammy nominations and millions of records sold.
Band members have jumped between solo endeavors and playing with other musicians, but they reunite for Tonic tours.
Tonic makes a stop for a free concert at the Des Moines Arts Festival’s Hy-Vee Main Stage on June 28 in the Western Gateway Park.
Founding band member Emerson Hart, lead singer and guitarist, spoke from his home in Nashville about Tonic’s musical career.
In addition to Tonic, Hart has had a successful solo career and performs in a group project called Ezra Ray Hart with Kevin Griffin (Better Than Ezra) and Mark McGrath (Sugar Ray). With regards to performing with Tonic, he says, “It’s not hard to jump back and forth doing solo gigs and other bands. I’m lucky I can do both. I split the worlds, and it all works.”
Hart says Tonic’s music was synonymous with the Gen-X generation.
“We rolled with it and had success. We have a responsibility to continue to bring joy. It’s a big deal to me.”
Tonic was nominated for two Grammy awards.
“It was an honor to be nominated. But that’s not why we do it,” Hart says. “As long as I can sing, do my job and people love what I do — that’s important to me. Awards are just window dressing.”
Tonic’s many highlights include tours across the country, but no single performance stands out, Hart says.
“They are all a highlight. There aren’t any sinkers,” he adds.
He says the band appeals to the 1990s generation, yet they have also captured younger crowds and all ages of fans. Hart’s teenage daughter recently saw a Metallica concert, and Hart told her Tonic played with them.
“She said, ‘Really? You played with them?’ ”
One reason for their success is showing up and performing the best show possible, every time, while not “running themselves into the ground.” Hart recalls a conversation 10 years ago when an “enormous rockstar” — whom he said he would not name — pulled him aside and gave him this advice: “He said it’s important to keep building up your brand. Make friends and don’t settle,” he recalls. “It was great advice. We work with people we love.”
Hart is surprised that he is still making a career of singing 30 years later, and people still enjoy the music.
“I can play in Berlin, and someone who wasn’t even born yet when our song came out can sing an entire song back to me,” Hart says. “That’s the affirmation about how our music is important, and we created something really magical. That might be a super hippie thing to say, but it’s true.”
Hart is happy to connect with bands via social media and share his life with his fans.
“It’s important and a blessing. Our fans take their time out of the day to see us. People spend money and pay to get a babysitter. I want to make sure they go home full.”
Hart is excited to return to Iowa to perform to an enthusiastic crowd.
“Every time we’ve come to Iowa, the state of Iowa always delivers,” he says. “I can’t say that about every state, but I can for Iowa.” ♦
