Hey guys!
I don't actually know if anyone actually reads my blog or anything, BUT I'd love to get some feedback or thoughts or ideas or pretty much anything! So please let me know what you think by emailing me at:
christina.dun@hotmail.com
Thanks, I appreciate it!
Christina
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Another Cinderella Story...MORE!
Here are some pictures that I forgot to add earlier on from the filming of Another Cinderella Story :)
There's more, but I'll upload them later on if I have time
-Christinaaa
There's more, but I'll upload them later on if I have time
-Christinaaa
PUBLISHED IN TV WEEK MAGAZINE! :)
I'm super excited that last week, I had an article/ interview published in TV Week Magazine! I got to interview Josh Ramsay, lead singer of the band Marianas Trench over the phone! He was really nice and had great answers :)
Here is the rest of the exclusive interview!
1. So the MMVAs are coming up next month. How does it feel to be nominated for not only one award, but a total of four?
Surprising! I did not… I definitely didn’t see it coming. I was excited when I found out about the first one. Because they announced one beforehand, before they did the other ones because we’re only up for one where there’s like online voting and stuff involved so they had to announce it earlier. And I was really excited about that one and I didn’t think there would be any others. Turns out we’ve won and I felt really fortunate to get that and then when I found out that it was like we got all these nominations and all the stuff that I’d heard about, I thought someone was joking at first when they first said it, when they were like “Dude, you’re like the second highest nomination!” [his reaction] “You’re F***ing serious?!” I don’t know, I was just…quite surprised with the whole thing, I still am a little shocked about it actually.
2. Have you prepared your acceptance speech? What will you say?
Oh god no, I don’t think we’re actually going to win anything. The only thing is…well see when we got nominated for the Junos, from our last record, we knew we were going to lose, like I knew were going into it umm, gonna lose. Like I was just kind of there for the fun of it and like I had…literally zero part of me thought we were going to win. The only thing I was surprised at was I didn’t think that Blue Rodeo were going to win it because it was an award for a video. And I was like I didn’t even know Blue Rodeo still existed, I mean I don’t mean that in disrespect for them but, it’s just, I doubt I’m on their radar either, you know? So somehow I’m expecting this year at the MMVAs, even though Blue Rodeo are not even nominated, they are somehow going to win in all the categories that we’re nominated in. I’m telling you, somehow.
3. All of your nominations are for the “Cross My Heart” video. What was your favourite part about making that video?
My favourite part about making… [laughs] wow…one of my favourite parts about making that video was that it was inside! Because we seemed to have this thing where we had like 3 videos in a row that were either completely or mostly shot outside and shooting outside was stressful for a lot of reasons. Like especially like there’s the daylight issue because you lose the light as the day goes on and there can be a lot of continuity problems in that and it’s also so weather dependant. Like still in hindsight, our video for Shaketramp, I still love that video but the only thing that was unfortunate about that video is that it was all outside but it happened to be a drizzly rainy Vancouver day so it was hard to make a video that was a parody of musical theatre look bright and glitzy how it’s supposed to look because it was cloudy! You know what I mean. And it was freezing cold too, so was Cross My Heart. It was so cold when we shot that video. I was cold for like a couple days after it. I could only imagine how cold the extras were. So I was quite excited this time round to do a video that was inside for any reason.
4. What was it like working with director Colin Minihan?
Colin’s awesome. I first met Colin um before I had worked with him on one of our videos, I worked with him a little bit on a video for a band called Social Code that I knew, and they’re friends of ours, and they called and asked me if I could do a little cameo in their video and Colin was directing it. And I met him there, it was like a video, it was a silly video about baseball and we had a lot of fun together and we just sort of struck up a relationship from there. And then when it was time to do Cross My Heart. We just said “Hey how about we try Colin?” I think what Colin’s skill is, is that it’s always hard to work within the restraints of Canadian budgets on videos because the Canadian market is just so small that you can’t really justify spending a million dollars on a video. So one of Colin’s many strengths is that he is able to make a video that was shot on a Canadian budget look like it was shot on an American budget. And that’s impressive for anybody.
5. Who came up with the concept for the “Cross My Heart” video?
Um well we both did. It was funny, I went in and met with him and umm…I actually haven’t told this story…I went in and met with him and I didn’t have any ideas and he didn’t either. And then he said you know the only thing I thought of is if we do something like a parade. Then I said Oh that’s funny because this song was going to be our second single, called “All To Myself,” and one of the lyrics in it in the chorus is “…please just follow me” So I was thinking about this video for that song. Where I would follow a girl who didn’t know that I was following her and slowly people would follow me until it became a giant parade and then we both went “well let’s just do that for this video!” So that video was actually written to be the video for “All To Myself” I had come up with that idea in the summer and I then thought that it was an interesting coincidence that I had come up with that idea and that Colin had also thought about doing something involving a parade so I figured it as a sign that we were supposed to do it for that video instead.
6. How involved are you and the band in the creative aspect/vision of your videos?
I’m usually pretty involved. I only got involved because I fell into it. When we started making videos on the first album, the way they do videos usually is like you send the song out to like say 5 or 6 directors who you like their stuff and they write what you call a “treatment” which is like a script for the video. And then you pick a director based on what their treatment was. So when it was on our first album, and our first video, I didn’t really like any of the treatments. They just didn’t seem right for capturing what we kind of wanted to be like, especially for your first video, you know, it’s kind of important what kind of personality you want to have. So I came up with this idea for a video for a song called Say Anything. Then I met with the director Kyle, who directed all the videos on our first record, and him and I just sort of started working on it together. I brought him the idea and then he liked it and he added to it, and then from that point forward, I just kept doing it like that. Like the 3 videos on the first record were sort of I would come up with an idea and then Kyle would add to it or in some circumstances Jonathan, one of the guys at our record label would add to it as well. So I just sort of stayed doing that. When it was with Colin as well, because it was something I enjoyed.
7. In your opinion, how important are videos for a band’s career these days?
It depends on the band. For my band specifically, they are very important because I think…on our first record we had a lot of problems about getting radio play because every radio station were confused about what format we were. Like rock stations said we sounded too pop and pop stations said we sounded too rock so nobody played it. So we couldn’t get any radio play really outside of Vancouver, Vancouver really embraced us, but outside of there we couldn’t get any action. So without Much Music getting behind us because they were the first big company that really got behind us, I think we have them to thank for…a whole bunch of our success is due to much music for supporting us. And they started playing our stuff and we were fortunate enough to have a really strong fan base that we have built up from internet stuff and touring, that they were requesting the videos a lot. And then we still hadn’t had a hit until Shake Tramp, which never really did that well on radio, but it went #1 on much music. And so for us, like that was really what opened the doors for us. Like after having one hit video, then when it was the next single from the next album, then radio stations knew who we were because they’ve at least heard about it and had seen that video, so then they started playing our songs from the second record. So for our band specifically, I’d say videos are like one of the top most important things that we’ve done. The thing with something like much music is…with a radio station, you have to get your song on every radio station for people to know it, like 2 per city, And much music is the only thing in the country that’s like a national founding board, you know what I mean. Everybody watches it and it can really really make an impact for the band. I know for us, it was like the hugest hugest…it was the most dramatic change we ever had in our career, when mm started playing us.
8. What is your favourite music video that you have made so far?
I like them all for different reasons, I think. I think the one most fun I’ve had making a video and the most grueling was probably shake tramp because it was so ridiculous, the whole idea of me dancing is just so bad because I can’t dance. So that was fun for me to do something that stupid. Cross my Heart was really fun because it was by far the largest scope video that we had done, like I was so pleasantly surprised because I was nervous going into it because it was the first single off the new album and I didn’t know if our fans were even still there because it had been a while since we put out anything and then we sent out an open call saying any fan who wanted to come to the video can be in it. So the call time for the extras was like 10:00 in the morning and the call time for the band was at like 6:30 or 7 and I got there at 7 and there was already a line up around the block of people who wanted to be in the video. And it was such an awesome thing for us to see and it was such an awesome energy too because, I thought it was a really cool thing that the fans who had been requesting our videos were now going to get to be in one so I thought it was a really cool sort of full circle moment for us.
9. What’s your favourite video of all time?
Wow, anything by Gondry is amazing. He’s one of my favourite directors for sure. Especially the Foo Fighters video for Ever Long I think is amazing. The video he did for Kylie Minogue where she walks around the block over and over again and there’s more of her every time she walks around, that one’s incredible. He did both those videos, he’s amazing. I think those are probably my 2 favourite ones I would say.
10. The MMVAs are all about the fans. How much of your success do you attribute to your fans?
All of it. Well I mean, it doesn’t matter how good your songs are, if you don’t have fans, what are you doing. That’s who buys your records, that’s who comes to your show, that’s who, you know, without that, you’re playing your songs by yourself in your mom’s basement and what’s fun about that? So I think we are so indebted to having the fan base that we do. And somehow, the thing I really love about our fans compared to the ones I see for other bands is that the people that like us are really die-hard about it and I don’t know what we did to deserve that, but it’s amazing. It’s such a neat experience to go up on stage and you can really feel that energy when you get up there. That’s a crazy crazy thing to experience.
11. Of all the MMVA nominees this year, who are you a fan of?
That’s a good question. I think I would have to look at the list to be totally accurate. I’m a fan… I like Billy Talent. Are they nominated for something? They probably are right, or maybe their videos came out too late actually…Funny thing is that Danny Fernandes, he’s got one more nomination than we do, and him and I don’t do the same music at all, but we did a TV show together and I really like him, he’s a really cool guy. And I’m looking forward to seeing him again at the MMVAs, I think that should be fun. And it’ll be fun too…I mean people seem to love or hate Nickelback, but clearly somebody out there is rooting for them because they’ve certainly got the sales, so yeah I’m looking forward to hanging out with them and stuff. Chad and I are friends but we don’t see each other that often, so that should be fun. I like the Midway State. I think that’s a really cool record. They opened for us two years before they had their album done, so maybe 2 years ago or something and I thought they were great, so I’ve been a fan ever since.
12. You took a couple of years after your debut record to release you latest album, “Masterpiece Theatre.” Why did you feel you needed the time?
I think there’s a bit of a misconception there because it felt to people like it there was a long time, but the reason why it felt like there was a long stage in between the records was because the hit we had on our first record was our last single but we had already been out and doing stuff for like a year and a half before that happened so I think for a lot of people who became fans of us at the end of that album cycle, didn’t really get that much time with us because they weren’t aware of the songs that we had released before that. And then we had that one song that did well, so it would seem like it was a really quick album cycle. So I think that’s part of why it feels like a long time. Because really to me, I don’t even think I had a day off in between. Like it was like we released the first album in 2006, toured for like 2 years which is the average life span for touring a record, toured it for like 2 years and then I took 6 months to write the album and then 6 months to record it and then here we are again. So I mean to me, I didn’t really have much time at all. I had like a couple weeks off and that’s about it.
13. Was it obvious from the start that “Cross My Heart” would be the first single off this album?
Not specifically. It was obvious that it was probably one of them, but I didn’t know it was going to be the first one at first. There were a couple contenders for what should be the first one. Cross My Heart was one of the first songs that I wrote for the record. The first 2 songs I wrote for the album actually are the first 2 singles. Cross My Heart and the one that just came out All To Myself, those 2 were the first 2 demos that I delivered. So what I tried to do was kind of get the singles out of the way so that I could focus on the stuff I enjoy writing more, which is the more artistic danger songs, for lack of a better phrase. So to get the pressure off of the singles, I kind of tried to make sure to write those first so I could focus on the crazier songs. So I had those ones in the bag first, and then I knew it was going to be one of those 2 but we didn’t know which one it would be until later on and then sort of when the album was close to finish, we all agreed that it should be that one and off we went.
14. So you’re nominated for four awards and Nickelback leads the pack with five nominations. What is it about Vancouver that breeds so many successful rock bands?
I don’t know. Maybe…that’s a good question man. I don’t maybe, maybe it’s…maybe people are more angsty in van because it rains all the time but I don’t think that’s the case because from my experience in Canada, the west coast was sort of the most mellow place. So it’s not that…I don’t know what that’s about. I think there’s a cool scene happening in Vancouver. I mean, for every talented band that’s successful from Vancouver, there’s another 10 that you haven’t heard of, who are equally as awesome. And I think that people are starting to notice that there’s a lot of cool stuff going on here.
15. How has being from Vancouver helped you grow/evolve as musicians?
I think for me, in some ways, it helped me not sound…I don’t mean this to sound bad and I hope that this won’t be taken the wrong way, but there’s a certain Canadian sound that people generally want to stay away from, like Canadian content sounding thing. Like the kind of song that really wouldn’t be on the radio unless they were forced to play Canadian music, you know what I mean, there’s that “Can-con” sound and I never wanted to be any part of that. And I think Vancouver is a little more isolated than most of the country because it’s behind the Rockies and BC is sort of its own little world that way. And I think it’s sort of that little bit of isolation that you get by living here, you get exposed to the good stuff but kind of keeps you not exposed to the stuff that’s no good, you know what I mean? So I think it was good for me that way for sure. There’s some really great history in Vancouver of a lot of great musicians coming from here. And I think myself being from here, because my dad owned a big recording studio, I was exposed to so many successful musicians, a lot of whom were from Vancouver. I think it made me feel like Vancouver is a small enough city that the peer group of really good musicians is a really tight knit community. And once you’re in with those people, you feel like you’re doing something. I mean it’s the same with any scene…I don’t really, I’m not too scenestry that way but I think when we were coming up when we were still very independent, there was a cool local scene that way that was fun to be a part of.
16. What do you miss most about Vancouver when you’re out on tour?
Well friends and family by far the most, more than any city. I miss the people that make up my life because it’s a really weird juggling act, juggling between, balancing between living on the road and living at home because it’s so drastically different. And it’s hard to maintain those close relationships and that’s something I always miss when we’re gone. Then about the city itself, I know most people complain about the rain in Vancouver, but being from here, rain is like my favourite weather. So I totally miss the rainy wet BC vibe.
17. Growing up, watching other band’s and artists’ videos on TV, did you ever think that you would be where you are today in the music industry?
That’s a loaded question. Because you have to believe in yourself enough or else you won’t get to that point so part of you had to have always thought that but at the same time you never actually think it’s going to happen. That’s the best way I can describe it. And yes, I did used to watch videos and be like one day I’m going to do that. One of the funnest things for me so far in terms of something I actually said like years ago that I actually got to do was: I remember saying like a long time ago, like being in high school and saying, when they first started Video On Trial, being like “you know what I’m going to be a judge on this show and I’m going to make fun of one of my own videos.” And then I got to do that about a year and a half ago and that was a fun feeling.
18. Finally, what’s up next for Marianas Trench?
Well we just released a new single and I’m always nervous every time we release a song because it was so hard for us to get a hit in the first place that every time since that we’ve had a successful song I always feels like it’s going to be the last one. That’s the neurotic in me I guess, but that’s sort of the healthy spirit that keeps me driven to work hard. But we just released a new song that is thankfully starting to do well, which I’m grateful about. And for the summer, we’re playing a lot of the big festival shows, which I’m really looking forward to because it gives you an opportunity to play with so many people, like tons. So we’re playing, like I think we’re headlining the opening night of the Calgary Stampede. Then the next day, this is going to be a bit of a sh*tty couple of days travel-wise, but then the next day we play in Prince Edward Island at a thing called the Festival of Lights. We’re playing the North by Northeast in Toronto and a festival in Winnipeg, one in the Okanogan in BC; we’re sort of bouncing around a lot, sort of touring all the festival circuits. I mean, that’s kind of what everyone does for the summer, most musicians do that for the summer because it gives you a chance to play, because so many people go to a festival where there’s like, like if you’re going to some festival where there’s like 20 bands, you may happen to be a fan of 5 of those bands, right, so chances are that you probably haven’t even heard a couple of them. So for a lot of bands it’s a great way to expose your music to new people and be exposed to new people because maybe they haven’t heard of you but instead of playing to 4000 people like you be would at your own show, you’re playing for 25 000 people and maybe some of them, hopefully at least some of them will go away as new fans of your band. It’s a great way of doing that in mass numbers.
still cant believe it :)
Saturday, June 6, 2009
a day @ CTV
Well one day (I think it was May23, but I dont really remember lol), CTV on Burrard Street was having a free open house, so I really wanted to go! I waited in a line up outside to get inside of the studio and it was pretty cool. Once I got inside, we got to meet/talk to some of our favourite news anchors and stuff. I met Tamara Taggart, Perry Solkowski, Chris Olsen, and Rhonda Low. I asked for their advice about how to get into this industry and they were pretty helpful. So then we got to go on a tour of the studio where they do the news. We got to take a picture sitting at the newsdesk with Colleen Christie and some other guy, and they gave us a polaroid of it. That was pretty much it, but it was definitely worth going to !
Tamara Taggart
Perry Solkowski ("Perry's Prospects"
Chris Olsen ("Olsen on your side")
Rhonda Low
The Beat 94.5 was also there and I got a free CD! hahaha
-christinaaa
Tamara Taggart
Perry Solkowski ("Perry's Prospects"
Chris Olsen ("Olsen on your side")
Rhonda Low
The Beat 94.5 was also there and I got a free CD! hahaha
-christinaaa
SMOKIN ACES 2
Okay, well these are kind of old, but a couple months ago, I visited the set of Smokin Aces 2 at the Riverview Hospital and so here are a few pictures that I took with my phone because I dont think I was allowed to take any LOL. So the quality is pretty bad, but oh well. I didn't talk to any of the actors in it, but I saw them film some scenes and stuff. And I met a lot of the crew, who were really nice and offered a lot of advice and stuff. It was pretty cool!
just a random room in the hospital
where I hung out most of the time haha
"the hotel lobby"
SAM BRADLEY INTERVIEW
I was able to have an interview with Sam Bradley who co-wrote a song on the TWILIGHT soundtrack with his best friend Robert Pattinson :) (The interview took place on the same day that I ran into Ashley Greene and Kellan Lutz!) So the article has just come out in this month's issue of youthink, so go grab one! It has Shia Lebeouf and Megan Fox on the cover :)
Q: Before getting involved in the world of twilight. Did you have any idea of the popularity of this phenomenon?
A: No, not really. I only discovered that once it became official that I was gonna be part of the soundtrack and then I just sort of saw my numbers rise and rise and rise. I did a little bit of research because Rob who is in the movie, he really had no idea. So I did a bit of research and so I kind of explained that it was going to be larger than he thought. So yeah I had a little bit of an idea.
Q: Have you read the books at all?
A: No, it’s on my to-do list. I have to because I really should, seeing as I am asked that a lot. Maybe I’ll do it on some travels.
Q: So can you tell me exactly how you found out that your song would be included on the soundtrack?
A: I just got a phone call. It was a phone call, it was simple. The phone call said that a lawyer is going to call you as soon as I hang up and the song is in. And congratulations.
Christina : “That’s exciting!”
It’s really not…It was for me, I was pretty happy, jumping up and down , peed myself a little…
Q: So, growing up with Robert Pattison, did you ever think that you two would be where you are today?
A: Yes, this is all intentional. Every single little bit of it. Since we were 12. There’s a group of us guys: there’s Marcus Foster, there’s Bobby Long, there’s Tom Storage, there’s rob pattison, there’s a few other people that are going to come out with some wonderful literature I’m sure. We’re all chasing a dream to be able to do what we love and for the world to appreciate what we’re trying to do. You know, what the idea was is that if one of us sort of pushed ahead in their career, then it would help bring some others. And then this would happen, like some of us will go further and bring up the others. And it’ll be like a sort of a hand up, kind of a step-ladder. So yeah, we all have very fulfilling lives.
Q: What was your reaction when you found out that the Twilight soundtrack had hit #1 on the Billboard album chart?
A: My honest reaction, which you can choose to print or not…was “I told you so.” I thought it would. Once I realized sort of the power of the fan base, I just knew it. And I told everyone that I knew that this was just going to be way bigger than anyone could have imagined. And yeah I think it sold something stupid like over 2 and a half million copies world wide, which is pretty unheard of as far as record sales go in this day. So yeah my honest reaction was I told you so, but the one you can print is probably “Oh my goodness, this is unbelievable! This is such a surprise!” Print the first one haha.
Q: What was it like to hear your song in the movie for the first time?
A: Well I was in LA and I went to the premiere and I was sitting with a couple friends and yeah it was good. I had my hands cupped with my friends on either side and they were squeezing very hard and I was just like “GASP! YEAHH! That’s it! That’s the one!” Then the song was over…then I went back to watching the rest of it…
Q: So how did you like the movie?
A: I liked the movie, I liked the movie. I liked everyone’s performances. I’m proud of my friend. I’ve seen it 3 times, so…it doesn’t get old. I’ll probably watch it again…not on purpose…but I would.
Q: Since Twilight, how has your career changed as an artist? What have been the benefits?
A: People are listening! That is the first big change. I’ve been able to record an album, which I have made myself and I went to Paris to do so. My shows are sold out usually. I’m going to be able to go on tour. I have a lot of people within the music industry watching me and looking to see where I go and take my career and if they can get involved…and kind of lurking around…People are sniffin at my door! Haha But yeah I don’t know, lots has changed. But everything you could imagine. I’ve now got a foundation for a music career.
Q: Will you be/ have you been working on any more songs with Robert?
A: Yeah we’ve been writing almost every other night! Not that that means a song every other night…but yeah we’ve been writing lots! We’ve got a really good one actually that I’m really happy with and I’m probably going to play in a few days.
Q: By travelling a lot while you were growing up, how do you think that it has helped you grow as an artist?
A: It’s helped by just being more worldly, having met more people I think has enabled me to write about more and possibly touch on more of my life experiences than what it would have been if I had stayed in one place.
Q: What made you choose to become a musician?
A: Well I was actually trying to be a soccer player when I was 15 and I was doing pretty well. I was playing for a team called Fulham in England, a junior team and I was doing really really well like kind of England trials and stuff. Then I kind of got bullied out of that because I was…yeah I was just bullied regardless because I was…actually, no doesn’t matter haha. And so what happened was…most of my friends were musical and I really wanted to be a part of their musicality, sort of. And I wanted to be involved. And my mom was a musician as well; she’s a singer-songwriter, so I’d always been around it but never myself as a player or singer. And then when I was 17, I just sort of started learning the guitar, by myself, just picking it up occasionally and I wrote a song with 2 chords, and played it at an open mic and I got completely nervous, I got dizzy, and almost kind of fainted and finished my song and realized like everyone was sort of saying wow that was really good. Congratulations I didn’t even know you could sing. And it was really like wow this is so cool and I like people saying that they enjoyed it. And so I just kind of tried a bit harder and got better and better until...you know, I’m still not great but it’ll get there.
So you’ve never taken any lessons?
No…well my guitar skills are something that I need to work on, but as far as song writing goes, it’s alright.
Q: What inspires you to write songs?
A: People…people and experiences.
Q: Why did you choose to come to Vancouver?
A: I didn’t, what happened was…I do love Vancouver, but what happened was we were here on holiday…We went to the Merritt mountain music festival with my mom and my sister. And we have cousins here…my mom’s Canadian. So she sort of said “Should we go look at a house? Let’s look at a house for fun!” and I said “Sure! Let’s look at a house! Let’s go!” I was 17 and we looked at a house and it was on a river and it was amazing and everything was like ooh look at this, this is like a magical fairyland house. And so she said shall we move and me and my sister said ok. And we moved. But it wasn’t really a decision. We couldn’t really afford to live in London anymore it was a bit expensive and I certainly didn’t want to live anywhere else but London in England. But, so yeah it seemed fair that we moved to Canada seeing as my mom had wanted to move here for…well probably since she left. And yeah, that was why.
Q: Who is your biggest inspiration in the music industry?
A: I would say my biggest inspiration is either Tom Waits or Bob Dylan…no…Tom Waits or Van Morrison…no…Tom Waits! Tom Waits.
Q: What are your hopes and expectations for your upcoming album?
A: Well my hopes are that it sells as many as the twilight soundtrack. And that it touches people and people pass it on and that people come out and want to see the live shows and want to really be a part of what I hope is good music and good spirit. In a very non-hippie way, I’m about positivity and I’m about being in touch with yourself and your emotions and the people around you.
Q: Where would you like to see your music career in 5 to 10 years?
A: I’d like to see myself having recorded a few different albums. I’d like to be able to say in 5 to 10 years I’ve played a stadium or 2. I’d like to say that I’m respected and I’ve got my own thing going on. I’d like to say that I could be able to do what I want, when I want…you know what I mean?
Christina: Like control…freedom…
Yeah to have that freedom, to not have to worry. And for that to come from just being musical would be quite spectacular.
He was really funny and great to talk to! Here's the article!
Q: Before getting involved in the world of twilight. Did you have any idea of the popularity of this phenomenon?
A: No, not really. I only discovered that once it became official that I was gonna be part of the soundtrack and then I just sort of saw my numbers rise and rise and rise. I did a little bit of research because Rob who is in the movie, he really had no idea. So I did a bit of research and so I kind of explained that it was going to be larger than he thought. So yeah I had a little bit of an idea.
Q: Have you read the books at all?
A: No, it’s on my to-do list. I have to because I really should, seeing as I am asked that a lot. Maybe I’ll do it on some travels.
Q: So can you tell me exactly how you found out that your song would be included on the soundtrack?
A: I just got a phone call. It was a phone call, it was simple. The phone call said that a lawyer is going to call you as soon as I hang up and the song is in. And congratulations.
Christina : “That’s exciting!”
It’s really not…It was for me, I was pretty happy, jumping up and down , peed myself a little…
Q: So, growing up with Robert Pattison, did you ever think that you two would be where you are today?
A: Yes, this is all intentional. Every single little bit of it. Since we were 12. There’s a group of us guys: there’s Marcus Foster, there’s Bobby Long, there’s Tom Storage, there’s rob pattison, there’s a few other people that are going to come out with some wonderful literature I’m sure. We’re all chasing a dream to be able to do what we love and for the world to appreciate what we’re trying to do. You know, what the idea was is that if one of us sort of pushed ahead in their career, then it would help bring some others. And then this would happen, like some of us will go further and bring up the others. And it’ll be like a sort of a hand up, kind of a step-ladder. So yeah, we all have very fulfilling lives.
Q: What was your reaction when you found out that the Twilight soundtrack had hit #1 on the Billboard album chart?
A: My honest reaction, which you can choose to print or not…was “I told you so.” I thought it would. Once I realized sort of the power of the fan base, I just knew it. And I told everyone that I knew that this was just going to be way bigger than anyone could have imagined. And yeah I think it sold something stupid like over 2 and a half million copies world wide, which is pretty unheard of as far as record sales go in this day. So yeah my honest reaction was I told you so, but the one you can print is probably “Oh my goodness, this is unbelievable! This is such a surprise!” Print the first one haha.
Q: What was it like to hear your song in the movie for the first time?
A: Well I was in LA and I went to the premiere and I was sitting with a couple friends and yeah it was good. I had my hands cupped with my friends on either side and they were squeezing very hard and I was just like “GASP! YEAHH! That’s it! That’s the one!” Then the song was over…then I went back to watching the rest of it…
Q: So how did you like the movie?
A: I liked the movie, I liked the movie. I liked everyone’s performances. I’m proud of my friend. I’ve seen it 3 times, so…it doesn’t get old. I’ll probably watch it again…not on purpose…but I would.
Q: Since Twilight, how has your career changed as an artist? What have been the benefits?
A: People are listening! That is the first big change. I’ve been able to record an album, which I have made myself and I went to Paris to do so. My shows are sold out usually. I’m going to be able to go on tour. I have a lot of people within the music industry watching me and looking to see where I go and take my career and if they can get involved…and kind of lurking around…People are sniffin at my door! Haha But yeah I don’t know, lots has changed. But everything you could imagine. I’ve now got a foundation for a music career.
Q: Will you be/ have you been working on any more songs with Robert?
A: Yeah we’ve been writing almost every other night! Not that that means a song every other night…but yeah we’ve been writing lots! We’ve got a really good one actually that I’m really happy with and I’m probably going to play in a few days.
Q: By travelling a lot while you were growing up, how do you think that it has helped you grow as an artist?
A: It’s helped by just being more worldly, having met more people I think has enabled me to write about more and possibly touch on more of my life experiences than what it would have been if I had stayed in one place.
Q: What made you choose to become a musician?
A: Well I was actually trying to be a soccer player when I was 15 and I was doing pretty well. I was playing for a team called Fulham in England, a junior team and I was doing really really well like kind of England trials and stuff. Then I kind of got bullied out of that because I was…yeah I was just bullied regardless because I was…actually, no doesn’t matter haha. And so what happened was…most of my friends were musical and I really wanted to be a part of their musicality, sort of. And I wanted to be involved. And my mom was a musician as well; she’s a singer-songwriter, so I’d always been around it but never myself as a player or singer. And then when I was 17, I just sort of started learning the guitar, by myself, just picking it up occasionally and I wrote a song with 2 chords, and played it at an open mic and I got completely nervous, I got dizzy, and almost kind of fainted and finished my song and realized like everyone was sort of saying wow that was really good. Congratulations I didn’t even know you could sing. And it was really like wow this is so cool and I like people saying that they enjoyed it. And so I just kind of tried a bit harder and got better and better until...you know, I’m still not great but it’ll get there.
So you’ve never taken any lessons?
No…well my guitar skills are something that I need to work on, but as far as song writing goes, it’s alright.
Q: What inspires you to write songs?
A: People…people and experiences.
Q: Why did you choose to come to Vancouver?
A: I didn’t, what happened was…I do love Vancouver, but what happened was we were here on holiday…We went to the Merritt mountain music festival with my mom and my sister. And we have cousins here…my mom’s Canadian. So she sort of said “Should we go look at a house? Let’s look at a house for fun!” and I said “Sure! Let’s look at a house! Let’s go!” I was 17 and we looked at a house and it was on a river and it was amazing and everything was like ooh look at this, this is like a magical fairyland house. And so she said shall we move and me and my sister said ok. And we moved. But it wasn’t really a decision. We couldn’t really afford to live in London anymore it was a bit expensive and I certainly didn’t want to live anywhere else but London in England. But, so yeah it seemed fair that we moved to Canada seeing as my mom had wanted to move here for…well probably since she left. And yeah, that was why.
Q: Who is your biggest inspiration in the music industry?
A: I would say my biggest inspiration is either Tom Waits or Bob Dylan…no…Tom Waits or Van Morrison…no…Tom Waits! Tom Waits.
Q: What are your hopes and expectations for your upcoming album?
A: Well my hopes are that it sells as many as the twilight soundtrack. And that it touches people and people pass it on and that people come out and want to see the live shows and want to really be a part of what I hope is good music and good spirit. In a very non-hippie way, I’m about positivity and I’m about being in touch with yourself and your emotions and the people around you.
Q: Where would you like to see your music career in 5 to 10 years?
A: I’d like to see myself having recorded a few different albums. I’d like to be able to say in 5 to 10 years I’ve played a stadium or 2. I’d like to say that I’m respected and I’ve got my own thing going on. I’d like to say that I could be able to do what I want, when I want…you know what I mean?
Christina: Like control…freedom…
Yeah to have that freedom, to not have to worry. And for that to come from just being musical would be quite spectacular.
He was really funny and great to talk to! Here's the article!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Sunday May 17 was a good day on Robson Street :)
Hey guys! Well this past weekend, luck must have been on my side, because I had another celebrity encounter! So, I was killing time before meeting up the family for dinner and who do I run into? TAYLOR LAUTNER AND SELENA GOMEZ! They were nice enough to take a couple pictures with me and here's the coolest part...Selena actually remembered me from that interview from Another Cinderella Story 2 years ago! Here's a little bit of our conversation:
Me: I interviewed you when you came to my school!
Selena: Ohh yeah! Wow that was like 2 years ago...your video on youtube has so many views now!
Me: Haha yeahh! But like people are taking it and stuff...
Selena: Yeah soooo many people have taken it!
yadda yadda...
and then...they left and she said "It was nice seeing you again!"
So yeah, I'm pretty happy about this May Long weekend :)
Me: I interviewed you when you came to my school!
Selena: Ohh yeah! Wow that was like 2 years ago...your video on youtube has so many views now!
Me: Haha yeahh! But like people are taking it and stuff...
Selena: Yeah soooo many people have taken it!
yadda yadda...
and then...they left and she said "It was nice seeing you again!"
So yeah, I'm pretty happy about this May Long weekend :)
Monday, May 18, 2009
INTERVIEW WITH NICOLE SCHERZINGER FROM THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS
So on April 8th, the pussycat dolls came up to Vancouver along with Britney Spears for the Circus tour and I was fortunate enough to be able to have an in-person interview with Nicole Scherzinger, lead singer of the PCD. It was an AMAZING experience. She is seriously as gorgeous in person as she is on tv. She's really nice and she's very genuine, yenno, down to earth.
Q: So how has your tour been going so far?
A: The Britney tour has been amazing...amazing. We’ve been with her for about a month now and it’s been a lot of fun being back in the US and in Canada.
Q: What is it like being on Tour with Britney? Are you a fan?
A: Yeah, I’m a fan. I know the girls are really big fans of Britney Spears and I think it’s kind of unreal to be on tour with her because you know you grow up and you watch Britney and she’s such a huge pop icon and all the songs and albums and the music that she’s had. Just to know that you are on the biggest, probably the biggest tour this year, a part of that. It’s just an honour, it’s really cool to be a part of that.
Q: How would you describe your live performance?
A: How would I describe the pussycat dolls live performance...I would describe it as a lot of fun and a lot of energy, a lot of stamina, just full out singing and dancing, rock and roll. It’s just uhh we love...one of the most important things for us as performers is to connect with the audience. We’re pretty fearless pussycat dolls on stage. I think that what makes us so different from other acts is not only do we dance but we sing...hardcore. So we’re pretty fearless on stage and we get everybody into it.
Q: What does it feel like to perform in front of thousands of people?
A: I love performing in front of thousands of people...it’s kind of crazy when you ask me I’m like wow do we perform in front of thousands of people? I love the energy. I feel like the more people out there, then the more people you feed off of and it’s just an unbelievable feeling when you get onstage and the music turns on and the lights turn on and you just become a whole other person and even though there’s like thousands of people out there, I look out and feel like I can connect with every single person.
Q: So how much input did you get in the studio while recording Doll Domination?
[How much, as a group, input did you and the girls have in terms of what was going on]
A: I helped to co executive produce the album myself. That was my role when i signed on to be a part of the group, not only to be the lead singer, but to have a huge part in the music as well. So I’ve been blessed to have a hand in writing, co-writing some of the songs, vocally producing some of the songs...So that’s probably my greatest role, is the music, and my contribution to doll domination. A lot of the songs on doll domination are from the workings of my solo project that i was working on before.
Q: Are there any songs in particular that you have a stronger connection to on this album?
A: Yeah, I really do. Happily Never After...I’m very close to that song, that originally came from my solo project. I feel like i lived that song. Ne-yo wrote that song and gave it to me and it’s about being in a relationship and thinking that it’s it and you’re going to live happily ever after but there is no happily ever after until you really realize yourself within your true happiness. Sometimes you find yourself in a relationship and that person doesn’t treat you right and you gotta be strong enough to move on and move forward without them, so I really love Happily Never After. I love I hate this part. I’m really emotionally connected to that song and I’m Done is very personal to me and one more song is...In Person...A lot of people don’t talk about that song, but I did that with timberland and its such a fun song and i remember i was listening to a lot of old tina turner, james brown at the time so i have a lot of influences of tina, james brown on that song.
Q: What’s the significance of the title Doll Domination? Does it ties into an overall theme at all?
A: I guess so, right? It does tie everything together because we’re these radical, fearless pussycat dolls and we’re just touring, we’re always touring non-stop and our music is all over the world and we’re just taking over with PCD love and our music. To be honest with you when we first started as a group , we went over to the UK and our fans kinda gave us the..we used to say “we are just trying to you know, inject pcd into every place that we go to” and out fans would be like “yeah it’s like doll domination!” and it was just fun and it stuck with us.
Q: In your opinion, how has your style or sound evolved over the years?
A: How has our style and sound evolved? I think our style is always evolving. I’m not the greatest person with the styling. We’ve got Robin Antin to help us with that and a wardrobe stylist to help to help us with that. We’re always trying to do the next newest thing whether its latex or you know, plaid, like you’re wearing right now, whatever we’re doing, it always looks like a rhinestone monster threw up on us...that’s cool but as far as the sound, I think our sound has definitely evolved since out last album. Myself, I know, always trying to work harder for the group, as a vocalist. And just the depth of our music i feel like doll domination has more emotion and more substance and goes deeper than pcd the first album. But overall, i think it’s pretty much, I think it’s good quality pop music.
Q: What legacy do you want to leave behind in the music industry?
A: Wow I haven’t even begun I feel like in the music industry. It’s been a blessing to be in the pussycat dolls and a dream but my ultimate dream is to do my own music and put that out one day and I think the legacy in the end I will want my music to have really taken people to a higher place and really helped people out in some way. Whether it’s through laughing or giving them self confidence or maybe helping them get through a relationship or something that’s going on personally within themselves. But my music is more spiritual and soulful.
Q: So what do you think it takes to achieve longevity in this business?
A: Wow, what do I ...wow you’re asking really great questions... What do I think it takes to achieve longevity in this business...a really smart person, meaning you just got to be smart with timing, timing of things. Know when to put music out, when to not put music out, what kind of music to do... to always be evolving as an artist, that’s why people like Madonna. Even beyonce is becoming her own legend like people are always changing up their styles and their music and never stop growing and that’s what I intend to do. I intend to put out music that will just always continue to keep people guessing.
Q: How does it feel to know that you are role models to so many girls out there?
A: Wow, it’s pretty unbelievable to think that the Pussycat Dolls are role models to so many girls out there. But I’m proud of myself and the girls because we try to lead by example by the way that we live. And we’ve got really good morals, really good family backgrounds and they stay close to us. We stay pretty grounded and try to stay out of all the hype and the stuff that’s not real, you know. And we’re really, we are just really good girls that don’t get into the mess of like drugs or drinking or any of that too much partying and all that stuff. You know, so, just try to lead by example because that’s really who we are and it’s cool to be that way and it’s the most important. The message in our music is to just really love yourself and get to know who you are individually and be proud of that and be fearless.
Q: So what advice do you have for teens who dream of making it in the music industry?
A: Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it...Teens who wanna make it in the music industry, just make sure that’s what you want to do, you’re in it for the right reasons. You know, I don’t think people who set out to be in it for the fame and stuff, you might not get what you want in the end, you might not be happy. But if it’s because you have a certain talent and the passion and the drive and a goal, then never give up. That’s what Nelson Mandala always says: Never give up. And follow your heart and stay true to yourself, just be you, don’t try to jeopardize or compromise yourself or anyone else in this business.
Q: So this June will be the 10th anniversary for YOUTHINK Magazine, so on that note, we’d love to know what your favourite album was over the past decade.
A: Oh my gosh, my favourite album...what’s your favourite album? Maybe you can help me out...I gotta ask what everybody’s favourite album was because I hate when I have to...it’s so hard. That was created in the last decade? Hmm what’s yours? There have been some pretty great albums made. You can’t say like Thriller or something because that wasn’t made in the past decade...and you can’t say like the Beatles or...What’s a good album that was made?
(this part was more of a conversation so its kinda weird to write it lol)
Q: What kind of music were you into?
I used to...I don’t even know if it was 10 years, i think it’s past 10 years...I loved OK Computer.
I think Robin Thicke’s Evolution is a pretty good album too...I don’t know. There’s so many good ones. Oh wow this is such a good question. I would have said like the Legend but Bob Marley was definitely not in the past decade.
Feist! That’s a dope album...I was just listening to Feist yesterday and she’s Canadian and I’ve seen her in concert a few times. It’s not 1234, it’s the other album. Let It die, yeah that’s what it is Let It Die, that’s the dope one.
My article is in the latest issue of YOUTHINK right now! go get it! :)
Here's the article!
Q: So how has your tour been going so far?
A: The Britney tour has been amazing...amazing. We’ve been with her for about a month now and it’s been a lot of fun being back in the US and in Canada.
Q: What is it like being on Tour with Britney? Are you a fan?
A: Yeah, I’m a fan. I know the girls are really big fans of Britney Spears and I think it’s kind of unreal to be on tour with her because you know you grow up and you watch Britney and she’s such a huge pop icon and all the songs and albums and the music that she’s had. Just to know that you are on the biggest, probably the biggest tour this year, a part of that. It’s just an honour, it’s really cool to be a part of that.
Q: How would you describe your live performance?
A: How would I describe the pussycat dolls live performance...I would describe it as a lot of fun and a lot of energy, a lot of stamina, just full out singing and dancing, rock and roll. It’s just uhh we love...one of the most important things for us as performers is to connect with the audience. We’re pretty fearless pussycat dolls on stage. I think that what makes us so different from other acts is not only do we dance but we sing...hardcore. So we’re pretty fearless on stage and we get everybody into it.
Q: What does it feel like to perform in front of thousands of people?
A: I love performing in front of thousands of people...it’s kind of crazy when you ask me I’m like wow do we perform in front of thousands of people? I love the energy. I feel like the more people out there, then the more people you feed off of and it’s just an unbelievable feeling when you get onstage and the music turns on and the lights turn on and you just become a whole other person and even though there’s like thousands of people out there, I look out and feel like I can connect with every single person.
Q: So how much input did you get in the studio while recording Doll Domination?
[How much, as a group, input did you and the girls have in terms of what was going on]
A: I helped to co executive produce the album myself. That was my role when i signed on to be a part of the group, not only to be the lead singer, but to have a huge part in the music as well. So I’ve been blessed to have a hand in writing, co-writing some of the songs, vocally producing some of the songs...So that’s probably my greatest role, is the music, and my contribution to doll domination. A lot of the songs on doll domination are from the workings of my solo project that i was working on before.
Q: Are there any songs in particular that you have a stronger connection to on this album?
A: Yeah, I really do. Happily Never After...I’m very close to that song, that originally came from my solo project. I feel like i lived that song. Ne-yo wrote that song and gave it to me and it’s about being in a relationship and thinking that it’s it and you’re going to live happily ever after but there is no happily ever after until you really realize yourself within your true happiness. Sometimes you find yourself in a relationship and that person doesn’t treat you right and you gotta be strong enough to move on and move forward without them, so I really love Happily Never After. I love I hate this part. I’m really emotionally connected to that song and I’m Done is very personal to me and one more song is...In Person...A lot of people don’t talk about that song, but I did that with timberland and its such a fun song and i remember i was listening to a lot of old tina turner, james brown at the time so i have a lot of influences of tina, james brown on that song.
Q: What’s the significance of the title Doll Domination? Does it ties into an overall theme at all?
A: I guess so, right? It does tie everything together because we’re these radical, fearless pussycat dolls and we’re just touring, we’re always touring non-stop and our music is all over the world and we’re just taking over with PCD love and our music. To be honest with you when we first started as a group , we went over to the UK and our fans kinda gave us the..we used to say “we are just trying to you know, inject pcd into every place that we go to” and out fans would be like “yeah it’s like doll domination!” and it was just fun and it stuck with us.
Q: In your opinion, how has your style or sound evolved over the years?
A: How has our style and sound evolved? I think our style is always evolving. I’m not the greatest person with the styling. We’ve got Robin Antin to help us with that and a wardrobe stylist to help to help us with that. We’re always trying to do the next newest thing whether its latex or you know, plaid, like you’re wearing right now, whatever we’re doing, it always looks like a rhinestone monster threw up on us...that’s cool but as far as the sound, I think our sound has definitely evolved since out last album. Myself, I know, always trying to work harder for the group, as a vocalist. And just the depth of our music i feel like doll domination has more emotion and more substance and goes deeper than pcd the first album. But overall, i think it’s pretty much, I think it’s good quality pop music.
Q: What legacy do you want to leave behind in the music industry?
A: Wow I haven’t even begun I feel like in the music industry. It’s been a blessing to be in the pussycat dolls and a dream but my ultimate dream is to do my own music and put that out one day and I think the legacy in the end I will want my music to have really taken people to a higher place and really helped people out in some way. Whether it’s through laughing or giving them self confidence or maybe helping them get through a relationship or something that’s going on personally within themselves. But my music is more spiritual and soulful.
Q: So what do you think it takes to achieve longevity in this business?
A: Wow, what do I ...wow you’re asking really great questions... What do I think it takes to achieve longevity in this business...a really smart person, meaning you just got to be smart with timing, timing of things. Know when to put music out, when to not put music out, what kind of music to do... to always be evolving as an artist, that’s why people like Madonna. Even beyonce is becoming her own legend like people are always changing up their styles and their music and never stop growing and that’s what I intend to do. I intend to put out music that will just always continue to keep people guessing.
Q: How does it feel to know that you are role models to so many girls out there?
A: Wow, it’s pretty unbelievable to think that the Pussycat Dolls are role models to so many girls out there. But I’m proud of myself and the girls because we try to lead by example by the way that we live. And we’ve got really good morals, really good family backgrounds and they stay close to us. We stay pretty grounded and try to stay out of all the hype and the stuff that’s not real, you know. And we’re really, we are just really good girls that don’t get into the mess of like drugs or drinking or any of that too much partying and all that stuff. You know, so, just try to lead by example because that’s really who we are and it’s cool to be that way and it’s the most important. The message in our music is to just really love yourself and get to know who you are individually and be proud of that and be fearless.
Q: So what advice do you have for teens who dream of making it in the music industry?
A: Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it...Teens who wanna make it in the music industry, just make sure that’s what you want to do, you’re in it for the right reasons. You know, I don’t think people who set out to be in it for the fame and stuff, you might not get what you want in the end, you might not be happy. But if it’s because you have a certain talent and the passion and the drive and a goal, then never give up. That’s what Nelson Mandala always says: Never give up. And follow your heart and stay true to yourself, just be you, don’t try to jeopardize or compromise yourself or anyone else in this business.
Q: So this June will be the 10th anniversary for YOUTHINK Magazine, so on that note, we’d love to know what your favourite album was over the past decade.
A: Oh my gosh, my favourite album...what’s your favourite album? Maybe you can help me out...I gotta ask what everybody’s favourite album was because I hate when I have to...it’s so hard. That was created in the last decade? Hmm what’s yours? There have been some pretty great albums made. You can’t say like Thriller or something because that wasn’t made in the past decade...and you can’t say like the Beatles or...What’s a good album that was made?
(this part was more of a conversation so its kinda weird to write it lol)
Q: What kind of music were you into?
I used to...I don’t even know if it was 10 years, i think it’s past 10 years...I loved OK Computer.
I think Robin Thicke’s Evolution is a pretty good album too...I don’t know. There’s so many good ones. Oh wow this is such a good question. I would have said like the Legend but Bob Marley was definitely not in the past decade.
Feist! That’s a dope album...I was just listening to Feist yesterday and she’s Canadian and I’ve seen her in concert a few times. It’s not 1234, it’s the other album. Let It die, yeah that’s what it is Let It Die, that’s the dope one.
My article is in the latest issue of YOUTHINK right now! go get it! :)
Here's the article!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
SELENA GOMEZ & DREW SEELEY
In November 2007, Sullivan Heights Secondary was transformed into Beverly Glen High School for the filming of the movie Another Cinderella Story starring Selena Gomez (Wizards of Waverly Place)and Drew Seeley (High School Musical Concert Tour). Back in the day, Selena Gomez wasn't as well known as she is today, so I was able to interview her while she had a break during her school work! And I also interviewed Drew Seeley and they were both super nice. Take a look!
More pictures to come!
Also, here's the article that I wrote for YOUTHINK!
More pictures to come!
Also, here's the article that I wrote for YOUTHINK!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
one day in new york city...
Well a couple years ago when I went to New York with the fam, we walked past a huge bookstore called Borders and saw a sign saying "HSM book signing" so I immediatly went inside. There were chairs set up facing a table with 2 chairs and microphones. It was a question and answer thingy with Kaycee Stroh (character: Martha Cox) and Chris Warren Jr (character: Zeke). So I got to ask them a bunch of questions and got autographs and stuff :)
They were super nice :)
Monday, April 6, 2009
MONTANA TUCKER INTERVIEW
I had the chance to interview up and coming artist Montana Tucker over the phone a few months ago. Montana Tucker was the winner of a Myspace contest for a song in Step Up 2. Her song "Aint No Stressin" was a hit and now this singer/dancer/entertainer is doing much more than the average 10th grader. She took the time to let me know a bit about herself and about how she plans on making it in this crazy industry.
Q: How did you get discovered in the entertainment business?
A: When I was about 8 or 9, I really really wanted to start modeling and my mom was hesitant about letting me get into the industry with all the things going on and finally she gave in and let me start modeling. When I would be on the shoots, they would say “Hey, do you know how to dance or anything?” And I never took any dance lessons before and I don’t know if you remember Darren Hanson (he had Darren’s dance grooves, and he did Britney Spears and Nsync and all those people), he choreographed for them. I went to one of his workshops and that was my first time dancing and he came up to us and was like “hey you really need to move to LA or New York. You’d be working every day” And so we actually knew a lot of talented kids in Florida so my mom owned a hip hop company, she opened it up and brought the choreographers from LA and New York in to teach us in Florida. From then on, I started doing a lot of big black tie events and opening for a lot of different people with my dance group. We won the world hip hop championship. I started back up dancing for Ashanti and Remy Ra and a bunch of different people. And when I would be doing that, I would say “hey I want to be that star, I want to be singing.” So I started taking lessons with Betty Wright, I don’t know if you know who that is, but she was on Making the Band 3 with Danity Kane as their vocal coach. She also does Beyonce and Gloria Estefan and John Legend. She’s amazing and I started with her and my singing career really just took off from there. And then I started opening for Lil Wayne, Ciara and Omarion and then I won the whole, I don’t know if you saw on Myspace, the Step Up 2 contest. It was so exciting. My song got on the soundtrack and movie and then just from there, everything has been taking off.
Q: What was it like recording your song for Step Up 2?
A: You know what, it was like seriously just amazing. and also to go the movies and hear your song in the movie and its on a soundtrack with Missy Elliot and T-pain and all these people are on the same soundtrack as me.
Q: Which artist would you like to collaborate with the most?
A: You know what I did, I don’t know if you saw, but I did the Chris Brown Super Sweet 18. We were supposed to, on the whole show and everything, we were supposed to do a whole duet together, me and Chris but then he decided he didn’t want to perform at his party, he just wanted to go. So I ended up still performing at the party but something separate. So I think it’d be really cool to do a song with him since we both like you know, dance and everything. I think it’d be really cool.
Q: How long have you been training at the Millennium dance complex?
A: I’ve been going there back at like… I mean I’m really from Florida so whenever we would come out to la for trips and stuff I would always go to Millennium but now that we have a place here in California, I go there as much as I can to take Shane Sparks’ class because he’s my choreographer. He’s there every Monday and Wednesday so whenever I can, I try to go over there and take his class.
Q: Which artists have you danced for?
A: I’ve back up danced for Ashanti and Remy Ma. And I was only 13 when I was dancing for them and all the other dancers were twenty-something.
Q: Who are your favourite choreographers?
A: Definitely Shane. I love Shane. I’ve worked with a lot of choreographers and every choreographer you know, is kind of different in their own way. And its just, Shane, I don’t know, I just think I like him all around as a person in general and as a choreographer. I mean his stuff is so crazy. Like a lot of choreographers in LA, some of them have the same style, you know, they have that same style, but Shane really has the style that no one else has and I really really like it.
Q: What is it like to become so famous so quickly?
A: It’s really exciting and like you just sometimes realize “is this really happening?” because it’s really really exciting and amazing. You just have to keep your head straight and don’t let it get to you and just keep focusing on what you have to do. But yeah, definitely keep working hard.
Q: How do you keep yourself grounded in such a crazy business?
A: My parents are very very very strict. And they you know, they don’t let me…they really keep my grounded. They make sure… I’m still in a school, actually start Monday. I’ll be going to some school out here. I used to go to a private preparatory school in Florida. and I’d be going out to California so much and my mom makes sure I get my As and Bs and I’m in all honours classes so it was really hard because I had to basically do it by myself when I was out here. So now I’m going to a school out here that’s geared.. all the kids that go here are actors or models or dancers or singers and so I’m still doing all my honours classes and AP classes this year in tenth grade but still they’re really really easy with like if I have to leave, because I’m going to touring soon, so they’re really good about that stuff. And if you have to be on set, like when I’m going to be doing the Jump Off, they’re going to be really good with that. So I’m really excited for that
Q: So who are you touring with?
A: Well there’s a couple tours. There’s one high school tour that I’m possibly going to be doing and then I don’t know if you know what “Rock Your Fashion” is but its like all different fashion lines mixed with music and there’s a bunch of different artists on there. There’s three artists. I can’t really say the names yet until the press release comes out but I’m really excited to be doing it with them. And I’m going to be doing international tours as well and I’m going to be a on the campaigns and stuff for rock for fashion as their junior so I’m really excited about that. And also I don’t know if you knew, but I’m going to be doing a new movie called Jump Off. Its’ with Cedric the Entertainer, Wayne Brady, D Woods from Danity Kane and Drew Seeley from the High School Musical tours. And we start filming that at the end of September. It’s a musical so I get to sing dance and act and my song Turn It Up with Flo Rida’s going to be in that as well and on the soundtrack so I’m really very excited for that.
Q: Who is your biggest inspiration?
A: I think I definitely look after, how they model their careers, Jennifer Lopez and Beyonce because I think they’re very, you know, especially Beyonce, you never really hear any bad things about her ever. And you know they’ve really kept themselves grounded and there’s a lot of artists that come out with just one song and then they’re done. They, both of them, have had acting careers, singing careers, dancing careers. They both have their own clothing lines. Like all that, I really want to get into and pursue and keep doing this for the rest of my life so I really really model after them.
Q: As a triple threat, which do you prefer: dancing, singing, modeling or acting?
A: You know what, everybody always asks me that and I really can’t choose like I just love them all. I think dancing is, I don’t know because I’ve been dancing the longest, but I just love them all. I just love performing and being on stage. That’s singing and dancing and I get to act too, so it’s kind of like, I like them all.
Q: What advice do you have for other teens out there who want to become successful in the entertainment industry?
A: You know what, just believe in yourself and your dreams really can come true and just focus on what you have to do. Keep your head straight and if someone tells you that you cant do something, don’t listen to them and just follow yours dreams and reach for the stars.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
A: I see myself, well I hope to see myself just keep, I guess building and doing movies and hopefully by then have a fashion line and clothing line because I think there’s not really a clothing line out there, I mean there is ones for teens and kids, but they are literally for younger ages and you can either do that or you can do the older lines. a lot of kids want to wear their older lines, but they don’t really have a teenager that’s like that edgy style and I think that’s kind of my style so I think it’d be really cool to come out with a teen line that’s more edgy. So I hope to do that.
Q: Do you have any upcoming projects on the way?
A: Well definitely my song with Flo-Rida, Turn It Up, is going to be released on Itunes and everywhere on September 23, so make sure everyone goes out and gets that. And then like I said, I’m starting to film the Jump Off, so that should be coming out sometime next February / March around there and like I said that’s with Cedric the Entertainer, Wayne Brady, Drew Seeley and D Woods. And I have a leading role in that, singing dancing and acting. So other than that, and also Rock Your Fashion
check out her song "Turn It Up" ft Flo-Rida!
Here is my article that was published in YOUTHINK
Read it @
http://www.youthink.ca/yt/music/interviews/montana-tucker-takes-step-dance-floor
-Christina :)
Q: How did you get discovered in the entertainment business?
A: When I was about 8 or 9, I really really wanted to start modeling and my mom was hesitant about letting me get into the industry with all the things going on and finally she gave in and let me start modeling. When I would be on the shoots, they would say “Hey, do you know how to dance or anything?” And I never took any dance lessons before and I don’t know if you remember Darren Hanson (he had Darren’s dance grooves, and he did Britney Spears and Nsync and all those people), he choreographed for them. I went to one of his workshops and that was my first time dancing and he came up to us and was like “hey you really need to move to LA or New York. You’d be working every day” And so we actually knew a lot of talented kids in Florida so my mom owned a hip hop company, she opened it up and brought the choreographers from LA and New York in to teach us in Florida. From then on, I started doing a lot of big black tie events and opening for a lot of different people with my dance group. We won the world hip hop championship. I started back up dancing for Ashanti and Remy Ra and a bunch of different people. And when I would be doing that, I would say “hey I want to be that star, I want to be singing.” So I started taking lessons with Betty Wright, I don’t know if you know who that is, but she was on Making the Band 3 with Danity Kane as their vocal coach. She also does Beyonce and Gloria Estefan and John Legend. She’s amazing and I started with her and my singing career really just took off from there. And then I started opening for Lil Wayne, Ciara and Omarion and then I won the whole, I don’t know if you saw on Myspace, the Step Up 2 contest. It was so exciting. My song got on the soundtrack and movie and then just from there, everything has been taking off.
Q: What was it like recording your song for Step Up 2?
A: You know what, it was like seriously just amazing. and also to go the movies and hear your song in the movie and its on a soundtrack with Missy Elliot and T-pain and all these people are on the same soundtrack as me.
Q: Which artist would you like to collaborate with the most?
A: You know what I did, I don’t know if you saw, but I did the Chris Brown Super Sweet 18. We were supposed to, on the whole show and everything, we were supposed to do a whole duet together, me and Chris but then he decided he didn’t want to perform at his party, he just wanted to go. So I ended up still performing at the party but something separate. So I think it’d be really cool to do a song with him since we both like you know, dance and everything. I think it’d be really cool.
Q: How long have you been training at the Millennium dance complex?
A: I’ve been going there back at like… I mean I’m really from Florida so whenever we would come out to la for trips and stuff I would always go to Millennium but now that we have a place here in California, I go there as much as I can to take Shane Sparks’ class because he’s my choreographer. He’s there every Monday and Wednesday so whenever I can, I try to go over there and take his class.
Q: Which artists have you danced for?
A: I’ve back up danced for Ashanti and Remy Ma. And I was only 13 when I was dancing for them and all the other dancers were twenty-something.
Q: Who are your favourite choreographers?
A: Definitely Shane. I love Shane. I’ve worked with a lot of choreographers and every choreographer you know, is kind of different in their own way. And its just, Shane, I don’t know, I just think I like him all around as a person in general and as a choreographer. I mean his stuff is so crazy. Like a lot of choreographers in LA, some of them have the same style, you know, they have that same style, but Shane really has the style that no one else has and I really really like it.
Q: What is it like to become so famous so quickly?
A: It’s really exciting and like you just sometimes realize “is this really happening?” because it’s really really exciting and amazing. You just have to keep your head straight and don’t let it get to you and just keep focusing on what you have to do. But yeah, definitely keep working hard.
Q: How do you keep yourself grounded in such a crazy business?
A: My parents are very very very strict. And they you know, they don’t let me…they really keep my grounded. They make sure… I’m still in a school, actually start Monday. I’ll be going to some school out here. I used to go to a private preparatory school in Florida. and I’d be going out to California so much and my mom makes sure I get my As and Bs and I’m in all honours classes so it was really hard because I had to basically do it by myself when I was out here. So now I’m going to a school out here that’s geared.. all the kids that go here are actors or models or dancers or singers and so I’m still doing all my honours classes and AP classes this year in tenth grade but still they’re really really easy with like if I have to leave, because I’m going to touring soon, so they’re really good about that stuff. And if you have to be on set, like when I’m going to be doing the Jump Off, they’re going to be really good with that. So I’m really excited for that
Q: So who are you touring with?
A: Well there’s a couple tours. There’s one high school tour that I’m possibly going to be doing and then I don’t know if you know what “Rock Your Fashion” is but its like all different fashion lines mixed with music and there’s a bunch of different artists on there. There’s three artists. I can’t really say the names yet until the press release comes out but I’m really excited to be doing it with them. And I’m going to be doing international tours as well and I’m going to be a on the campaigns and stuff for rock for fashion as their junior so I’m really excited about that. And also I don’t know if you knew, but I’m going to be doing a new movie called Jump Off. Its’ with Cedric the Entertainer, Wayne Brady, D Woods from Danity Kane and Drew Seeley from the High School Musical tours. And we start filming that at the end of September. It’s a musical so I get to sing dance and act and my song Turn It Up with Flo Rida’s going to be in that as well and on the soundtrack so I’m really very excited for that.
Q: Who is your biggest inspiration?
A: I think I definitely look after, how they model their careers, Jennifer Lopez and Beyonce because I think they’re very, you know, especially Beyonce, you never really hear any bad things about her ever. And you know they’ve really kept themselves grounded and there’s a lot of artists that come out with just one song and then they’re done. They, both of them, have had acting careers, singing careers, dancing careers. They both have their own clothing lines. Like all that, I really want to get into and pursue and keep doing this for the rest of my life so I really really model after them.
Q: As a triple threat, which do you prefer: dancing, singing, modeling or acting?
A: You know what, everybody always asks me that and I really can’t choose like I just love them all. I think dancing is, I don’t know because I’ve been dancing the longest, but I just love them all. I just love performing and being on stage. That’s singing and dancing and I get to act too, so it’s kind of like, I like them all.
Q: What advice do you have for other teens out there who want to become successful in the entertainment industry?
A: You know what, just believe in yourself and your dreams really can come true and just focus on what you have to do. Keep your head straight and if someone tells you that you cant do something, don’t listen to them and just follow yours dreams and reach for the stars.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
A: I see myself, well I hope to see myself just keep, I guess building and doing movies and hopefully by then have a fashion line and clothing line because I think there’s not really a clothing line out there, I mean there is ones for teens and kids, but they are literally for younger ages and you can either do that or you can do the older lines. a lot of kids want to wear their older lines, but they don’t really have a teenager that’s like that edgy style and I think that’s kind of my style so I think it’d be really cool to come out with a teen line that’s more edgy. So I hope to do that.
Q: Do you have any upcoming projects on the way?
A: Well definitely my song with Flo-Rida, Turn It Up, is going to be released on Itunes and everywhere on September 23, so make sure everyone goes out and gets that. And then like I said, I’m starting to film the Jump Off, so that should be coming out sometime next February / March around there and like I said that’s with Cedric the Entertainer, Wayne Brady, Drew Seeley and D Woods. And I have a leading role in that, singing dancing and acting. So other than that, and also Rock Your Fashion
check out her song "Turn It Up" ft Flo-Rida!
Here is my article that was published in YOUTHINK
Read it @
http://www.youthink.ca/yt/music/interviews/montana-tucker-takes-step-dance-floor
-Christina :)
INTERVIEW WITH AJ MCLEAN FROM THE BACKSTREET BOYS
This interview took place over the phone and he seemed just as genuine and friendly as if he were right beside me. He gave such long answers but it was really interesting to hear what this backstreet boy had to say while he was on the Unbreakable Tour.
Q: What was it like recording your new album “Unbreakable?”
A: It was actually in my opinion; probably one of the most fun to make because it was just us and we kind of locked ourselves in the studio for about 5 to 6 weeks in Nashville and just wrote, recorded and just played video games. It was almost just like being in a fraternity. It was us living, breathing, sleeping music for about a good solid 6 weeks.
Q: So what are your hopes and expectations for this album?
A: I think our expectations when we made this record was to kind of start a new bridge in our career to try to get people prepared for the next level of the backstreet boys, which we’re already talking about making the next record right now possibly going in in the fall and really kind of moving quicker on this for our sakes and for our fans sakes to not make them wait so long. And we’re really inspired right now, I mean, everyone’s just got a lot of really good positive energy going on. The shows have been going great; the reception of the new music has been really really well received. So we’re just excited about it. I mean when we made this record, we kind of had an idea of what direction we were going to go and which made the recording process a lot quicker. It wasn’t just kind of fiddling around looking for songs and you know all that kind of stuff. I was just we pretty much knew we were going to put some more dance records on this album so we can bring it to the live stage. and you know with the last record, “Never Gone,” that record didn’t really lend itself to a lot of choreography and a lot of antics onstage because it was more of a pop rock record but that was the direction I think we needed to go to just to kind of explore it and kind of prove to ourselves that we could do it. and then with the “Unbreakable” CD we definitely got back more to our roots. but we’re even going to go more into our R&B roots and pop roots on this brand new record.
Q: Are there any songs on the new album that you have a stronger connection to?
A: Personally, I love the song unmistakable. Besides that I do love helpless when she smiles. I think that is a classic Backstreet Boys love song. And I also live treat me right but I’m a little biased because I wrote it with my buddy JC. That was an interesting process and then even being in the studio with him, with his experience with NSYNC he definitely knew the whole arrangement process of harmonies and then others we do as well. so it was really a fun experience to be in the studio with him he’s a really talented kid, extremely talented.
Q: What is the significance of the title “Unbreakable”? Does it tie into an overall theme or message throughout the album?
A: When we were trying to think of the album title, we were fumbling over ourselves for about 2 3 weeks trying to think of something cool, trendy, and something original, a lot of our album titles with the exception of the first one, which was just self titled, really kind of set the bar and the theme for the album and where we were in our career and personal lives. “Millennium” was going into the year 2000, “Never Gone” was just a reminder to people that we never left and “Black and Blue” was kind of a rough time for everybody. Me with my drug and alcohol and going to rehab and a couple of us experienced had deaths in our families and 911 there was just a lot of negativity. So that one kind of felt, I don’t want to say bruised but it just kind of seemed like it fit but unbreakable. when we were sitting having dinner, just the four of us, were trying to think of an album title, Brian was kind of giving us a little bit of a pep talk and he had said the work unbreakable and I kind of paused for a minute and said wait a minute, what do you guys think about that? We really thought about it and when you really break it down. We lost a member, we’ve been through hell and back and we’re still here 15 years later. Been through management changes, record company stuff and lawsuits and all these things and were still here solid as a rock which really shows we truly are unbreakable.
Q: So how would you describe your live show?
A: Live show is about 80% dancing; we have about a good 75% of the hits as well as about 25% of the new record. It’s just non stop great music and great live performance in the entire show from start to finish its packed full of energy. It’s about an hour 45 min show, almost 2 hours. and its just kind of a conglomerate of old, new as well as 4 individual solo songs that we do kind of premiering some of our upcoming solo projects as well and we just try to really be…it’s a lot more intimate show, even though its on a grand scale, its still a much more intimate with the audience type of a show where we really get the audience involved and we even jump in the audience. I mean we definitely get a lot closer with our fans on this particular tour. It’s a really fun tour. its going to be kind of a bummer that its almost over here, we got about 2 maybe 2 and a half weeks left and then its coming to an end, but you know doesn’t mean there wont be more and more tours because there’s just going to be more and more records.
Q: What is it like being on tour with Girlicious?
A: They are a hoot. They are 4 of the sweetest young ladies I’ve met in quite some time. We’ve not really had a chance to hang with them because they’ve been very busy, obviously promoting and doing press and such. and last night in Chicago we went out for Howie’s birthday and the girls showed up and that was the first time I really got a chance to really sit and hang with them in a more casual atmosphere and they are just sweethearts. They are extremely talented; they put on a great show, full of tons of energy, great pop songs and they’re just fun, fun girls to be around. I even told them off side, I was like “I hope you guys aren’t… like we’re not seeing you guys during backstage and what not because you’re like scared of us or think we’re gonna do anything weird” but they’re like “No we’ve just been really busy we definitely wanna hang with you guys ya’ll are really really cool and really nice guys. We only got to hang with them last night and like I said, they’re a bunch of sweethearts.
Q: So what has been your favourite part of the Unbreakable Tour so far?
A: There’s been quite a few, we’ve gone to a couple of brand new countries we’ve never been to. We went to Lithuania, Estonia. we went to Russia. As well as I think just kind of coming back home has been a really good time for us. I mean, not that we don’t live the rest of the world, we do, we’ve got fans all over the world but it was just good to finally come back to the mother land for us, to come back to the States or in Canada. we haven’t toured in the states or in Canada for quite some time. I don’t know, there’s been so many. just being on the road and being on stage and every show is like your first show. Every city changes, the fans change, country to country, and city to city. we just go up there and give it 120 % every night?
Q: Do you find that the fans are different from before?
A: Some of them are. I mean we’re definitely seeing a lot more new faces as well as a ton of faces that have been with us from the very beginning. You know, most of the more dedicated fans have been there for the past 15, 13, 14 years. They’re married now, they have kids of their own, and they’re bringing their families to the show. They’re little sisters are in college now, so she’s bringing her college friends. We’re seeing a lot more couples coming to the show, a lot more guys, you know I think guys are probably saying its cool to like the Backstreet Boys now because you know everyone’s older. Whether they wanna admit it or not, you know, the pop music we’ve been fortunate to record and spread around the world is a part of pop culture. It’s been a part of people our age growing up and you know, when you hear songs like I want it that way or all I have to give, it kind of takes you back to where you were when you heard that song, which is really cool. I know where I was when first time I heard it on the radio and you know, it still freaks us out when we’re driving at home and we turn on the radio and hear one of our songs.
Q: How is the Unbreakable tour different from your other tours?
A: It’s a little bit down sized as far as the massive productions of like Millennium and Black and Blue. It’s definitely a step up from Never Gone which was a very stripped down tour. We’ve got a couple gags in the show, we’ve got a couple of cool little gimmicks here and there but we just kind of went back to the basics. we went back to it just being us up there doing our thing. there’s no dancers, it’s just us four up there dancing, singing and just having a whole ton of fun. I mean that’s what it’s always been about. its about the music and about the fans and just taking it back to us.
Q: So what is it like to be on tour without Kevin?
A: Now, we’ve all kind of gotten used to it. I mean even when we first went into the studio to make the record, its when it was the first bit of weirdness just knowing that he’s not coming to work that day, that he’s not coming tomorrow or the day after. once we broke through that uncomfortable feeling, we just kind of got on the train and chugged on through. initially the first couple shows live were a little weird, but now we’ve kind of gotten used to it and this is the new phase of the bsb. like we’ve told people in every interview, the door is still open. we didn’t shut that door on Kevin and we never will and he never shut the door on us as well so if he chooses to want to come back for this next record cycle, the door’s always open. I think it would be great, but he’s really happy right now. he’s a daddy, so he’s doing the dad thing and he’s busy doing theater, producing, and writing and he’s definitely keeping himself busy and I just saw him before we went on this leg of the tour and he seemed really happy and just really really comfortable.
Q: How do you keep yourself grounded in such a crazy business?
A: Well between the 4 of us always keeping each other in check and having a really great family that always keep us in check. we just try to always never forget where we started, where we came from, where we’re going, what we’ve been through, how we’ve got here. and you know, if anyone starts to get a big head, the other guys can take out that imaginary needle and pop it and deflate them for a little bit. I think all of us just kind of came from really good southern homes and really good wholesome upbringing and just always respect each other. and now that we’re older, its definitely a lot easier, I think we’re the tightest we’ve ever been, the bond is stronger. there isn’t that big of an age gap now so everybody just kind of gets along really really well.
Q: So what’s the most important thing you’ve learned from being in this industry for so long?
A: that it really is show business. That it’s not just about the show, that there is a lot of business that goes on behind closed doors. Not a lot of the fans and the general public get to really see. it really is a lot of hard work. it’s not all flashing lights and big bank accounts. it really isn’t, there’s a lot of hard work. you can lose it all in the drop of a hat if you don’t really pay attention to your business. all of us have kind of foruntaly and unfortuntaly had to become businessmen over the past 15 years. I say unfortunately just because for me personally, I would rather not have to focus on that and just go do what I am passionate about and just get up on stage and perform until I cant feel my legs. you know but you do need to be responsible and you do need to be very conscience of what’s going on behind closed doors.
Q: What legacy do you want to leave behind in the music business?
A: I think the kind of legacy we want to leave behind is just kind of respect. we just want to leave behind the respect that we’ve been through so much that and we’re still here and for people to honestly remember us for our music and for hopefully our talent. and just for kind of being a part of a massive generation of pop music and just you know. I think like I said, we are fortunate enough and blessed to be a part of pop culture now. so that’s something I can tell my grandkid’s grandkids. when you look at bands like the rolling stones or aerosmith, they’re able to do that now, they’ve been in it for 30, 40 years and they can tell their grandkid’s grandkids. hey look at what grandpa’s done. look at where we’ve started, and all we’ve been through, where we are and we’re still here. 15 years is a long time and we’ve got another 15 ahead of us as long as the fans wants us and the world wants the Backstreet Boys, we’re gonna be here.
Q: So what advice do you have for teens who want to make it in the music industry?
A: Be patient, be ambitious, get a good lawyer. but seriously, def don’t let anyone tell you that you cant do what you want to do. and I would also tell any upcoming artist to hold on to their artistic integrity as long as they can. Record companies tend to come in and manipulate and come in a make you a puppet. that’s how this industry is, not with every company but some. its just that this industry is very vindicting. it can chew you up and spit you out. we’ve seen what’s happened with a lot of the younger celebrities that have gone in and out of rehab or done this or done that. and it really is hard when you’re that young coming into this world. it’s a whirlwind and it will make your head spin but just keep your feet firmly on the ground. you can keep your head in the clouds and shoot for the stars. just be patient it’s a lot of hard work. don’t lose hope and faith its not gonna happen over night. just keep on trucking through and like I tell anybody, you know the only way around anything is through it.
Q: Where do you guys see yourselves in 5 to 10 years?
A: I’d like to be married, that’d be nice. I’m 30 years old, im not getting any younger. but I think still making records, touring around the world, and hopefully sticking our feet firmly planted in this industry and finally gaining the utmost respect from our peers as well as the media and just letting everyone know that we’re here and we’re not going anywhere.
Here is my article that was published in YOUTHINK magazine:
you can also check it out @ http://www.youthink.ca/yt/music/interviews/backstreet-boys-over-75-million-strong
-Christinaaaa
Q: What was it like recording your new album “Unbreakable?”
A: It was actually in my opinion; probably one of the most fun to make because it was just us and we kind of locked ourselves in the studio for about 5 to 6 weeks in Nashville and just wrote, recorded and just played video games. It was almost just like being in a fraternity. It was us living, breathing, sleeping music for about a good solid 6 weeks.
Q: So what are your hopes and expectations for this album?
A: I think our expectations when we made this record was to kind of start a new bridge in our career to try to get people prepared for the next level of the backstreet boys, which we’re already talking about making the next record right now possibly going in in the fall and really kind of moving quicker on this for our sakes and for our fans sakes to not make them wait so long. And we’re really inspired right now, I mean, everyone’s just got a lot of really good positive energy going on. The shows have been going great; the reception of the new music has been really really well received. So we’re just excited about it. I mean when we made this record, we kind of had an idea of what direction we were going to go and which made the recording process a lot quicker. It wasn’t just kind of fiddling around looking for songs and you know all that kind of stuff. I was just we pretty much knew we were going to put some more dance records on this album so we can bring it to the live stage. and you know with the last record, “Never Gone,” that record didn’t really lend itself to a lot of choreography and a lot of antics onstage because it was more of a pop rock record but that was the direction I think we needed to go to just to kind of explore it and kind of prove to ourselves that we could do it. and then with the “Unbreakable” CD we definitely got back more to our roots. but we’re even going to go more into our R&B roots and pop roots on this brand new record.
Q: Are there any songs on the new album that you have a stronger connection to?
A: Personally, I love the song unmistakable. Besides that I do love helpless when she smiles. I think that is a classic Backstreet Boys love song. And I also live treat me right but I’m a little biased because I wrote it with my buddy JC. That was an interesting process and then even being in the studio with him, with his experience with NSYNC he definitely knew the whole arrangement process of harmonies and then others we do as well. so it was really a fun experience to be in the studio with him he’s a really talented kid, extremely talented.
Q: What is the significance of the title “Unbreakable”? Does it tie into an overall theme or message throughout the album?
A: When we were trying to think of the album title, we were fumbling over ourselves for about 2 3 weeks trying to think of something cool, trendy, and something original, a lot of our album titles with the exception of the first one, which was just self titled, really kind of set the bar and the theme for the album and where we were in our career and personal lives. “Millennium” was going into the year 2000, “Never Gone” was just a reminder to people that we never left and “Black and Blue” was kind of a rough time for everybody. Me with my drug and alcohol and going to rehab and a couple of us experienced had deaths in our families and 911 there was just a lot of negativity. So that one kind of felt, I don’t want to say bruised but it just kind of seemed like it fit but unbreakable. when we were sitting having dinner, just the four of us, were trying to think of an album title, Brian was kind of giving us a little bit of a pep talk and he had said the work unbreakable and I kind of paused for a minute and said wait a minute, what do you guys think about that? We really thought about it and when you really break it down. We lost a member, we’ve been through hell and back and we’re still here 15 years later. Been through management changes, record company stuff and lawsuits and all these things and were still here solid as a rock which really shows we truly are unbreakable.
Q: So how would you describe your live show?
A: Live show is about 80% dancing; we have about a good 75% of the hits as well as about 25% of the new record. It’s just non stop great music and great live performance in the entire show from start to finish its packed full of energy. It’s about an hour 45 min show, almost 2 hours. and its just kind of a conglomerate of old, new as well as 4 individual solo songs that we do kind of premiering some of our upcoming solo projects as well and we just try to really be…it’s a lot more intimate show, even though its on a grand scale, its still a much more intimate with the audience type of a show where we really get the audience involved and we even jump in the audience. I mean we definitely get a lot closer with our fans on this particular tour. It’s a really fun tour. its going to be kind of a bummer that its almost over here, we got about 2 maybe 2 and a half weeks left and then its coming to an end, but you know doesn’t mean there wont be more and more tours because there’s just going to be more and more records.
Q: What is it like being on tour with Girlicious?
A: They are a hoot. They are 4 of the sweetest young ladies I’ve met in quite some time. We’ve not really had a chance to hang with them because they’ve been very busy, obviously promoting and doing press and such. and last night in Chicago we went out for Howie’s birthday and the girls showed up and that was the first time I really got a chance to really sit and hang with them in a more casual atmosphere and they are just sweethearts. They are extremely talented; they put on a great show, full of tons of energy, great pop songs and they’re just fun, fun girls to be around. I even told them off side, I was like “I hope you guys aren’t… like we’re not seeing you guys during backstage and what not because you’re like scared of us or think we’re gonna do anything weird” but they’re like “No we’ve just been really busy we definitely wanna hang with you guys ya’ll are really really cool and really nice guys. We only got to hang with them last night and like I said, they’re a bunch of sweethearts.
Q: So what has been your favourite part of the Unbreakable Tour so far?
A: There’s been quite a few, we’ve gone to a couple of brand new countries we’ve never been to. We went to Lithuania, Estonia. we went to Russia. As well as I think just kind of coming back home has been a really good time for us. I mean, not that we don’t live the rest of the world, we do, we’ve got fans all over the world but it was just good to finally come back to the mother land for us, to come back to the States or in Canada. we haven’t toured in the states or in Canada for quite some time. I don’t know, there’s been so many. just being on the road and being on stage and every show is like your first show. Every city changes, the fans change, country to country, and city to city. we just go up there and give it 120 % every night?
Q: Do you find that the fans are different from before?
A: Some of them are. I mean we’re definitely seeing a lot more new faces as well as a ton of faces that have been with us from the very beginning. You know, most of the more dedicated fans have been there for the past 15, 13, 14 years. They’re married now, they have kids of their own, and they’re bringing their families to the show. They’re little sisters are in college now, so she’s bringing her college friends. We’re seeing a lot more couples coming to the show, a lot more guys, you know I think guys are probably saying its cool to like the Backstreet Boys now because you know everyone’s older. Whether they wanna admit it or not, you know, the pop music we’ve been fortunate to record and spread around the world is a part of pop culture. It’s been a part of people our age growing up and you know, when you hear songs like I want it that way or all I have to give, it kind of takes you back to where you were when you heard that song, which is really cool. I know where I was when first time I heard it on the radio and you know, it still freaks us out when we’re driving at home and we turn on the radio and hear one of our songs.
Q: How is the Unbreakable tour different from your other tours?
A: It’s a little bit down sized as far as the massive productions of like Millennium and Black and Blue. It’s definitely a step up from Never Gone which was a very stripped down tour. We’ve got a couple gags in the show, we’ve got a couple of cool little gimmicks here and there but we just kind of went back to the basics. we went back to it just being us up there doing our thing. there’s no dancers, it’s just us four up there dancing, singing and just having a whole ton of fun. I mean that’s what it’s always been about. its about the music and about the fans and just taking it back to us.
Q: So what is it like to be on tour without Kevin?
A: Now, we’ve all kind of gotten used to it. I mean even when we first went into the studio to make the record, its when it was the first bit of weirdness just knowing that he’s not coming to work that day, that he’s not coming tomorrow or the day after. once we broke through that uncomfortable feeling, we just kind of got on the train and chugged on through. initially the first couple shows live were a little weird, but now we’ve kind of gotten used to it and this is the new phase of the bsb. like we’ve told people in every interview, the door is still open. we didn’t shut that door on Kevin and we never will and he never shut the door on us as well so if he chooses to want to come back for this next record cycle, the door’s always open. I think it would be great, but he’s really happy right now. he’s a daddy, so he’s doing the dad thing and he’s busy doing theater, producing, and writing and he’s definitely keeping himself busy and I just saw him before we went on this leg of the tour and he seemed really happy and just really really comfortable.
Q: How do you keep yourself grounded in such a crazy business?
A: Well between the 4 of us always keeping each other in check and having a really great family that always keep us in check. we just try to always never forget where we started, where we came from, where we’re going, what we’ve been through, how we’ve got here. and you know, if anyone starts to get a big head, the other guys can take out that imaginary needle and pop it and deflate them for a little bit. I think all of us just kind of came from really good southern homes and really good wholesome upbringing and just always respect each other. and now that we’re older, its definitely a lot easier, I think we’re the tightest we’ve ever been, the bond is stronger. there isn’t that big of an age gap now so everybody just kind of gets along really really well.
Q: So what’s the most important thing you’ve learned from being in this industry for so long?
A: that it really is show business. That it’s not just about the show, that there is a lot of business that goes on behind closed doors. Not a lot of the fans and the general public get to really see. it really is a lot of hard work. it’s not all flashing lights and big bank accounts. it really isn’t, there’s a lot of hard work. you can lose it all in the drop of a hat if you don’t really pay attention to your business. all of us have kind of foruntaly and unfortuntaly had to become businessmen over the past 15 years. I say unfortunately just because for me personally, I would rather not have to focus on that and just go do what I am passionate about and just get up on stage and perform until I cant feel my legs. you know but you do need to be responsible and you do need to be very conscience of what’s going on behind closed doors.
Q: What legacy do you want to leave behind in the music business?
A: I think the kind of legacy we want to leave behind is just kind of respect. we just want to leave behind the respect that we’ve been through so much that and we’re still here and for people to honestly remember us for our music and for hopefully our talent. and just for kind of being a part of a massive generation of pop music and just you know. I think like I said, we are fortunate enough and blessed to be a part of pop culture now. so that’s something I can tell my grandkid’s grandkids. when you look at bands like the rolling stones or aerosmith, they’re able to do that now, they’ve been in it for 30, 40 years and they can tell their grandkid’s grandkids. hey look at what grandpa’s done. look at where we’ve started, and all we’ve been through, where we are and we’re still here. 15 years is a long time and we’ve got another 15 ahead of us as long as the fans wants us and the world wants the Backstreet Boys, we’re gonna be here.
Q: So what advice do you have for teens who want to make it in the music industry?
A: Be patient, be ambitious, get a good lawyer. but seriously, def don’t let anyone tell you that you cant do what you want to do. and I would also tell any upcoming artist to hold on to their artistic integrity as long as they can. Record companies tend to come in and manipulate and come in a make you a puppet. that’s how this industry is, not with every company but some. its just that this industry is very vindicting. it can chew you up and spit you out. we’ve seen what’s happened with a lot of the younger celebrities that have gone in and out of rehab or done this or done that. and it really is hard when you’re that young coming into this world. it’s a whirlwind and it will make your head spin but just keep your feet firmly on the ground. you can keep your head in the clouds and shoot for the stars. just be patient it’s a lot of hard work. don’t lose hope and faith its not gonna happen over night. just keep on trucking through and like I tell anybody, you know the only way around anything is through it.
Q: Where do you guys see yourselves in 5 to 10 years?
A: I’d like to be married, that’d be nice. I’m 30 years old, im not getting any younger. but I think still making records, touring around the world, and hopefully sticking our feet firmly planted in this industry and finally gaining the utmost respect from our peers as well as the media and just letting everyone know that we’re here and we’re not going anywhere.
Here is my article that was published in YOUTHINK magazine:
you can also check it out @ http://www.youthink.ca/yt/music/interviews/backstreet-boys-over-75-million-strong-Christinaaaa
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