Teen.com Interview

TeenMusic.com: How much thought did you put into whether you wanted to do a solo album or not?
Nick: It started when I was about to turn 18. My record company gave me a call saying they were going to have to renew my contract, because when you turn 18 your [existing] contract is void. So I said, "Ok, I'll re-sign," and then they said they also wanted to talk about a solo contract. So I did that but I said, "Right now I'm really dedicated to The Backstreet Boys," and time went on and we didn't do anything about the contract. When I got off the Black & Blue tour a lot of time had gone by and I didn't know what was what, whether not I could do it anymore or what. So I went into the studio and started writing and recording just for the heck of it, and the record company got a hold of some of the songs I was writing and saw how productive I was being, and they said, "Do you want to do it," and I said, "sure." So I started going all around the world and writing with different producers. 38 songs and six months later we had a slammin' album.

TeenMusic.com: Where did you travel to record this?
Nick: I went to Sweden and to London. It was just really cool. It was a great experience.

TeenMusic.com: Were you happy with how the album turned out?
Nick: It's different. It's going to be good in the end because I'm not trying to be what everybody expects. At the beginning it might seem a little weird to people but it's what I want to do. I think as long as I stay true to myself that's what people are going to see.

TeenMusic.com: Is there a phrase that can describe the difference between this music and The Backstreet Boys music?
Nick: It's a young and fun album.

TeenMusic.com: You emphasize playing real instruments in the Help Me music video. Why?
Nick: Well I'm studying how to play the guitar right now. I've always played drums and that's one of my favorite things, but now I've started to get into guitar playing. I'm going to rehearse with my band tonight. I'm not necessarily the best at it and I'm not proclaiming to be the best, but I want to work to get there someday. I feel that it's never too late to work hard at something if you really like it.

TeenMusic.com: Is this the band that you're touring with?
Nick: Yeah, they're going on tour. They decided to join up with me. Actually it's funny because the bass player is a female named Alicia and I used to play in a garage band with her. I used to play drums and she played bass, I play for about 2 ˝ or three years with her.

TeenMusic.com: Why did you release Help Me as the album's first single?
Nick: I felt it was a good bridge from The Backstreet Boys to what I'm doing now. I didn't want to come off too crazy because people would be like, "Whoaa, what's going on," you know what I'm saying? It's just the way people are, they don't want to see anything fake or contrived so I wanted to come out with something that was close to what I wanted to do and close to what I've done before.

TeenMusic.com: Have you recorded any songs that are really out there? Stuff people didn't think Nick Carter would be doing?
Nick: Yeah, there's a lot more songs. Let's put it this way, some of the other songs I wrote were really rock, but we had to mix it up on this album. So you might see me do something different next time around. You never know.

TeenMusic.com: Nick, what have you been doing outside of music this year?
Nick: My whole life has been music. I've been recording the whole year. I've worked really hard on the album and tried to make the best one that I could because it's definitely going to be a critical album. But at the same time I just want to be proud of what I have and what I've done. So that's what I did all year, dedicated my life to this album. Hopefully people will enjoy it.

TeenMusic.com: How do you prepare for the criticism you may have as a boyband member releasing his first solo album?
Nick: It doesn't bother me at all. People are going to say what they want to say and they have the right to. I'll be straight, I like doing music, I'm an entertainer, and as long as I'm making somebody out there happy, that's all that matters.

TeenMusic.com: Do you have a tour coming up?
Nick: I'm going to talk to my booking agent after these interviews about doing a tour.

TeenMusic.com: Tomorrow you're on TRL. Are you looking forward to that?
Nick: That's going to be a performance. A lot of people looking at me going, "Uh-oh, what's he doing?"

TeenMusic.com: How's the transition as a solo artist with the media? You can't rely on the four other guys to answer questions anymore.
Nick: It can be a little difficult sometimes but I'm so happy doing it that it becomes obsolete, all those bad things to think about.

TeenMusic.com: Is it out of line to ask if you're dating Britney Spears right now?
Nick: No it's not out of line, I'm not.

TeenMusic.com: If this album fairs well, will there be another solo album?
Nick: I believe so. This is just the beginning. I'm learning so much and have so much new stuff that I'll probably start recording my next album like…now. As long as all this makes me happy I'll stick with it.

Thanks to Justina.