Interviews

Most fans that have bid on this suit have been pretty cool about it ‘hey just let me know if my bid is the highest bid’ but there’s one group of people that have gone way above and beyond almost a fanatical standpoint to a fanatical status

Female DJ: Like absolutely crazy I’ve spend yesterday probably for a grand total of 4 hours arguing with your fans thru the instant messenger because they tracked down my screen name and were yelling at me because they didn’t happen to get the what 4 / 5 pairs or sets of tickets that we had to meet you

DJ: Now we auctioned these offers(?) Nick ehm for the thing that we do here in Atlanta its eh a charity Bert put together, he started the radio show where he takes ehm kids down to Disney world once a year. It’s called Bert’s big adventure. And Ive been waiting for the opportunity to Launch Jack’s(?) Big Adventure which is just gonna be taking me and friends of mine to las vegas for a weekend ehm nobody’s sick and I think Im gonna do that as now that I have your cell phone number Im gonna auction that off.

Nick: You know ehm the funniest thing is I had to change my last number that I had cuz I had this number, God knows why I had it for so long but I had it for like 2 years and ehm I guess I just gave it to the wrong girl or something like that and it got placed all over the internet and so I was like, it was like crazy and I had to change it and you know but ehm uh yeah I think that will be a problem

Nick: Ehm I’ve had like ehm fans write songs and poems and stuff like that. I’ve got like 6 books of poems, I’ve had ehm I’ve, you know like I’ve had people write songs and you know send cd’s and stuff like that and ehm and they have songs that were actually written TO me and stuff like that. So that’s really passionate cause you know and that’s how I am too with the music cause you know I write songs in that way you know what I’m saying. I mean I, I write them to ehm you know from what my feelings and stuff like that and if they feel in a certain way they feel some way about what I’m doing or about how I am they express it in that sense(?) and then also too you know ehm showing up places coming from different places just like you said Germany of had a lot of people come from like Europe(?). A lot of people come…I’ve had a lot of people come from Japan cause I ehm I’ve did pretty good in Japan too. So ehm they definitely come from there

Nicky: Uh huh in Toronto right after September 11 and actually they ehm they ehm actually I met you last actually in personally actually spoke to you last year at the boat races at 8PBA(?) you actually videotaped my little girl in the elevator with the floadies on

Nicky: No actually I live, I live here in Atlanta and my ehm we went to a family vacation to Savannah and they were at the boat races so I entered that…I had a friend that worked with the boat races or whatever so she hooked me up with doing ehm cuz Im a nurse so I did like driver’s physicals and stuff and Nick and his family were there and so that was cool I got to meet them, it was neat and they’re good people.

DJ : Alright. Hey Nick as I’m on the internet yesterday and I’m trying to do my homework cause we were gonna talk to you today and it’s virtually impossible to do any kind of research on you cause to discover what is rumor from what is truth is nearly impossible so I wanted to throw a couple of these things out at you and you can either say yes its true or say no it’s just a rumor

Nick: No it was funny because ehm she, one of her ex bodyguards was eh, I guess she’d had something for me like when I was like younger we were touring over Europe just before she started dating Justin and ehm you know when she broke up with him you know she gave me a call on my cell phone and left a message on my phone and this was like right when she had broke up with him. And she was like you know this is not you know ehm you don’t hear every time my phone calls so I was expecting a phone call to sue my friend who was a bodyguard at the time. And so ehm I just I never got back to her and I was supposed to go out to like this pepsi challenge eh pepsi race that she was doing and I was like I ain’t flying all the way over the west coast for somebody. I don’t care who they are you know what I’m saying but I anyways that’s kinda how it ended up like that and I never really did get a chance to hang out with her at all.

Nick: Yeah it was pretty ehm it was pretty weird how it happened ehm you know my record company kinda like dropped the album around the same time like that and actually it was my ehm it was my past management that did it, the Firm and I really didn’t want to be released around the same time because he was definatly coming off you know a lot of things that were happening with his relationship a lot of stuff that was helping him out you know what I’m saying. And really People knew me from the Backstreet boys as Nick from the Backstreet boys. They really didn’t know me as an individual. They knew Nick from the Backstreet boys so uhm it had released and so I was like I worked my ass off trying to pull as much as I could and its also a different sound from everyone was used to hearing so that happened the way it did you know it was good though at the same time. People saw even though that competition got involved I’m not afraid of anything I don’t care. Okay you know what I’m sayin’ I’m just here to make music and to entertain people who want to be entertained.

Sound file Brian: “And on the guys tip with the group I'm actually talking with the guys and nothing's set in stone just yet but you hear it first on Q100 about possibly the guys getting back into the studio at the beginning of the year and making another record”

Nick: Yeah definatly. I mean we’re all communicating right now and we’re talking. And uhm I think that’s the most important thing. People don’t realize that we’ve been doing this for a long time. We’ve been in the group for 10 years together you know what I’m saying. I was in the group since I was 11. I started when I was 11 years of age you know. You know how young that is and you know uhm time went bye and people grew up you know some ppl wanted to do different things. Me personally I really wanted to pursue like a solo thing. Do something just by myself and I have experienced that. So I have done that I definatly want to do another record you know what I’m sayin’ but uhm right now if we can work it out and we can get a Backstreet record going. I’m in the studio with them.

J- What I told on the microphone was “Oh God! If this turns into a food fight, this’s gonna be a mess cause this cake is huge.” At that point, Michael Jackson turned to you and Aaron and said something like “I dare you” or something like that, and your little brother, crazy little Aaron [me: lol], checked a huge hunk of cake and smashed Michael Jackson! At that point, I kinda lose track, you know, like this cake kinda flying everywhere. Michael turns to me with this giant hunk of cake and goes … I said “Hit me, dude!” [me: he called MJ “dude”!!!] cause it’s Michael Jackson, and he says, of course, “Are you sure?” I’m like “Bring it!” and he just clouded (???) me with cake. All I saw about you, I saw about Nick leave the stage and you had cake all over your face!

N- Oh my goodness!! I got this brand new, like, Nike outfit and it was like … white! I don’t know, maybe it was like white-blue or …. No, no, no, no, my bad, it was blue. It was like this nice blue [me: no, Nick, it was indeed white-blue – white with blue stripes on the shoulders and arms] and this cake is white, dawg! And all I know is I get out, that we go to Michael Jackson’s house, cause he’s got that regular house goin’ on and stuff, and Mike takes me to the backroom and he’s like, you know, “You need something to wipe it off” and I’m like “Dude, look at this freakin’ outfit! I just bought this today!” [at that point, JoJo’s laughing his head off] And it was something like suede cross velvet suit, and it’s got white cake all the way down to my pants! [me: take it off! Take it off!] I swear to God I look like a victim! Victim of a ???! ??? by cakin’! I was so upset! But it was cool, I mean, they got me some clothes and we all chilled out, and Chris Tucker showed up … and me and Chris Tucker, Rodney Jerkins, my brother and Michael we was all just chillin’ in this one room. [me: that’s “we were chillin’”!!] That was nice.

N- You know what’s so funny, it’s that we recorded it like a year ago. Maybe a little longer than a year ago, and I couldn’t believe they actually put me in! I’m like, I heard it from my manager. My manager’s like “You gotta sign off this thing,” and I’m like “Wait a minute, it wasn’t supposed to go through” but I guess it did so …

J- Yeah, it did. I know you get to see it on the Radio Music Awards tonight. It actually features a lot of artists, similar to the “We Are the World” thing a while back. Updated version of that new song, an amazing song, and Luther Vandross is on it…

N- What I do is, first of all, on the movie side, I’m going to Canada in 2 days and I’m shooting a movie with Carmen Electra. It’s like a funny, spoofy type of movie, whatever, so I’m doing this cameo. [me: now, why didn’t you tell us about this one? We want details!!] Then, a couple of days after, I gotta do a meeting back in LA with this director who directed the original “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” …

N- Yeah, so anyways, I’m going to meet with them. They’re casting me for. So that’s on the movie side, and then we should … Lions Gate Films [me: isn’t that Nicolas Cage’s company?] is already involved, distributing it and everything, so that we start in production in January, some time like that. And on the album side, I’ve been in the studio with Rodney Jerkins, Damon Elliott, even my man Snow from up in Canada … I gotta talk to you about this!

N- I gotta talk to you about this! I’ll talk you on later. I approached Snow cause, I mean, Snow and I have been friends for a little while and I went up in Canada and thought with a bit of chance we might bring him down and reintroduce you to, like, the people of America cause he hasn’t been in America in like 10 years! [me: I haven’t been in America in nearly 12 years, thank you very much! For some people, not going to America in decades is not such a big deal, you know]

N- This man is so talented, you know. ??? [didn’t get the next sentence, sorry] I got back with him, you know, and we decided to do some stuff so I wanna bring him back down in and reintroduce him. He’s probably gonna do some track with me on my next record.

N- He’s gonna do a track with me, but I’m going back to dance, like dance–rock type of stuff, maybe a little bit … you know how like Andre 3000 (???) kinda do, like it’s really funky type of mix, type of music, you know what I’m saying?

N- Yeah. So I’m getting back in the dancing again, I’m back to … you know, that stuff that made me what I was in the Backstreet Boys, you know, and a lot of people didn’t get a chance to see who I was and what I really was capable of, and so now I’m pulling all the codes out (???)

N- Yeah. The great thing about it is that we’re all communicating and we’re straight, you know what I’m saying? People never … you know, they thought that maybe we weren’t getting along or some stuff was going on. Now we just gotta take some time away cause 10 years have gone by and we’ve been working our asses off for so long, and we took some time down. We’re communicating on a level towards we wanna get back in the studio, do another record. Now, whether or not is it gonna be … probably not gonna be the first quarter or towards the first part of this next year, but it probably we get into the studio like middle of next year.

N- [he talked really fast here, so I did my best to figure out what he was saying] Yeah, you know, it’s like we get more break, a little more break. People break – make it last for a second! Let’s not, like, trouble, like … overdo it, you know what I’m saying, and try and get everything we can out on the market, or whatever, you know. It’s not about that. It’s not about, never was about that … it’s about music [me: Amen]

*Girl asked Nick is relationship status......Said he is definitely single, she asked what he was looking for, he joked about a girl, being dark brown eyes, size 6 feet, Boogie chimes in wsomeone with a good heart, and Nick said =it was Boogie, and he said he doesn't care, anyone.

* Nick and Boogie have stuff in common. Nick says Ohio, is History for him too. Nick says they preformed for a wendy's charity, and also BSB got their record deal here. There first performance that got the BSB their record deal. In OHIO> (yea). Sorry. lol

Nick Carter, 23, always has been one of our favorite backstreets boys. In this interview, answered for email after two weeks of much insistence, he was supercalm. "I am resting before hitting the road again", he said, on a break of Now or Never, Tour, his solo album. "Soon I will be doing shows in Mexico."

Nick tell us that his favorite program for Valentine's Day is to travel. "You get away from everything and if can concentrates in who is with you." But he confesses that he did that only a few times. "What I usually do in this day is to bought abeautiful gift, to take the girl to dinner and later going to a club with her, or seeing a movie."

Nick Carter: Ok, this one deserves some thinking! it's more complicated to fall in love then to have sex. When you have sex, you put your body into it, but not necessarily your mind and soul, that are much more difficult to deal with. When you fall in love you put in the game each element of yourself: body, soul, confidence, mind, devotion. You are more open in a relationship.

Chemistry has to work. I like people who has a good sense of humor are shy; women who act naturally by my side. Sometimes people are not natural with me because I am "the" Nick Carter. It's good to have a casual date, to be able to go to any place, to do anything without planning ahead. She needs to be spontaneous, this is the word that I was looking for.

Another difficult question! Who loves not cheat ? Well, if the human beings were perfect, I think that would be true. But they are not, right ? Who cheat can trully love its partner, but be immature or not know how to speak about problems that might be happening. It's not an excuse, but it happens with so much frequency...

Certainly. Trust is something you have to earn and it's the base of any relationship. It's difficult to forgive, specially when if you are together for some time. If you are not able to trust the person you are with, you have a great problem !

N - It's good, it's really good, um, the only really problem, well it wasn't really a problem, well I guess it was. We um, at the very beginning of the tour, um, because we've been doing North America, a little bit of Canada and down in the States. There was this big storm that came through, a blizzard through the north east. It caused me to have to postpone 2 or 3 of my shows. My tour manager came to me and was like either we can put the shows on the back end or we can try to do something that really never has been done before, not many people like to do it, and that's 10 shows in a row. So I've got 10 shows in a row and this is my 6th.

N- Yeah, it's kinda, I've never down it before. I never really had to assume the role of singing a whole show by myself, cause I've been with the boys. But, now I do an hour and a half show. Ya know, I have to really take care of my voice. It's kinda tough.

N - Well, it's a whole different environment, ya know. Rock style type of music, smaller venues. I personally wanted to do that because I wanted to give back to the fans. Ya know, a little bit more of a closeness. I mean, I'm playing smaller places, smaller crowds. But I like that personality (?) better.

N - I think so. I really think so. I mean, being in the Backstreet Boys, the one thing is it's always been a group effort, not one person really stood out. And that's the way we wanted it, kinda like a group effort thing. And what I wanted to do was satisfy that little fire inside of me, take some time off and do some solo touring. And it really has turned me into, I think, a better performer, entertainer and um, I've really been able to work on my voice. Ya know, your voice is like a muscle, and I've been working that muscle every single night. It's been a lot of fun.

N - That video, in a way kind of, one of my dreams came true. I've always wanted to sail around the world in a really big, big sailboat. And that one was like 120 feet long. It was just amazing, like being on one of those pirate ships back in the day. The wind was really strong that day. I actually shot in in my home town in the Florida Keys, Key West. It was really sunny that day. That same day I actually had to get on a plane to Detroit. Going from hot weather to cold weather. It was freezing that day. That video, it really did satisfy my um, dreams.

With a his highly anticipated solo debut album out, the popular Backstreet Boy Nick Carter has just arrived to Japan for some promotions. There were events held, and he got to hold a press conference on a airplane, making the Nick fans of Japan very happy. Admist that busy schedule, Nick agreed to do an interview with us at MTV Japan. On this page, we'll feature more of the interview that we couldn't fit on tv totally uncut. We also put up pictures from the interview and a report from the lucky contest winner, enjoy!

Nick: It's something I've wanted to do since I was little. I love working with the Backstreet boys(from now on in the interview, BSB) I just wanted to try somethin new. I've always loved rock, so if I had an oppurtunity to ever do a solo record, I definately wanted to do rock. I worked in the studio mixing some tracks and thankfully I got a great response from the fans about the tracks. I made sure it wasn't too crazy. Basically, it was something I wanted to do ever since i was little.(lol he said it twice) I grew up listening to rock, my parents listened to rock, and BSB took a little break so I finally got a chance to fulfill my dream.

Nick: Yup, a very wide variety. But that was my intent. I didn't want the whole album to just have the same sound, I made sure each track was somethin different. I thought that might be a little more fun. I wanted to make sure I had something for everyone. I wanted to make an album that fans can listen to over and over for a long time.

Nick: Right now, everything in the world of being a solo artist is brand new to me. Everything I want to do and everything I want to be is up to me. I want to have fun... however me wanting to have fun did get me into some trouble in the past...(laugh). I had to be a little more calmer in BSB, but now I can be a little more open. I can be crazy and be a little more free during my performances.

Nick: "Now or Never" is what I felt when I first went into the studio... There was a point where I didn't know if I was going to go through with the album or not. I was just experimenting with alot of different sounds and there were alot of things going on in my life that I wanted to write about. But because I went into the studio, I got to be more creative and I was able to make something new. And with that, I loved a new aspect of music. And so I thought that would be the time if ever to start working on my album.

Nick: Alot of different things. Such as my past relationships, watching other people being in love, I wanted to show respect to the ladies(lmao)... just alot of different things. There were so many different things that I had to relisten to everything myself to make any sense out of it. First I just wrote whatever came into my head. I figured it's better to write from the heart than to make something up. I think the fans would get a deeper meaning out of the songs that way too. I think everyone wanted to hear the truth and not lies, definately.

Nick: My favorite song is definately "Do I Have to Cry For You". One of the reasons would be that was the first song that we listened to and first thought that I could actually do this solo thing. When I first got into the studio, no one really knew what I should do with the album. DIHTCFY was one of the first songs I wrote. Everyone liked that song and the record label also liked it and said they would let me do an album. After that I was able to write even more songs. I even remember how I felt when I first recorded that song. People told me that "It really sounds like your hurting when you sing that song, it seems like you're singing something that was in your heart" and that's how I felt. When I sing, I can release what I'm feeling inside. That's the only way I can say how I'm really feeling, through singing. That song is very emotional to me. That's why I love that song.

Nick: (laughs) Right now, with all the promoting and stuff going on, I don't really have time to do much. But when I'm at home I do go to my friend's bar and sing. I love singing in a small place like that, to be so close to the crowd. I even sing to people that probably don't even like me. I'm hoping that I can get them to like me somewhat, even if they didn't like me at first ya know? I think that's possible with music. I think there's some people that don't like me, but like my music ya know? Even on my promotional tour now, there were some people that didn't like me or my music until they heard it and then they decided that my music wasn't bad at all.

Nick: I think the biggest difference is obviously the music. When I'm solo, I sing more rock, while in BSB we sing more of a R&B flavored pop and we dance. When I'm solo, I play instruments, I'm on stage alone and I don't dance much. It's like a rock band. Those would probably be the major differences, but I'm having fun.

Nick: I love what I do with the BSB. I still want to be with them and I'm not giving it up. Doing solo work is something completely new to me and I hope it connects with things I do in the future. If everyone likes the album, I would love to do more albums.

Nick: He's still really young and he's got alot to learn.(he didn't mean this in a negative way) But I'm sure he's gonna make it really big. he's got a very open lifestyle and he's sorta like me. I still have alot to learn myself. He's still a kid so he has plenty of time to learn alot of things about music and he'll have alot more experiences. I think he's gonna be a totally great artist.

Nick: It's one of the best things about being solo. I can be closer to fans and if I get a chance to sign stuff for fans, I have more time to do it. When I'm with the group, I have the other members around as well so I don't always have time to stop and sign things because of our schedules. If four of us want to go home and only one of us want to stay, everything doesn't work out exactly. But when I'm by myself, I have a little more time and I can say I'd like to take a little more time with the fans. To me, fans and my music are everything. I'm really happy.

Nick: It's great. It's a wonderful thing. It's a great thing that music can bring so many people together and they can all share the love of that music. I didn't realize it when i was really young but musicians touch alot of people. A good song isn't just when someone says it's good, but a really good song is something that can give anyone some positive energy, and I think that's our job. I believe that energy makes the world go round, but right now there's so much negative energy in the world. Not everywhere, but there's alot of places. My job as an artist is to spread more positive energy throughout the world. I would love to spread the positive energy and hope that it helps the world even a little bit. I believe all music has the power to do that.

Nick: Right now, I'm just seeing how this goes, being solo. After this, I'm going back to America to do more promotions and I'm gonna be shooting a video.(this was from when he was first in japan, so it's not a new video i don't think) Right now, I'm trying to decide on the next single. It's really hard. The record label likes all the songs on the album so we're having a hard time trying to decide on what should be the next single. That's not exactly a bad thing though. After I shoot the video, I'm thinking about doing a tour. Then I can hopefully come back to Japan. I also want to attend the MTV Japan Awards. If there's a place someone wants me to come, I'll gladly go.

Nick: To all the fans in Japan, thank you for all your love and support and "arigatou"(thank you in japanese). I really appreciate all the support you give to me as a member of the BSB and as a solo artist. I love you. Aishitemasu!(I love you in japanese...lmao he says this alot...aww) I hope you guys like the music I made for all of you guys. I can't wait to come back to Japan, Thanks for everything.

NICK: Well It's cool I do.. I definatly get alot of peace of mind, I get to like, you know, just think about things, and really let everything absorb, and you know, I'm learning new things being on my own. That comes with everything from music to personal.

NICK: I could be wrong! If I did it like along time ago, But I believe.. You know the cool thing about it you know, that I'm so happy That I can do smaller places. We've been blessed to big places, But when you start to doing them big venues and things like that people start to get further and further back in the crowd and you know, you know it's like, When we were doing it I was like "damn I wish we could do smaller places" So now that I'm doing the solo thing.. I can do that.

NICK: Oh yeah. it does everything, You, you get the energy from the crowd it just like hypnotizing, It's incredible. You know, That's the thing. we really, me and my band we we.. the kind of show we planned. Is a show that we can play with the crowds emotions.You know, Jump em' up. for you know. hold em' there you know. Then bring it back down. let em' smooth sail for a little bit. Then come back up with some more songs.. It's really up and down. It's such a high energy show.

And It's different too, Don't go there expecting to see like you know, dancing and typical Backstreet show, Because you know, what we specialize in with Backstreet Boys were singers, Now really that's what I'm doing the whole time is singing.

EOB: I called my cousin lastnight cause she is like the biggest Nick carter fan ever and I wanted to let her know so she could listen on the internet and she of course posted that on a message board that I was going to be talking to you, and I had about 725,000 emails, about when are you coming back to Europe.

NICK: Look, When I said we were coming back to Europe, and I'm coming back to Europe, we still going to come back there, and you know, Those fans over there, They mean just as much as the US and every place around the world. Because they were there in the beginning.

NICK: Well... You see the thing is, That is something we have to discuss whether or not I either go back to Europe by myself or come back with the boys. You know what I'm sayin'. Because, You know in probably late March we are going to start recording a record possibly, you know and them um.. we are going to have it done probably around May or June and it might be a whole new ball game.

Heyy! okay so Nick is on DRQ tonight...i was up at the store in the car and they go "hey nick!...this is nick carter calling in" and i just booked it home! haha. So yeah, either go to the website, drqradio.com or turn in it on! I think he's going to be on more...

Woo k, he's done. The DJ asked if he gets tired of all the ladies and stuff and nick goes "would you get tired of it?" and the DJ just kind of laughed and nick goes "exactly!" and the DJ goes "well you get it 10x more than i do!" and nick goes "Man that's not true, you're a pimp, you're a dj, you're the man!"

Then he just talks about the show--It's an awesome show, they just got back from Japan and polished up there so they can show us what they're about. He says it's really a lot of fun and you wouldn't expect it. He also says how he plays the electric guitar and he does some acoustic BSB songs.

The DJ also was like "well some of the guys are married, all the girls want to know whats up w/ you, you single?" and Nick was just like "Yaa, I'm still there, I'm in the game" (didn't sound too sure of it, but ya know!)...then the DJ asked about what a girl can do to get to him and he just said for her to be true to herself and that he's come across a lot of fake people and just to be real.

Backstreet Boy Nick Carter has taken a break from his aging boy band. The pop sensation is going solo for the moment, like his little brother Aaron. Carter, 22, who has also tried his hand at acting, in the NBC series American Dreams, will showcase tracks from his debut disc, Now or Never, tonight at Q102's Jingle Ball.

Q: You and Justin Timberlake are leading parallel lives. You're both on hiatus from your primary gigs, your solo albums came out within a week of each other. Rumor has it that you've each had the same girlfriend this year. What's the connection?

A: Honestly, we lead two different lives when it comes to music. I don't even look at anyone outside of myself when I'm making music. Our albums are different. I wish him luck. As long as he's creating good music for the people out there, that's great.

A: My album definitely has a different feel to it. It's all about showing the fans a new side. People want to hear something new and fresh. People get bored after a while, as I do. I want to bring a new flavor. It would be great to be like Madonna. Madonna is so successful and she brings something different to the table every time. It's cool to be different.

Nick: Yeah, I was 12 when I started by the Backstreet Boys, now I’m 22. I’ve had a good time until the last 2 years - the pressure was to big. I became depressions and had the feeling that I don’t really like all this any longer – to be a Star and to go on this long tournees. I was totally burned out and didn’t know who I am. I’ve permanent changed my look and gain weight. I was really ready to go wrong.

Nick: We’re planning a new album. [here I’ve to remark something: The Backstreet Boys have already produced songs for the new album but they are in a quarrel with their label. They want 20 Mio. dollar from the label because the label used the name Backstreet Boys for advertising (5 Mio. for this) and because the label has delay the new album (15 Mio.).] But at the moment everyone of us is making his own things: Howie is in the studio, Kevin and Brian are both married. Brian got his baby and AJ wants to marry in the next time.

Nick: Yes, perhaps. But do you think that Brian, the new father, wants to go on long tours? I don’t think so. I’m young and crazy. I want to be wild, go out and rock. I don’t want to have children now and I don’t want to marry now.

Nick: Yes! I’ve some disappointments behind me. And since this time it’s not easy for me to trust other people. When a girl is interested in me I never know if she likes me as a normal person (not the star) or if she wants to exploit me. But I’m sure that somewhere outside is my dreamgirl and I’ll find her.

NC: Yes. I felt like this was the time to do it or that I would never get another chance to do it. This is the time that I needed to start the chapter of what I want to do for the future. I have to learn a lot of stuff and a lot to grow into in music. It’s kind of like college in a way.

NC: It was weird to a point, but it was so much fun because I could say what I felt like I had to say and get everything out. I got a chance to create. I had a lot of stuff in my mind that I wanted to do and it finally had a chance to come out.

HO: I’m curious about the track “I Just Wanna Take You Home”. It sounds like two things might be going on there. First that you can say something here that maybe you couldn’t say as a Backstreet Boy and second that you were telling parents that this isn’t the same Nick Carter you used to know.

NC: You might be on to something there. (Laughs) I feel like what I’m doing now is what is in my heart and what I really want to do. I’m not trying to fake or join anything, or follow the times. I’ve always loved rock music and rocking on stage. Ask anyone, I used to play in rock bands, produce rock bands and write rock songs.

NC: Yeah, I was definitely challenged with the situation. I had to come up with the right solution. Everyone knows me from what I came from and what I’ve done. It would have been a little shocking if I had gone the way I really wanted to. So I slowly got into it. The cool thing about it is that I want to shock people. I like to be unpredictable. I don’t want people to see what I do next, like Madonna.

NC: There is still that possibility. Really, I like that. I like a challenge. I’ve always been the type of person who has had to win people over from friends to girlfriends or anything I’ve decided to do. I just had to work really hard at it. In the end it is much better because people respect you. They truly have respect for you not because of all that other stuff, maybe because of the trends. I like to be an underdog.

NC: Yeah. That is why I’m accustomed to working hard. I do know what it is like to start off with nothing and then having a lot in the end. I like to start from scratch and build up. I want to start low and get back with the fans; I want to get more in touch with the fans. I want to entertain and show them love. That is what its all about.

NC: There were some songs that could have gone with the Backstreet Boys. I wrote about thirty-eight songs for this album. The songs that I wrote seemed to come right out of me. My name is on the album for the songs that I wrote and there are songs on there that I didn’t write. Maybe because I’m not fully prepared to write an entirely myself, I’m not afraid to admit that. I have a lot to learn. I’m like a big sponge. I absorb everything from everyone I work from writers to producers. I feel like I’ve just hit the tip of the iceburg right now. I’ve been playing guitar now for about a year and I’ve really been hitting it heavy. I’ve played drums since I was twelve. I want to learn more instruments as well.

HO: Did you feel pressure to try and get every song on the record that you wrote instead of bringing in writers? What I’m getting at is that a lot of people say ‘they aren’t real musicians’, but in the same sense no one ever said that about Sinatra.

NC: No, I don’t really feel like I have to write each song. If I feel a song I’ll do it. If the song doesn’t connect with me then I can’t do it. I’m an emotional singer and I sing with my soul, so I have to be able to put that into it. If I don’t feel it I can’t sing it.

We're not breaking up! I've been dying to do some type of rock music since I was a little kid. I grew up in the group, and even though I love what I do with them, I just wanted to try something different. That's all I'm doing right now. If it does big and good, that's cool.

I used to be a big Bryan Adams fan and Bruce Springsteen and stuff like that because my parents used to listen to that stuff a lot. I really wanted to have that in the music. I wanted to bring back that old, feel good feeling of those times, but also re-invent it with hipper beats. And that's what I think I've done. It's not hard rock, it's pop rock. But it has edge.

I didn't write the song, but even though I didn't write it, I did have a large influence on the whole album. When I first listened to the song I was like 'This is hitting off where I am at and the kind of person that I am and what I'm asking for right now.' I was looking for some help! I thought it was a really good first song to come out with and break me open as a solo artist. I'm really proud of the song - I like it and I enjoy it and I think it's a hot song. It definitely connects with me, and that's the only reason why I did it in the first place

The album's called 'Now Or Never', and I had control over the whole of it. That was what was so cool about the whole process. When you're in a group you don't have control of the whole album, you have four other people's opinions. I loved it, it was so cool.

Yeah, and in the beginning I think it was kind of a surprise to the guys too. It's been the same thing for ten years, and me being the youngest meant that going off and trying something new was a weird thing. But they got used to it. I think it's going to attract different fans, but as long as they see that I'm happy and they see that it's helping me, the fans will support me.

It's taken a while, but Nick Carter has finally answered your questions. Well we did have to send them all the way to Miami. Over 700 fans seized the opportunity to find out what they've always wanted to know. Nick answered as many as he could - after all he's a bit busy being an international superstar - and here they are.

I think that is still a rumor at this stage. I think it would be a crazy record because within my family we have so many different influences. So for the moment, I would say that there are no immediate plans for this “Carter Album” to happen.

I love your solo single and what I've heard of the new album, I'm a big fan of yours and if I could meet one person in the world it would definitely be you, and my question is who would you really like to meet who you haven't met already?

My question is, i am one of many adult fans, so how in relation do you think older fans relate to you or react towards yourself and the rest of the backstreet boys? do you think we are more laid back, or do you think we are crazier than your younger teenage fans?

I think that in general my fans are a lot more crazy in Europe than in the United States. They have been supportive of my career since I started with the Backstreet Boys over 7 years ago and I hope that they remain as loyal to me in my solo career!

Nick: I felt this was the right time to put this project out as a solo artist and to stop and think what it is that I really wanted to do with my future. I needed to learn how to be an individual and do things for my self. Since I was 12 I’ve been in the group and I need to be by myself. I learned to play the guitar and I want to learn to play other instruments. I know right now I’m not considered a respected musician but I want to become one some day.

Nick: I don’t really have a conflict/problem with that. We have two different styles of music. His style is more R&B and hip-hop and mine is more pop-rock. I support him in what he does and I don’t worry about it because I don’t think of him as my rival.

Uhm…a little. I would lie if I said it isn’t true. But I hate the night. Other people may get romantic ideas about the nighttime, but I don’t. I used to check under my bed at least 3 times a night because I was scared Gremlins would attack me at night. That’s another thing I’ve grown too old for haha.

Yes. I’m not one of those slick womanisers that always know how to start a conversation. I always feel uncomfortable and think the girl has all kinds of prejudices against me and it makes me nervous so I let her do the talking. I prefer it when girls come up to me and say hi or whatever.

It's not every day you meet a star that acts as free as this. There's no doubt that Nick knows it's important to get along with the press -- it's now or never for the blonde hottie. He's the first of the five Backstreet Boys who releases a solo album, and it's important not to fail completely.

Despite successful years with the Backstreet Boys, it has not just been easy for Nick. He takes it very seriously when TOPP asks him to draw his life-curve for the readers, and that curve reveals that he's had two major down periods in the latest years.

If Nick's solo album marks the end of the Backstreet Boys, he won't tell us. According to the record company, there's a new Backstreet album due out next year, something that doesn't seem very likely if you consider the fact that Nick hasn't been hanging with the guys for months.

"I'm getting older, and maybe a little wiser when it comes to life," he says, describing himself as a thinker. "I'm a deep person, one who thinks a lot. I think I'm very weird and deep," he says. It used to be pizza and cola which was his favourites, now it's water and 'green-food'. "I love asparagus. It's actually my fave food at the moment. Don't you agree?" he asks, looking at us.

Nick: It is sometimes.. I mean, I was just hanging out with my brother the other day, he came up and we did Sesame Street together. A lot of times we seem to meet up when we're only working or doing things like that. But I'm gonna have some time off like at the end of the year, like late December..

Nick: Brian is trying to spend some time with his family life and really start that up, so that's probably just the way it is at the moment, but when we get back into the studio and we get recording and stuff in the future, which I like to do after I get a couple of singles out.

Nick: Everybody asks me that question. I can tell you, straight up, the facts are I'm not leaving the group. It's not like I was leaving the group.. It's just that I'm doing something right now that I've been dying to do for a long time.

DJ: This is really cool, the singing stars karaoke machine, this is a new thing, actually I got one right here. You guys are all invited to come down, meet Nick Carter, get his autograph, get pictures with him, watch Nick doing the karaoke and of course YOU can do the karaoke too. Snap it into action.. I'm sure they all want to sing your songs.

Nick: I feel like.. that's an amazing feeling. Just because they wanna hear it, they wanna listen to it.. Sometimes it's an amazing feeling because it's overwhelming but at the same time it's still shocking to the point where you go "Whoa"..

Right now we're going to play one of my favourite songs. This is 'In The End' by Linkin Park. The reason I picked this song is because I love rock music and I really like this group. I was jamming this group out in America when they first came out. Nobody was listening to the CD and I loved it. You should check this song out.

Sorry Clare, I'm not quitting the group! I grew up with those guys since I was twelve years old and I love them, they're like my brothers. I'm not quitting, I'm just doing something that I've really been wanting to do since I was really, really little. I've always loved rock music, and now I'm getting a chance to actually do it! I couldn't necessarily do it with the Backstreet Boys, even though we've done what we've done for so long.

I've had some extremely high points in my career with the Backstreet Boys in particular. I've had some really cool things happen - I've been able to travel all around the world. There was one point where we were able to get on a plane and hop around to every single country in different continents in 100-hour period! The crazy thing was that we were able to hit all those different countries - we went to Japan, Africa, South America, Europe, then back to America, oh, and also Australia! . That was a very high point. We've had some low points where we've had to cancel tours because of problems in the group, but we've been able to make it through all those things. I love what I've done in my career with the Backstreet Boys, and hopefully I'll have some high points in mine too.

This is another of my favourite songs. I picked this because when I was over here recording recently with Guy Chambers and Steve Mac I heard about this group. I liked the group and I loved their new song ten times better than their older stuff. This is Sugababes with 'Round Round'. I saw this video and it's hot, and these girls are hot, and this song is hot, so check it out!

When I went into the studio and I started creating music, I wanted to create something new and fresh and different. I didn't want people to have expectations of me. I wanted to surprise people a lot. I went in and I did a little bit of a rock feel to my album. It's old rock mixed with new rock and pop. It's not too far off - it's still got the melodies and the pop hooks, but it does have rock guitars to it. I love listening to rock and I wanted to put it in there. I'm not giving up on pop because I can go back to the Backstreet Boys and always to pop music of some sort with them. It's about evolution, and that's what I like about this.

There's not! That rivalry was created by the press and all those people in the media. We've known each other since we were young guys. Even now when I'm doing a solo thing and Justin's doing a solo thing we talk with each other. Now we're both getting to do one of our dreams at the same time. There is no rivalry and I'm glad that the two groups are in the music business because we both get a chance to show two different sides to music and hopefully do a good job at it too.

Those are cool shows, they're very entertaining, and it's cool because you get a chance to try to find new talent out there. Those people get the opportunity of a lifetime and there's a lot of people out there who don't get chances like this. They should never take those things for granted and they should always respect it.

I had a great time doing the show, thank you for all your emails. I loved all the songs I played and I hope you loved them too. Coming up is my song 'Help Me', the first song that kicked off everything. I hope you enjoy it. I had a blast and I'll see you later!

Nick Carter has fared well away from The Backstreet Boys. This past year has seen Carter grace the pages of your favorite news source more times than even Nick would care to remember. There was the nightclub arrest (Nick has been cleared of charges), there was his boat-racing success (Nick won big in Florida where he participated in speedboat racing this summer), and there was the rumor that he’s dating Britney Spears (we’ll get to that later, read the interview below.) So the fact that Nick released his first solo album Now Or Never on October 29th isn't surprising, this guy is on a roll.

Even his album release has a unique spirit. It’s pitted directly against rival pop-star Justin Timberlake’s release Justified (November 5th), creating ample content for music journalists everywhere to comment on the pop culture revelations taking place as these two boyband icons break-out on their own.

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.

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.

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 ½ or three years with her.

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.

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.

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.

Nick Carter stopped by MTV's Total Request Live on Tuesday to promote the release of his new solo debut album 'Now or Never'. Nick again denied reports that his Backstreet Bandmates planned on touring without him, saying he talked with Kevin Richardson the other day who complimented him on the new album. Nick also went through the TRL Wringer.

Damien: [Cheering]There is your man right there nick carter no. 7 he was 9 yesterday. You just saw his video now get to see him in the fresh he started on the backstreet boys and now he is front and center ladies and gentlemen, nick carter

Nick: But anyways i went into the studio and starting writing some songs and never really considered myself like an a incredible writer even no I'm still learning and will get to my point hopefully someday in the future but the record company liked some i was writin' and actually the next single is a song i wrote and i can't even believe it. It's called "i do have to cry for you"

Nick: I don't think so. I don't think so, not at all i just talked with kevin and howie and brian the other day. You know, we are straight. Everything is cool. They are doin' their thing. You know brian is -- you know everybody knows what everybody is doin' right now and i think we are understanding.

Damien: Welcome back to trl beautiful new york city times square I got the manic carter who has been dancin' around jumpin' around doin' all sorts of crazy stuff. Today a lot of albums, christina, eminem's "8 mile" soundtrack is comin' out and your album is out, too we go to a "holla back" right now we've been asking people which album they want to grab today. This is emma from florida, who says:

Nick: Thank you. Thank you so much. Couldn't see who that was but I'm from tampa so that's like where I'm from, so they saw me perform at a show down there, my first performance, and you know doin' a full set like of five songs and, uhm it was awesome. I couldn't, you know.

It didn't start off from the beginning for me intentionally to do a solo album. It came from the Backstreet's "Black & Blue" world tour and I was in Japan and it was around Christmas time and everybody just had a little time off. I don't have a wife like the other guys, or stuff that they do, so I just called up my record company and I said, "Hey do you mind if I get in the studio and just start recording and writing some music?" and they were like, "Yeah, sure!" It was just kind of a sample thing to see if maybe I did have it in me. There were no dates set on it or anything and the music turned out really good and I was really surprised because I didn't even think I could write a song or even sing a whole song. Then, sure enough, we started getting a lot of really good tracks done. Then I was like, "Man, I want the world to hear this stuff, I really do." I"m very proud of it. Very excited.

Well, in a group in general, you're one of five or however many people are in your group, and the object of the group is to do it as a group and not as one plus four, like a solo person stepping out. That's what the group has always been about. And in a scenario like that, you don't get to show your whole self, so of course I wouldn't get that chance and so now this is different - of course, it's all me.

My aim when it comes to songwriting - I'm not the kind of person who just writes a song for the hell of it. It has to mean something for me. It has to be personal, it has to be something that I've gone through, something that I'm going through at the moment which is a large part of the songs that I've written. They're songs that mean stuff that I went through at the moment that I wrote the songs and I think those are the kind of songs that are missing nowadays. People just write the songs for the heck of it and other artists just record somebody elses songs even if it doesn't mean anything to them. I think the main thing is, even with songs that I didn't even write, they had to mean something to me or I wouldn't have recorded then.

Well that's the thing that when they listen to the music, they'll be able to pick it up themselves and make their own judgement. I've gone through some tough times - I've gone throgh some things that I've held inside and haven't been so public abot and I think it's almost like the songs are like a diary to me. Instead of writing in a diary, I wrote the songs and put them to music and a lot of the songs are like that. It's so therapeutic for me.

There's rumours that are going on out there - there's a little bit of tension but really overall it's the way it's going to be right now. The thing is they know what I've been doing and they're cool with it and they know that I've been doing this and what I'm about to do and it doesn't trouble me too much. I'm doing my thing and they've concentrated on their personal lives a lot more - and even AJ is about to get married. I've been recording and stuff, but now we're going to get in the studio and I want to get back in with them now rather than later.

It sometimes causes conflicts, yes. Some of the guys would rather me settle down or me be less... But I'm 22 and young and personally, I can't and I don't want to, I just want to be me. I want to be free and happy and I see no problem with being like that. I'm young and I don't need to settle down. That's the cool part.

I think some of the guys did. Me personally, if I have that image - I love attention and maybe I get some of that attention from the fans and performing in front of them and I can't get enough of the time of day to do it and some of the guys did outgrow it. Some of them didn't. It's just the way it happens I guess. When you get married and stuff, you fall in love with somebody, things change.

I can do it all. I'm very confident in myself and what I can do and I don't know if I'll ever do it necessarily but I know that I can. Right now I'm concentrating on one thing at a time and living day by day and if I start to worry about so many different things my mind can't control it and I get overwhelmed. I take it one day at a time. I could do it, yeah.

Little did Nick Carter know what was in store when we sat him down on our psychologist’s couch and asked him a set of seemingly innocent questions. After much analysis, his answers revealed what’s really going on in his mind. Cunning, hey?

Nick is nervous about his future – the thought of his career going wrong really scares him. “Well, I guess with the solo stuff I’m really putting myself on the line,” he admits, “so yeah, I am a bit nervous.” Gosh, we’re good…

Aha! Very showing. Everyone knows sharks glide effortlessly through life. They’re calm and collected, but can turn and attack at any time. In a similar fashion, but with less teeth, Nick sees himself as a loner, but thinks himself capable of sudden action when required. He also perceives himself to be sharp, graceful and to have a dangerous, wild side.

Nick’s friends and family see him as a deep-minded, strong and comfronting person – he’s the one they turn in times of trouble. It’s interesting that Nick chose green because it’s a soothing colour, and Nick does give off a laid-back vibe. Nick reckons he’s got a calming influence on people around him, and is proud of his spiritual side. Although he admits sometimes people think he’s “a bit crazy”.

Nick is so cool and relaxed that he looks for the same qualities in his friends. He also needs mates who can listen to him when he has a problem. “I’ve realised there’s more to life than just partying,” he adds. What did we tell you?

What a good sign – Nick’s totally cool in relationships and he doesn’t get embarrassed about opening up. “I’m not looking for a girl,” laughs Nick. “Well I am looking,” he adds, “but I’m not ready for a big relationship. I’ve had experiences with relationships in the past that make it difficult for me to trust people.”

Nick: The ocean. It’s always been a big part of my life, but it’s something a lot of people don’t understand. It can heal you and make you feel good if you’re stressed out. It’s very powerful but at the same time very calm. It has hidden depths, things people will never see.

Like the ocean, Nick can seem calm and peaceful on the surface but he’s never more than a few moments away from blowing up into a storm. Nick grew up in Florida, near the ocean, and even how the sea reminds him of an innocent time, before the stresses of life as an international megastar took over. As for the hidden depths people will never see, the shy, private Nick would be talking about himself away from the spotlight.

First of all, I didn’t write the song. But the songs that I didn’t write on the album, I’d listen to ‘em before I’d record them, and if it didn’t, word-wise, have anything to do with what I’m trying to say, or what I’m going through in my life, I didn’t need to record it. So that song right here, it hit home with where I’m at right now. It talks about how I’m trying to find my way, and I’m soul-searching. You know, I’m 22 and I’ve gone through the business and there’s a lot of stuff in this business that can really mess with a young kid.

Yep. Definitely. There’s a lot of situations that make me think, God, man, how did I even get there? But getting through those things and learning only makes people stronger, from what I’ve noticed (laughs). And thank God I’ve been blessed and I’ve been able to learn, and learn quickly, and not do ‘em again.

Most of the songs, I’ve co-written. But even though I co-wrote with people, a large portion is my ideas. Everything on the album, it’s very personal. It’s stuff that I either have gone through, or I really, really love, or would love to have. So whoever listens to the songs, they’re going to be able to tell what I’ve been going through for the past how long, because I’ve been able to use the writing as a therapy. Instead of writing in a diary, I wrote it on paper and recorded it.

I worked with Max Martin again. I did some stuff with Teddy Riley (Joe, Mary J. Blige), I did some stuff with Guy Chambers (Robbie Williams) and Steve Mac (Westlife) in England. But I’ve also worked with a lot of underdogs, people who are on the up, people who’ve really got a lot to say.

Personally, I’m not really into the whole success thing to the point where I need it to be this huge magnitude or anything. What I really want is (for) it to be successful in my own mind and my heart and in my soul. I’ve been very happy recording it. I’m very positive right now, and all the positive stuff I put into the music. And what I would like to do is bleed through to the fans, so it can possibly make them happy, too. That’s the main goal, for the fans that are still there wanting to listen to new music, I wanna just make them happy. So that’s why I tried to make feel-good music.

I didn’t know that I was able to write a song the way I’ve written songs, and I didn’t realise I could sing the way I sang. It was all very eye opening to me, I didn’t expect it. I’m not the kind of person that’s so confident in myself that I can be like, ‘Yeah, I can do this!’. I’ve always been very … I dunno (laughs). I just didn’t expect myself to be able to do something like that.

The last few years have been the hardest of Nick Carter's life. He's had problems with his weight, a battle with the booze and he was arrested last January. You'd think the last thing he'd want now is a risky new solo career -- but you'd be wrong. "I coulda ended up like AJ," Nick confides to Sneak. "But my music saved me."

We meet up with Nick in LA where he's promoting his new album and is as happy as we've ever seen him. It's been a long journey but he's now fit, healthy and positive about his future. But to find the root of his problems, we've got to go back to the beginning...

As Nick grew up, his problems grew worse. Everyone knows what happened to his bandmate AJ -- when AJ's gran (who had helped raise him) died, his drinking and depression got so bad he ended up in a clinic. What people don't know is how close Nick was to following him. "It could easily have been met in rehab," Nick says. "God knows how I pulled myself out.

"I'd go on stage, then come off, drink and go partying -- that's what my life consisted of. I'd turned 21 (the legal drinking age in the US) and I didn't know what was going on. I just wanted to hang out and be like all the college kids. You see other people with a life and you think, 'I want that' -- and you party twice as hard."

"On the last tour there were low points," Nick admits. "The things that happened with my arrest (Nick was arrested for 'failing to move on' after an incident outside a club last January), what happened with AJ -- I was starting to go down that road."

And at the time when Nick needed the band's support more than ever, they were busy with other things. "It was difficult, 'cos some of the other guys had their wives [Brian and Kevin both got married last summer] and, naturally, they were trying to pay attention to their own lives. They had their own buses on tour, like a family thing, so I was pretty lonely. I was looking at myself and my health and I was worried. I didn't want to treat my body badly. I wanted to pull myself out of that."

Instead, Nick's on top of the world. "I got the old Nick back," he says, with a grin. "I'm happy, I'm energetic, I love what I'm doing and I'm ready to show the world what I've got. It's like I'm starting again." With that, he gives Sneak a beaming smile, like a man who knows he'd had a very lucky escape.