Entrevista a AJ Mc Clean + Have it all

Créditos:arjanwrites.com

After more than 15 years in the music business, the Backstreet Boys recently released their seventh studio album. Titled "This Is Us," the disc features an impressive list of A-list producers who helped the quartet usher in a new phase of their career with heartfelt ballads and catchy uptempo tracks. Their sound is still decidedly their own with their signature harmonies and distinct solo vocal contributions.
It may not be getting the attention that pop newcomers are receiving, but "This Is Us" is a solid pop record that easily ranks among the best pop discs of the year. And fans everywhere agree. The group is currently on an extended world tour selling out venues from Tokyo to London. Some things never chance.

Recently, I had a chance to meet up with AJ McLean (pictured right) to talk about the group's new album. We talked about working with hitmakers like RedOne and Jim Jonsin and much more. AJ also talks about the importance of the gay community early on when the group just started out. He shares a candid story about performing at Tampa's Gay Pride many years ago. Read on for all the scoop. (Click here to listen to Backstreet Boys' "This Is Us.")

Arjan: Congratulations with the release of the new Backstreet Boys record. Your seventh! /
Felicidades por el nuevo album de bsb. El 7mo!

AJ: That's right! Thank you very much. We're very proud of this record. Honestly, this is our favorite record. We feel every song is a hit, so we're really proud of it. / Correcto! Muchas gracias. Estamos muy orgullosos de este album. Honestamente es nuestro album favorito. Sentimos q cada canción es un exito

After 15 years in the business as a group is chart success still as important as before, or are you more interested in the artistic process? /
Luego de 15 años de estar en la industria como grupo, todavia el exito en charts es importante como antes o estas mas interesado en el proceso artistico?

It's a little bit of both for me. The creative aspect is very important to us and we want to be trendsetters. But we also find it important to make music for the masses and perform. We definitely want to make more records as long as the fans want us to keep doing it. / Ambos para mi. El aspecto creativo es muy imp. para nosotros y queremos fortalecernos. Pero tb encontramos importante hacer musica para presentarnos y ser masivos. Queremos realizar más discos si los fans quieren que sigamos

You lined up an A-list of producers on this album. Are you interested in producing at all or does it work better for your creative process to have external producers involved?
/ Tienen una gran lista de productores en este album. Estas interasado en producir todo o es mejor q la parte de productores sea externa?

It depends on the song, but overall our biggest hits have been written by other people. For this record, we wanted to take the opportunity to work with people like RedOne, T-Paine and Jim Jonsin, and add our own input. For us everything worked out as it was supposed to. / Depende de la canción, pero nuestros grandes exitos han sido escritos por otra gente. Para este album, quisimos trabajar con gente como Red one, T pain y Jim Jonsin + el agregado nuestro. Todo salio como nosotros queriamos.

What are the requirement for being a Backstreet Boys producer?
/ Cuales son los requerimientos para ser un productor BSB?

Obviously, a Backstreet Boys producer have to understand how to make a hit record, but they also need to understand what defines us as a group. They have to work with our voices and what we can do with our harmonies. As long as they get that, it is all about having that special chemistry. /Obviamente el productor debe entender como hacer un album de exitos, pero tb debe entender que nos define como un grupo. Si entiende eso, todo dependera de la quimica especial.

For you personally, how do you keep things interesting and challenging after being in the same group for so long?
/ Personalmente, como sigues manteniendo las cosas interesantes y desafiantes luego de estar hace años en el mismo grupo?

My goal is to keep trying to do new things and keep reinventing ourselves. That's very important to me. / Mi meta es seguir haciendo nuevas cosas, reinventandonos. Eso es muy importante para mi.

How important is it for you to do your own solo work on the side?
/ Que tan importante es para ti realizar tu propio trabajo a la par?

It is a very important thing to do to when you're part of a group for so long. It is important to maintain your own identity that will benefit both you and the group. /
Es una cosa muy importante de hacer cuando eres parte de un grupo por tanto tiempo. Es importante mantener tu propia identidad que beneficia a ti mismo y al grupo.

How would you like to describe your contribution to the group?
/Como describirias tu contribución al grupo?

I think I bring a lot of soul to our music. I bring a little bit of grit and balls, if you will, something different. If you put us all together and we harmonize that is our signature sound. / Pienso que doy el soul a nuestra musica. Llevo las bolas y las maracas, algo distinto. Si nos pones juntos y armonizamos eso, eso es una firma de sonora.

I wanted to chat with you a little about the beginnings of the band. I'm a gay blogger, and I'm curious how important the gay community has been in the early beginnings of the band.
/Quiero charlar sobre los comienzos de la banda. Que tan importante fue la comunidad gay en el comienzo de la banda?

The gay community has been hugely important to us. There has never been any discrimination or separation with our music or who we are as people. I have a slew of gay friends that all have been very supportive and have been into us and our music. Like I said before, our goal is to make music for the masses. It doesn't matter if you are straight, gay, black, white, European, American, it doesn't matter. We make music for everyone. And that makes our music so unique. / La comunidad gay ha sido muy importante para nosotros. Nunca hubo discriminacion o separacion con nuestra musica o quienes somos como personas. Tengo amigos gays que me han apoyado a mi y a nuestra musica. Como dije antes, nuestra meta es hacer musica para las masas. No importa si eres blanco, negro, gay, americano. Nuestra musica es para todos y por eso nuestra musica es unica.

Do you remember playing gay clubs early on?
/Recuerdas haber tocado en algun club gay años atras?

We did an event years ago, I don't even remember when it was. It was in Tampa, Florida in Ybor City. We played at [a gay pride party], and we weren't exactly sure what to expect. I can honestly tell you that must have been the loudest crowd we have ever performed for. They had a blast and we had a blast. It was so much fun!
Hicimos un evento anos atras que recuerdo cuando fue. Fue en Tampa en Ybor City. Tocamos y no sabiamos que esperar. Pero honestamente fue una de las mas ruidosas audiencias. Muy divertido.

You're a straight man, but if you would ever had a guy crush who would be your ideal guy?
/ Sabemos que eres heterosexual, pero si tuvieras un enamoramiento a un chico, cual seria el ideal?

Johny Depp. Es grandioso / Hands down Johny Depp. He's just awesome!

Following the release of the album a few weeks ago, you will be touring all across the world for the next few months. How do you keep up with such a brutal schedule?
/Seguido de la salida del album hace unas semanas atras, estaras de gira mundial los proximos meses. Como mantienes esta rutina brutal?

You have to prepare mentally and physically. Get the stamina up to be able to perform every night and give it your best. When you're on the road it is important to have maintain a healthy balance between performing and getting enough rest. You can't party and live the rock 'n roll lifestyle, it is going to catch up with you. I don't do that anymore, and touring has gotten a little easier now I'm getting older. I would love to bring my dogs on toor though, but that's a little difficult [laughs].
/Tienes que estar preparado mental y fisicamente. Dar tu mejor y mantener tu estabilidad cada noche. Cuando estas de gira es muy imp manterner un balance sano entre cada actuacion y descansar lo suficiente. No hago esto como antes, y ahora es un poco mas facil para mi que estoy envejeciendo. Adoraria traer a mis perros,pero seria muy dificil jaja!


What's the worst and best thing about fame?
/ Que es lo peor y lo mejor de la fama?

The best part is to express yourself through music anywhere in the world. Even if people don't speak your language, they can singalong to the music. That's a beautiful thing. The worst part is to be traveling so much and being away from friends and family. It is a blessing as well, because there are many talented people that will never have that opportunity so you gotta run with it. /
Lo mejor es expresarte a traves de la musica en cualquier parte del mundo. Igual que la gente no hable tu lengua, ellos pueden cantar tu musica. Eso es hermoso. Lo peor es viajar mucho, y dejar a tus amigos y familia. Tambien es una bendicion, por que hay tanta gente talentosa que llegas a conocer.


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