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JC Goes Solo
We spent the day with JC Chasez, learning what's on the singer's mind and on his new CD, Schizophrenic.
A New Sound
The title JC Chasez picked for his new solo CD, Schizophrenic, is right on. Blending many different styles of music — hip-hop, pop, even psychedelic '70s stuff — the record will probably surprise many 'NSYNC fans. But the 27-year-old has always been the musician-slash-techie member of the boy band — the one most likely to be strumming a guitar or adjusting the levels on a studio mixing board. On this record, he not only got to play piano, drums, and guitar on a lot of the tracks, but he also got to be the studio guy.
"I am a bit crazy when it comes to that stuff," he explains, laughing. "I keep tweaking knobs so the music sounds the way it does in my head." He claims to have the jitters about how his fans are going to react. "I think I might scare a few people with this album," he says. "It's not what you got on the 'NSYNC records, but it's pretty thought-out, provocative, and different." If the love song "Lose Myself," about falling for a girl, represents his romantic side, listeners are going to swoon. "It's weird," he adds with a sly smile. "But that's my brain, ma."
His Inspirations
JC says Led Zeppelin IV and Michael Jackson's Thriller are the first records he bought with his own money, and they help explain the laid-back, soulful lyrics and old-school feel of the songs. "I am listening to old music right now — Duran Duran, Tom Petty, and stuff like that," he says of the random bands that influenced the album.
Understated Pop-Star Style
At our photo shoot, he sports a sleeveless tee, baggy jeans, and sandals, and looks like any member of the crew. He swaps names of sushi joints with the hairstylist and assistants. Still, there are telltale signs he's a star. First of all, reps from his record label are milling about, preparing papers for him to sign and talking on their cell phones. Second, there's a bit of bling sparkling from the chain around his neck. It's a small, palm-sized platinum cross loaded with diamonds; he bought it on a shopping spree with friends. "I usually think icy stuff is tacky and had never bought myself a piece of jewelry before," he says. "So I thought, Why not? It will be my first and last." All the while, he fingers the modest Leo pendant on his necklace, a piece of jewelry he's had for almost nine years. It means so much to him that he actually "jumped in a crowd after it once" during a concert.
One Foot In Sync, One Solo
A lot of musicians would be insecure about following in the footsteps of a successful band mate. But the Maryland native isn't phased about competition or comparison to Justin Timberlake. "If people try and compare us they are going to be really disappointed," JC explains. "My music is more live and different both melodically and taste-wise."
During the break from N'SYNC and before Justin's tour, the two would hang out at each other's pads, playing games on Xbox or watching sports. They're also known for hitting the clubs together. "We just do what anybody who's a 20-something-year-old does," he says. "We're best friends." In fact, none of the 'NSYNCers collaborated on Schizophrenic. "It is weird when you're dealing with your friends, because they love you," he says. "So we keep it pretty simple: 'Love the new video, love the record,' and stuff like that."
After selling millions of records with 'NSYNC, JC never thought he'd go solo. He landed in L.A. last winter in hopes of getting a part in a movie. Reading scripts and gearing up for auditions, he had his moment of truth. "I kind of looked at myself in the mirror and said 'You are not an actor, dude,'" JC explains. So he never ended up trying out for anything. While hanging out with pal and producer Dallas Austin in a recording studio, Dallas asked JC to write a song with him as filler for the Drumline soundtrack. The spontaneous jam that turned out to be the hit "Blowing Me Up (With Her Love)" gave everyone a taste of his skills. So he started getting pressure to record. When he consulted with the other four 'NSYNC members, they urged him to go for it. "They were kind of like, 'You need to.' They know that I am happy as long as I am working on a song."
According to JC, 'NSYNC has never wanted to split up. They are his family and check in with one another all the time. "Even when I write 'NSYNC stuff, it is a matter of what everyone else thinks and compromise comes into play," JC says. "I wrote all the songs [on this record]," he says. "It's not a group decision. This music is how I feel." The group goes back into the studio in October to record the next album. "This is the first time we're all off doing our own thing," he explains. "We have more to throw into the melting pot, a little something-something, a little pepper."
