Q&A With Backstreet Boy Joey McIntyre
. You've done quite a lot to this point in your career. Why did you decide to make a Christmas record now? JM: Well, to be honest I was itchy, creatively. I had been off the road for a couple of months and wanted to make a record. And "my Christmas album" has always had a prominent place on the back burner. It was in late September this year that I decided to do it and I just went for it. I knew time was tight, but if God was ever gonna help me out on a record, I figured it would be this one. I was lucky enough to have my producing partner Rob Lewis for this. Together we started on the same page and jumped right in. This CD really seems to be a labor of love for you with you self-producing and self-releasing. How has the process been for you to be the artist, producer and label? JM: I feel a sense of pride with this album that I haven't felt with other albums I made. I am always very hands on in the creating of my music and writing. But these songs are special and I think I handled them with great care. From a producing side, I feel that I molded this with my hands. You sing a duet with your sister Carol, with whom you say you sang your first onstage duet. Were you raised in a musical household? What was it like to sing with her again? JM: It was very special to sing with my sister. I would not have been where I am in my career without her first holding my hand and leading me on stage. It made performing a very safe and natural experience. And now the stage is home to me. I have to say we sound great together on "Do You Hear What I Hear." We have the same birthday (New Year's Eve) ten years apart, we look alike and we sound a lot alike too :) You come from a large family, are there any special holiday traditions or memories that stand out from your childhood? JM: The holiday theme in a house full of nine kids in Boston was "survival of the fittest." It was like a platoon camped out in our living room. But we were lucky to have each other. There were lots of good times, in between all the fights. Let's talk for a minute about the other duets with Jordan and Mario. How were those songs decided on? JM: Well, I sang "Peace on Earth" with my sister Carol before and always loved singing the song. I thought it would be a nice match for me and Jordan. I was afraid that Jordan might not like it, but he thought it was cool and maybe a little off the beaten track of Christmas songs. Jordan suggested that we share the lead part that was once sung by David Bowie. I like how it turned out--true to the standard but modern enough. And with Mario, I just knew a version of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" would be a hoot. (I call him Buddy instead of Baby in this rendition.) Mario is a powerhouse. He's done it all. We both love to perform and "go for it," so it was a real thrill to see it come together. Personally, I am focusing on acting with some cool guest spots--CSI: NY and Psych--and a nice part in one of the year's holiday movies "New Year's Eve." All the while having my hands full with two boys--4 and almost 2 years old--and a beautiful little six-month old girl, who can do no wrong.
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