WHITE MEN CAN SING
BREAKING INTO THE MOTOWN FAMILY, 98° IS OUT TO TAKE THE HEAT AND SHOW SOME HOME BOYS A THING OR TWO.
INTERVIEW BY SHARON VONG - GALAXIE MAGAZINE 16 - 30 APPRIL, 1998
THEY ARE THE FIRST ALL-WHITE GROUP SIGNED UNDER THE MOTOWN LABEL. They sing R&B music instead of pop ballads. But aren't they one in a long line of boy bands which make brief stopovers in Malaysia? After all, they are four young, good-looking guys who croon songs about love, heartbreak and romance. AND they don't play musical instruments during their shows. Doesn't that describe a boy band? Think Backstreet Boys, 911, Code Red, The Boyz, OTT, Boyzone ... the list is endless. What's so different about this group which hails from Ohio, United States and calls itself 98°?
O.K., they are out to prove they can succeed in a mostly black domain. Fine, their label has Stevie Wonder, Boyz II Men and Marvin Gaye in its stables. Whoopee, their song Invisible Man, which has been played to death here, hit No. 12 on the U.S. Billboard Charts. What's to prevent them from sinking into obscurity after this hit? And why did they choose the name 98°? Says Justin Jeffre, 25, "We wanted a name that represented our music. We do a lot of hot, passionate love songs, and in Fahrenheit, 98° is body temperature. But it really represents the heat and passion of our music." Oh, wow.
Apart from Jeffre, 98° comprises Jeff Timmons and Nick Lachey, both 24, and Nick's brother Drew, 21. Timmons was pursuing a singing career and formed a vocal group with his brother and a friend in Los Angeles. With the addition of the Lachey brothers and Jeffre, 98° was born. The group proceeded to win several talent contests and showcases. They then attended a Boyz II Men concert and impressed a backstage private radio party enough to get the chance to sing In The Still Of The Night on air. Luck was on their side - they found a manager, who later got them the Motown deal.
Galaxie met up with 98° at the Concord Hotel in Kuala Lumpur recently. Making themselves very much at home, Jeffre, Timmons and the elder Lachey rush for the sofa, leaving the younger Lachey to sit on the carpeted floor. They opt for casual clothing : trousers, longish shorts, socks and sneakers and T-shirts. They also maintain their clean-cut, poster-boy looks, and look much cuter in the flesh.
What do you make of your success with Invisible Man?
Drew : We're extremely pleased. It was a big hit in the States, and proving to be a worldwide hit, too. We feel extremely blessed and overwhelmed with the success we've had.
What's the story behind the song?
Nick : Invisible Man is about a guy who's in love with a girl, and she's with somebody else and pretty much doesn't know he exists. It's kinda about the frustration of being in love with someone who has no interest in you, and doesn't give you any kind of feelings in return.
Some critics have said you sound like any other R&B group.
Nick : I think that every group sounds different. I don't think there are two groups that sound alike.
Drew : Anyone who says that isn't listening to the music. They need to listen harder.
Nick : I mean, we didn't copy anybody. There might be similarities, but we are our own group and we have our own sound, and I think you can't really say that there are any two groups that sound alike. I think that we definitely have a unique sound that kind of separates us from the others.
Everyone compares each R&B act with Boyz II Men? What have you to say?
Jeff : If we get compared to Boyz II Men, and we do sometimes, we'll be very flattered. I mean, being compared to them is being compared to the best, because they're probably the most successful group in the world right now. And they've always been our idols. Although, if you listen to our music, there's a distinctive difference in style and sound.
Do you think you will ever in Boyz II Men's league?
Justin : Well, we certainly like to think so. We've met them and they're very nice guys who have become incredibly successful, yet they've managed to remain pretty grounded. We hope we not only can have the same success, but handle it all just as well.
What's it like to be a minority group in a mainly black domain?
Nick : Umm, I think initially it was kind of a strange situation for us and for the label because it was a new thing. But we both learned a great deal through the course of being together in a relationship. For us it's a great honor because R&B music is the music we grew up on, and is the type of music we like to sing, so to be on the Motown Records is the ultimate compliment and ultimate support for that kind of music.
Do you think being white has helped you come this far?
Nick : I don't think it really matters. I think that our talent comes through, and the label signs the talent, not your skin color. I think we're a talented group and I think Motown recognized that, and that's why they signed us.
Who's the natural leader of the group?
Justin : I don't think that there really is a leader in this group. We all add different things to the group, and we all really respect each other and try and listen to each other. We usually rule by a majority, and if somebody really feels passionate about something, and if we're not too sure either way, we'll all go with that.
What happens when someone in the group throws a tantrum or puts on a primadonna act?
Drew : That's one thing about being in a group. We kinda keep each other grounded, and none of us really ever get to the point when we do a primadonna act because we know the group doesn't really work without all four of us.
Nobody here is a solo artist and can do it by themselves. We're all very considerate of each other and we take out job very seriously, and I don't think there is anybody who is in the position of throwing a temper tantrum and storming out and acting like a jerk.
Do any of you play musical instruments?
Drew : Actually we all play instruments. Jeff plays harmonica and trombone, Nick plays the sax and I play the drums. But we don't play them on our album, and haven't really picked them up in a while, but we are musicians as well as singers.
Why aren't you playing musical instruments on your shows?
Nick : We took time off to concentrate on our vocals and we really wanted to sell ourselves vocally. But I think we're gradually starting to pick up our instruments and hopefully we'll incorporate our musical instrumentation in our show in the future.
What is 98°, Inc.?
[Surprised silence]
Nick : 98° Music Incorporated is our company. We have a corporation that kinda oversees everything.
When was that formed?
Nick : A year and a half ago.
This corporation is similar to that of another British group, Damage. They've got their own Damage Empire as well. Did you get that idea from them?
Jeff : No. Most groups, when they sign [a deal], or right before they sign, they form a corporation so they can figure out the business situation. The majority of them have [corporations] for money, as well as writing and publishing purposes. You set yourself up a corporation so you can find a way to do certain things in the business.
Where do you see yourselves in two years time?
Justin : Hopefully we'll have another successful album and would have gotten to see a lot of the world and meet a lot more of our fans. Hopefully we'll have grown a lot musically.
Are you in the midst of compiling new material for your next album?
Justin : Yeah, we're actually writing and actively looking for songs for the next album. It's gonna be a little different and a little bit of the same type of things. We definitely feel good about a lot of things on this album, but we also learned a lot from it, and we want to keep bringing great love songs.
We'd like to have some more uptempo and party songs on the next album. But we're definitely all about singing love songs and romance. We'll keep that main focus and stick with it.
What's the upside and downside of being in 98°?
Nick : There are many upsides, and not too many downsides. We get to travel and do something that we love, and make a living at it. Get to meet a lot of interesting people and do a lot of interesting things.
The downside is that the schedule is sometimes a little alarming, but that goes with the territory. Then, there's missing your family and being away a lot of the time. But we do have a good time, and it hardly seems like work.
What's the worst experience 98° has had?
Jeff : I think it was this place in England, Leeds wasn't it? [the others nod] Well, they scheduled us to do this appearance in a club on Bonfire Day, which was one of their national holidays, so everybody's out watching fireworks and roasting marshmallows or something like that. The club was so tiny, and there was hardly anyone there.
There was half a dozen people in there, seven people at the most, and they has us performing on the floor, and the sound system was a disaster. The whole thing was a disaster, but we still managed to put a show to the best of our ability. But it was probably one of the low points in our career.
You guys just went on for six or seven people?
Jeff : Yeah.
Nick : We really would go on for one person if we had to. Honestly, we feel like everybody counts and if we could entertain somebody, well, that's what we're there for, so ... yeah, we did it.
If you weren't in 98°, what would you be doing?
Jeff : I think we'd all be doing different things. I was in school, three of us were in school, but I can't speak for anybody else, but I'd still be in school [laughs]. I was a Psych major, but I might have changed my degree. I like working with children, and I might have gotten a teaching degree or something like that.
Justin : I'd probably be in school, too.
Drew : I'd probably be in the medical field somewhere, practicing medicine. I was a paramedic.
Nick : I'd probably, hopefully, graduated by now. I was doing Sports Medicine would probably be in that field somewhere, hopefully with a job.
During interviews, who usually puts his foot in his mouth and says the wrong things?
[all three point to Jeff]
Jeff : That would be me, yeah. It's not that I put my foot in my mouth. I'll start rambling and then I'll just run out of things to say, or forget what I was saying, and I'll be in a middle of a statement and then I'll freeze and everybody would be looking at me, so ... [laughs sheepishly]
Don't you have a regular Joe's life : see friends, watch movies, go to parties, have sex?
[All burst out laughing]
Nick : Just because we're on the road you think we don't get laid?? [more laughter]
Jeff : God! Absolutely not! You get to see more places, you get to meet more people, you get to interact more and see more beautiful women than a regular Joe, you get to develop a liking for different cultures, and I'm praying that I get to do this for the rest of my life!
Justin : I think once in a while you miss the normal things, like going out with your friends on a weekend, but it's definitely worth it.
Do you do other things apart from promoting your group, like attend political parties, do charity work, attend book meetings?
Jeff : Well, Nick's running for Governor ... [the others snicker]
Nick : Well, we're in the process of establishing of 98° foundation. At Christmas time we visit a children's hospital ward, cancer wards. We've been to nursing homes and boy's homes in New York City, and we take them candy canes and sing to them, and try to make their holiday season better.
This year we had a clothing drive in Newark, New Jersey. We're starting to work for Habitat For Humanity, they build homes for the less fortunate. It's kinda like you build you own house and it's all voluntary work. We really believe in giving back something.
Jeff : We also help out on inner-city game programs. We're also involved in a project call Stay In School, it's about staying in school, getting your education.
What happens if one of you leaves the group?
Jeff : He dies.
Justin : I don't think anybody's gonna leave. It's something we're all pretty happy doing. I think there's a great chemistry not just vocally, but also personality-wise. It's really tough to find people who are really dedicated to something as we are, and have the talent in so many different ways. I think we're all enjoying the ride and hope we can do this for a long time.
If you could work with just one person, who would it be?
Nick : Musically? Well, individually if it was just one person, I'd have to say Babyface. He's a musical genius, very talented and I think it'd be a treat just to be on the other side, to see how he works. As a group, it would be Boyz II Men.
Justin : For me personally, it's my dream to work with Stevie Wonder, and he's going to be singing and playing harmonica on a new song for Disney's animated featured Mulan. We'll be singing the title track, True To Your Heart.
What's the toughest decision 98° has made?
Justin : Management? [the others laugh]
Nick : Probably [pause], boy, probably some decisions like picking songs. It's tough to commit to a song. It's a big decision and we definitely don't like to make it at gun-point.
Drew : It's any decision that we make that goes against the higher-ups. You really have to choose your battles carefully, and in our line of work, you find yourself getting into hot water.
Do you guys have full control over your work?
Jeff : I don't think that any group, no matter what stature they are, whether they are a new group, of Boyz II Men, a mega group like that, has complete control. The label has the final say, and you may have a lot of influence, but as far as complete control is concerned, I don't think any group has that.
Have you ever gone against the management?
Jeff : Oh yeah, we go head to head with everybody. Because they [the management] are not the creative part, they're the business part and once you lock horns with them, you have to convince them what you really want the outcome to be.
Where do you dream of performing?
Jeff : The Grammys, that would be a dream come true.
Drew : You know that if you perform before an award, you get the award.
I noticed in you inlay that you thank God for you successes. Are you truly religious?
Nick : Well, reading a lot of the liners [on albums] out there, it really seemed like that thing to do [the others guffaw]. We're all bandwagon guys, we're complete shallow individuals. [turning serious] But we're all very spiritual and we all have separate beliefs. We don't go to church every week, but we've all been definitely been helped by a higher power.
Jeff : I think this group is blessed daily, and thanking God, of the higher power, is the least we can do.
If you could change on thing in your life right now, what would it be?
[A long pause]
Jeff : I'd have a girlfriend. It's hard to have a girlfriend when you're on the road. I had a girlfriend, a couple of us had serious girlfriends before we went on the road.
Some of us were involved in relationships over a long period of time, and when you're on the road, you're not there and can't attend to that person. I would definitely have a serious relationship with a girl.
Nick : I would spend more time with my daughter [the others start laughing]. Being on the road I don't really see her much. Naw ... I don't have a daughter.
Earlier, I said the downside of the job is not being able to see the people you love, your family, as much as you'd like. that's the only downside. Apart from having my little brother ... [ruffles Drew's hair]
Drew : [mock anger] Don't touch me!
You've got your brother along. Doesn't sibling rivalry ever crop up?
Nick : Well, he's had 21 years to know he's inferior. Naah ... we used to fight a lot more when we were younger, but in the last eight years, we've been more like best buddies.
Jeff : I've a brother, but there was no way we could get along like these guys. there are no two other brothers who can get along like them, because they're jerks.
Nick : We're from the same genes.
What do you think of artistes who are getting younger and younger, like Jordy in France who was four or five when he cut an album, or Aaron Carter who released his first album at the age of 10?
[Incredulous laughter]
Nick : I think that being a singer and being a performer is something you should do, and it's an expression of your creativity, and when you're that young, it's an expression of your parent's exploitation.
There's no specific cutoff that says Aaron Carter wants to do what he wants to do, but I think there comes a point in your life when you're able to know what you want to do, and when that happens earlier than that, I think it's a parent's exploitation, to be completely, bluntly honest.
Jeff : I agree. It's kind of sad. And also, the records that you hear - and I don't know if Aaron Carter really sings or not - I'm sure there was a lot of production involved, technical things that a lot of people don't know about.
Justin : I think it's a tough business and there's a lot that people don't know about. I don't know what's the right age, and that depends on the individual and how mature he is. It's really tough, and I think in a lot of ways, it can do a lot of damage.
You can lose part of your childhood, because you're in the public eye so much. That's why you see so many teen actors and young musicians, when they grow up, they have a lot of problems. It's great to be in the arts, and I strongly urge people to get into the arts and be creative, but I think that when you take it to that level, it can be dangerous, too.