A Knight in Shining Armor!
NKOTB Yesterday and Today 1994
By Anne M. Raso
Q: I want to ask you how the music has changed in the past couple of years.....and how is
this album going to be different?
J: Right now, we're in complete control over what goes on the
album and what music we do. It's something we've always wanted to do but now we have the
chance because we're not with Maurice any longer. It's more aimed at our peers: older
teenagers and young adults. It's more club-oriented and dance-oriented...not dance music
so to speak, but songs that you can really dance to and have a real nice groove.
"Nice n' Smooth" is probably going to be our first single. The group Nice n'
Smooth is rapping on it.
Q: I hear "Dirty Dawg" is going to be the first single.
J: Yeah, that's what it's looking like.
Q: Are you going to be doing anything interesting to promote this album? Doing a
promotional tour?
J: We've come up with different things, doing in-store
promotions and record stores. You know, going on the TV shows like Arsenio and Jay Leno
and all that. We also got to go across the country to promote it. So, we'll be doing a lot
of overseas preliminary promotions and stuff like that.
Q: Are you looking forward to the new album coming out? Are you nervous how it's going to
do?
J: No, I'm confident 'cause I already feel it's a success.
I'm happy with what we did and what we accomplished so ... whatever happens, I think it
will be a success regardless.
Q: Have you set new goals in the past couple of years? You've already had great album
sales. There's really not a lot left to do.
J: I'm basically just taking it day by day. The next thing
we've got to do is shoot our video and plan our promotional tour. So those are my near
future goals.
Q: Is the tour starting in Japan?
J: No, it will probably start in Europe. Then we'll probably
move to America. And then to Australia
and Japan.
Q: Do you think your fans have grown up with you? Do you
think your old fans will be with you on this record?
J: Sure, I think so. But you never know. I don't know.
Q: Are you concerned with crossing over to a black audience?
J: Whatever happens, happens. I'm not trying to do anything.
You know what I'm saying? We're just doing what we like. Whatever happens, happens.
Whoever likes us, likes us.
Q: Did you get to sing most of the leads on the album?
J: Yeah.
Q: On about how many songs?
J: About 80 percent.
Q: So a lot of the burden rested on your shoulders for this
record?
J: Vocally, yes.
Q: You look great. You looked relaxed and refreshed-not
harried like I've seen you in the past.
J: That's because I got to take a nap before I got here!
(laughs)
