Coming in from a Backstreet Boys concert in Saudi Arabia, Nick Carter walks into ZLB23 at the Leela Palace just as the house band is playing a jazzy rendition of Everybody (Backstreet’s Back). “I’ve never heard our music played that way before, but it was really good,” he comments.
Wearing a denim jacket with a T-shirt and jeans, the pop star sits down on the biggest couch in the speakeasy, but not before introducing himself to all the media persons present with a big smile.
Nick performed a solo set at Indiranagar Club on February 9 as part of his Who I Am world tour, which is heading on to South Asia this month. Then in March, the tour brings the Backstreet Boys founder back to India for performances in Kolkata, Siliguri, Shillong and Goa. He says towards the end of the interaction, “I’m here, and I love it here, and there’s going to be more shows. So let this be the beginning of a bigger, more fruitful career out here.”
The singer says this globe-trotting tour started out soon after Backstreet Boys completed their DNA tour which had, incidentally, also stopped by India in mid-2023. He says, “We’ve done over 100 shows worldwide on the Who I Am tour. I’ve gone everywhere — I started in North America, and then went to Europe, and South America, finishing up in Southeast Asia, and India. The Who I am tour is a story of my life in a lot of ways.”
A performer right from his adolescent years, Nick now 45, says the setlist on these shows starts off by paying tribute to the music he loves — 1980s hit songs including ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’ by Simple Minds (made famous in the coming-of-age film The Breakfast Club) in 1985.
“After that, we transition into Backstreet Boys music, because that’s when my life changed, and I started making music for our fans. Then we also do a little bit of solo music, but the main part of the show is to tell a story with the music of my life in a lot of ways. It’s almost as if you were watching a movie with a script,” he says.
While fans may clamour for a Backstreet Boys concert in Bengaluru, Nick says it’s “a little harder” to bring the full group down when compared to his solo project. “I have a little more control over where I go as an individual,” he says.
Somewhat typically — and self-consciously — Nick talks about being a fan of Indian culture and particularly, its food. “I think it’s the best in the world,” he beams, and tries to name dishes such as palak paneer and saag.
He does express a desire to collaborate with Indian artistes. While he does not have any specific names in mind from the country’s pop industry or singer-songwriter scene, he says anyone who reaches out via social media could catch his attention.
The Backstreet Boys arrive for the 2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards on March 14, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.
| Photo Credit:
Photo by Glenn Francis/Pacific Pro Digital Photography
Nick is seeking artistes for what are the final few songs part of his upcoming solo album. It follows his 2023 singles, ‘Hurts To Love You’ (written for his late brother Aaron Carter) and ‘Superman’, which was written to reflect upon the highs and lows in his life. “The new solo album is done right now, and I have got a couple more songs I’m going to do. It’s one of the best little albums I’ve ever done.”
Nick juggles this tour, a new album and the demanding role of a family man as a father to three children with his wife Lauren Kitt. Looking back at his life, he says, “I’ve been able to withstand the test of time and that’s been really great. I think as I’m older now and as a father with three children, my life has changed.” The singer goes on to quickly add that his life has changed for the better and more so as a musician and songwriter.
Between the returning demand for boy bands like Backstreet Boys and his solo pop songs, Nick has found himself in the midst of several lawsuits and allegations, besides grieving the loss of his brother Aaron in 2022. Although not specifically asked about any of these aspects, he sums up his journey so far as one that has brought resilience in him. “It’s about being strong through it.”
The singer says the place where he is at in his life inspires him to stay strong and draw from it for his music. His advice to musicians is to regard essential aspects such as social media as integral, but “don’t get lost in the machine” that is the music industry’s expectations of sale-ability.
Published – February 18, 2025 03:21 pm IST
The Hindu MetroPlus
