The Next Big Thing: O-Town Out of the studio, Onto the stage... Sizzilin' CD's

The Next Big Thing...

O-Town

They made the final five, now hear 'em live!

	"One of my best friends from home works on the school newspaper. He was searching through the internet and came across the audition. I did not expect anything out of it. I just wanted to go in there and have fun. I felt like, Out of all those talented people in LA and they picked me?! Get out of here!" --Trevor
"I want to soak up the entire experience of life and right now I'm experiencing more than I ever thought I would. I just want to take advantage of every single second of every single day. Carpe Diem! Seize the day!" --Ashley

the band...

Lindzi.com: Many criticize groups like The Spice Girls and BSB for being put together. What's your take on this and all the boy band mania?

"Obviously we're put together. We can't avoid that, but being labeled the term "boy band" isn't a bad thing. Just look at The Jackson 5, Beatles, Rolling Stones... those were all boy bands doing what we're doing. Now it just gets a bad wrap because people think the groups don't have any creative control, but we do. We write our own music. A couple of us play instruments. We're going to be doing that. We'll have a completely different sound. I think we're gonna shock people."

"We'll never detest the fact that we're a boy band. Lately, the term boy band has taken on a derogatory meaning because people look at members and think they don't have any talent - that they're lip syncers who don't write any of their own music. We're going to do a lot to break that trend. I can't attest for any other band, but we don't lip sync. We sing live. We write our own music. I've been playing piano since I was four and I picked up guitar when I was 13. I've been composing forever. Those are things that make you an artist. We're trying to break down that barrier."

Lindzi.com: What do you hope to bring to the POP scene?

"A change. It's all pretty much the same. We're gonna take things to the next level."

"To have who we are shine through our music. I want to make people feel what music does for me. Music is such a powerful vehicle and I can't wait until we go on tour and make audiences feel what we felt when we wrote certain songs. That's the power of music."

Lindzi.com: So, what is the group's first single?

"It's not All For Love. That's the song we recorded on the show so that'll be the show's single. But our first single should be out end of August or September. We don't know what it's going to be yet. The album should be out by Christmas."

Lindzi.com: What is the group's biggest challenge?

"To get away from the TV personalities. We want to let everyone know that we're a group. We want respect in the music business. That's why we're concentrating on writing our own music. We all wrote before so why not do it now? We have a couple guys who play instruments and I'm learning drums."

making the band...

Lindzi.com: Was it difficult having your life taped?

"Every where we went, they went. They followed us 24/7. There were camera crews living in the house. They wouldn't stop taping until the very last person fell asleep and they were up when the first person was up. Your privacy was pretty much taken away, but after a couple weeks, we all got used to it, relaxed, and went on with our lives."

"They get your not-so-good moments when you're brushing your teeth or have sleep in your eye. You have to let go and trust. It was the best experience of my life."

Lindzi.com: What was your first thought when you found out you made the group?

"I couldn't believe it was happening. I just achieved a huge dream I've had for so many years. I was called last and all the anticipation of being called was incredible. That's how emotional it was."

"I remember thinking Man, how am I going to react to this? I didn't know if I was going to be extremely happy or sad because two of the guys had to leave. When Lou [Pearlman of TransContinental] called my name, I remember this flood of emotion coming over me. Tears started coming to my eyes and I felt beyond myself. I felt larger than life. That moment was so built up from when I first made a little VHS tape to finally making the actual five. I don't feel like I held back. I let myself enjoy the moment. The word I always use to describe it is "bitter sweet." It was a tough day because there were two others guys there dreaming the same dream. We lived in this house together, working toward the same goal. Brian and Mike were really awesome about the whole thing."

Lindzi.com: What does your contract entail?

"The contract you see on the show wasn't actually a big recording contract. That just meant we belong to TransContinental. Once we're with them we start auditioning for other record labels. You'll see that on the show. It's taken a while, but we're finalizing our deal next week."

Lindzi.com: Who is Dan in relation to O-Town?

"He's the new member of the group now. I can't tell you how it happened because it all appears on the show, but everyone should keep watching. It's a very interesting story."

getting personal with the band...

Lindzi.com: Ashley, how's the situation with your girlfriend?

"I can't totally answer that because it's a thing on the show. I will say that long distance are extremely difficult. Any relationship with family, friends, or love interests is hard because we're always traveling. What I'm going through with my girlfriend is difficult as it is, but add the fact that it's gonna be broadcast on national television and it takes things to a whole other level. I will say she's an incredible person."

Lindzi.com: Have you had a chance to meet any of the other TransCon artists?

"I was the hugest BSB fan in the world and now I've actually hung out with AJ. We're becoming pretty good buddies, I guess. It's incredible. I have two different lives because when I go home, it's back to reality. I've also met Justin, Lance, and Joey from *N Sync... also Innosense, LFO, Take 5.

Lindzi.com: Ashley, as seen on the show, your dad didn't seem too cool with your being involved in the group. Has he warmed up to it?

"Things have gotten better between us. We communicate more. He doesn't share the same view point as me, but I respect that. It's not a 180, but it has gotten better."

Lindzi.com: What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

"I like to play sports. Basketball. I like to get out on the golf course at least twice a week. I go out on dates every once in a while. It's tough. I'm single and looking. I love someone with a good sense of humor and a good heart. Also, they have to love to dance because I love to get my groove on at clubs."

Lindzi.com: What drives you insane?

"We're doing a ballad on the Pokemon soundtrack. So, my big thing now is when people call Pokemon... PokeMAN. It's Poke-MON! Also, loud cell phone talkers, but I'm guilty of that myself."

Lindzi.com: Okay, supposedly every boy band has the five personalities -- the shy one, bad boy, etc. Where do you fall into all of this?

"Our personalities all kinda mesh. We're all crazy. We're all jokesters or theatre people or whatever. If I had to pick one, I'd say I'm the emotional one."

"I think that's too stereotypical. We all take on those personas at different times. If I had to categorize myself, I guess I'd be the funny guy. I don't even know if that's one of them. I'm always doing stuff for a laugh."

There you have it... They're not your typical boy band. They play instruments, write their own music, and are well on their way to stardom. With a little help from TransCon, O-Town may just be the next big thing!

O-Town Photos by Bob D'Amico; Courtesy of ABC Television Network

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