HomeMusicJordan Knight NKOTB interview

Jordan Knight NKOTB interview

New Kids on the Block reunited for a brand new album in 2008, their first in 14 years. The Block hit number 2 in the US and reintroduced the group onto the music scene.

On the back of its success New Kids on the Block teamed up with Backstreet Boys for a world tour which saw them perform in the UK after a long absence. Five years after The Block the group is ready to release brand new album 10.

We caught up with Jordan Knight from the group to talk about 10, find outĀ  more about new single Remix (I Like The) and to find out when New Kids on the Block will be back in the UK.

The last time we spoke to you were preparing to come across to the UK with the Backstreet Boys for the NKOTBSB tour. New Kids on the Block are about to release their new album 10. Tell us all about it.

Weā€™re only collaborating amongst ourselves on this record. The last album, The Block, was released on Interscope records and we collaborated with a lot of music artists that were on that label at the time. It was collaboration heavy so this time around we have just stuck together and weā€™re doing it all by ourselves. With this album thereā€™s definitely more of a deeper musicality and more introspective songs. Thereā€™s less ā€˜letā€™s go out, have a drink, party and danceā€™ to it. Itā€™s more introspective on relationships and things like that.

The feel of the album is very different to The Block. Whereas that album felt more R&B-influenced, 10 feels more pop and closer to the music youā€™re known for. Was that a conscious shift?

Yes. The Block was more like that. We felt that we needed to take it back home and do some big pop songs; really sing from the heart with some good ballads and pop songs for the girls.

The focus of 10 really is on the vocals and those harmonies are tightā€¦

Itā€™s definitely more vocal conscious. When you have a song with a beat itā€™s more about the rhythm and attitude and less about how well you execute the notes. This time we had to really execute the notes to stand out against the bed of the beautiful music. We spent a lot more time on the vocals making sure they were sounding really good.

New Kids on the Block

Why did you decide to release Remix (I Like The) as the lead single from the album?

I think with Remix (I Like The) we just wanted to come in a little left and catch people off guard by doing a song that we wouldnā€™t necessarily do. I think we pull it off but itā€™s not your regular pop/R&B type song. Itā€™s more of a Bruno Mars/Adele/Cee-Lo throwback kind of record that you hear a lot of these days.

The beat is really strong on the track. Weā€™re loving the video too. Where did the concept for that come from?

The concept of the song is basically saying ā€˜sexy isnā€™t necessarily sexy, confidence is sexyā€™. You can look at an aesthetically beautiful girl but because of her attitude she doesnā€™t even look beautiful when you get to know her. I think itā€™s a message that we should all learn and itā€™s an old message ā€“ beauty comes from within. Itā€™s about your attitude and your self-confidence that makes you attractive not the outside.

Letā€™s talk a bit about the making of the record. How does the dynamic work in the studio?

We always collaborate with producers and writers, and people that are in the studio every day doing it for a living. We do music for a living but weā€™re not in the studio every day so we go in and listen to people we admire to hear what theyā€™re doing. We put in our two cents then we go back and forth with ideas. Maybe thereā€™s a song with a great melody but the track isnā€™t so hot so weā€™ll ask the producer to change it up and put a heavier/lighter drum beat. Sometimes thereā€™s a track thatā€™s great but it just doesnā€™t suit us so we give the writers ideas. Donnie, Joey and myself go in there first and make tweaks.

Do you have more creative control over your music at this stage in your career?

We have 100% control. Weā€™ve had a lot, even when we were young, than what is perceived. Weā€™re five guys that have been in the business forever now and we know what we need to do and where we need to go more than anybody. More than our managers, more than any producers, more than anybody we know what to do. Weā€™re the guys in control.

It was fantastic to see you on stage here in the UK last year. We know youā€™re gearing up for a tour with 98 Degrees and Boyz II Men in the US. Can you tell us about that?

Itā€™s called The Package Tour. 98 Degrees havenā€™t been together in 10 years so theyā€™re doing a reunion like ours and itā€™ll be their first time performing on a tour in over 10 years. Boyz II Men have been touring but theyā€™ve never teamed up with another group like us. Based on what has happened with the Backstreet Boys we know itā€™s like a powder keg when you put groups together that have a lot of hits. It draws a lot of people; they want to come and hear all those songs they grew up with. Boyz II Men are such great singers with such big pop songs. They are a good combination to go along with us and 98 Degrees.

New Kids on the Block

Will the show use a similar format to the NKOTBSB tour where you perform songs together and separately within your respective groups?

This tour is a little different. With the Backstreet Boys we did it together and opened the show together. This tour is a headlining tour for New Kids on the Block. Itā€™s going to be pretty hard to resist coming up with songs to do with Boyz II Men and 98 Degrees. The good thing about the last tour with the Backstreet Boys is that we did stuff together but some of our fans wanted to see us just performing our own material. Weā€™re trying to accommodate both things here at the same time. We want to give the fans a lot of us exclusively but we want to collaborate with the other groups for sure.

Do you have any plans to bring the tour to the UK or perform any New Kids on the Block shows over here?

Weā€™d like to definitely tour the UK and sing a lot of the songs off the 10 album. Weā€™ll have to figure out our schedule. Itā€™ll most likely be around this time next year if we can do it.

How do you find the UK audiences?

Theyā€™re great. Itā€™s cool to see. Obviously we donā€™t live in the UK so itā€™s a pleasant surprise to go to another country and find fans that are as into you as US fans. Itā€™s very humbling and gratifying. We just feel really grateful that we have the fan base that we have.

We can safely say weā€™ve never heard as much screaming as we did when we saw you at The O2ā€¦

Yeah The O2 is such a big place and an incredible, incredible place to do a concert. The fans weā€™re definitely into it and we were into them for sure.

What are your hopes with 10? What would you like it to achieve?

As long as our fans love it thatā€™s it right there. Of course we want it to go into the mainstream, go to the top of the charts and be a big album. Thatā€™s gravy for us. We do it for our fans and if it catches on then thatā€™s great too. As long as our fans love it and respond well to it weā€™re good.

Have you got time to fit anything else in this year?

Weā€™ll see. Weā€™re going to do some performances in the fall and TV performances before getting ready to do an overseas tour. Hopefully weā€™ll be in the UK before you know it.

Do you have any plans for any more solo material?

Yes! I donā€™t know exactly when because 10 is coming out and weā€™re touring with it. Iā€™m trying to find a spot to fit it in where it doesnā€™t feel awkward (laughs). I did a tour myself with my last solo album and it was a lot of fun. Iā€™ve been dying to do it in the UK and do a show but itā€™s just finding the time. Maybe after I do another solo album maybe Iā€™ll do a show in the UK. Itā€™s always fun to go over there and perform.

New Kids on the Blockā€™s new album 10 is available now.

Pip Ellwood-Hughes
Pip Ellwood-Hughes
Pip is the owner and Editor of Entertainment Focus, and the Managing Director of PiƱata Media. With over 19 years of journalism experience, Pip has interviewed some of the biggest stars in the entertainment world. He is also a qualified digital marketing expert with over 20 years of experience.

Must Read

Advertisement