axs.com Interview: "Original reality TV stars, O-Town"

It could definitely be argued that O-Town changed the world. Without the band’s meteoric success on ABC’s reality show “Making The Band,” which chronicled the guys’ every move from the formation of O-Town to two No. 1 singles and platinum status, there might never have been “American Idol” or “The Voice” or “The X Factor.” Groups like One Direction might never even have existed without the pioneering phenomenon known as O-Town.

After a 10-year hiatus, Dan, Jacob, Trevor and Erik-Michael are back. They are a little older, a whole lot wiser, impressively seasoned, in control, and simply better than ever! Their new album, Lines & Circles, is currently available on iTunes and after the success and buzz of both their first single, “Skydive,” and their recent North American tour, O-Town is getting ready to release the follow-up single, “Chasin’ After You.” This week, AXS was lucky enough to get to speak with both Dan and Jacob about the past present and future of O-Town.

AXS: Did you guys think you’d ever be back together again?

Dan: I didn’t.

Jacob: Well, because Dan is so pessimistic (laughing), I started to really believe that it never would...

Video Interview: ´Gall The Guy You Know´ with ´O-Town´!

"Got the chance to interview O-Town when they came through Chicago on their comeback tour in the fall of 2014!"

(Thanks "Gallo The Guy You Know"

Cosmopolitan.co.uk: "O-Town being interviewed by someone who's never heard of them!"

O-Town, who reached PEAK FAME around 2000 after appearing on Making The Band, are back for a cashback reunion tour. Intern Cat is TOO YOUNG TO REMEMBER THEM, so who better to find out what they're all about?

Hi Jacob! So basically all I know about O-Town is that your biggest hit single back in the day was 'Liquid Dreams'. I've been reading the lyrics, and they go'Waterfalls and streams, these liquid dreams,' so I just wondered if you were fans of water, or the outdoors, or what that's to do with?

„No, it's about nocturnal emissions, to be honest. It was a cheeky way for Clive Davis to pick a song and, in the mix of a lot of boybands and a lot of glossed over pop tracks, he thought this way a way for us to make our mark separate: we were a lot more dirty, a lot more edgy than the others.“

So you were the edgy, dirty boyband.

„Yeah. We got labeled the 'dirtiest boyband of all time'.“

That's lovely... but like, if I listened to that when I was eleven I'd have had no idea.

„That's exactly what's happened now. A lot of fans have come up to us laughing that they were singing this song- and their mum let them sing this song in the car- and they didn't know what it was about until recently. I was like yeah, sorry girls! They just didn't know what they were singing.“

It was like Spice Girls' 'Two Become One'. Only in recent years did I spot what that was really about!

„Right.“

So you described your 'liquid dream girl'- or you don't, whoever wrote the song- as having 'Madonna's wild style' and Janet Jackson's smile. Does that still stand?

„Ooh, I don't know. I do think that Emily Ratajkowski is probably one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen in my life. But I don't know about personalities. I think if you mix her with like a Katy Perry, that would be ideal. But either one of them. I think Katy Perry's got a personality that would be fun.“

Hang on, didn't there used to be more of you?

„It's all original members minus one.“

What happened to him?

„He actually never joined us. And I've got to say, the problems we had trying to get together last time were all logistic- I was in Nashville, or with Dan it was personal or family life. And I finally moved back to California and the talks started again. When we brought up the offer, Ashley said he had a different idea for where he wanted to go with his career. And he's modeling now.“

So, you were put together in the Making The Band show on MTV. How was THAT?

„It was the best and the worst, it really was. We wouldn't change it for the world. At the time we were frustrated with the lack of control, when you're in the heat of the moment…I mean, we're passionate people, we are artists, we really wanted to be our own artists. Looking back, we get it that we were privileged by the fact we got to get hooked up. People like Leona Murray and Clive Davis would then kind of teach us the way people did things in this business. We would never be able to do things now without that experience.“

If you were putting a band together now, would you go on the X Factor?

„No, I don't think so. I mean I wasn't like an audition kinda guy, anyway. O-Town was the first audition I ever went to, and I didn't even know that it was an audition.“

So what triggered the reunion?

„Our agent called us. He hit us up for what was the tenth time- not just him, but different people- in a matter of 3-4 years to try and get us to reunite. But they all wanted us to do an album and big tours and everything was just too big. Dan's got a wife and kids who are his first priority. Then the offer was 'just do one song', but after we did one song everyone kind of stepped back and said 'yeah do an album'. Three months later we got an album and that was the quickest we've ever worked.“

Who do you think your biggest rivals are in the boyband world at the moment?

„You know what, I really don't know. I don't think we have anybody we're going up against. Backstreet [Boys], The New Kids and the ones doing the new songs sound like the record they used to put on. And we're not kids- we're not One Direction in any way, we're not competing with 20 year olds. So I think we're in a place where we're one of the only reuniting boybands that are trying to do a new sound. When you hear the rest of the album, you'll understand - it's definitely a direction we've never gone in, it's still pop but it sounds different. Not like Liquid Dreams.“

If you had to arm wrestle One Direction, who would it be? Who do you reckon you could take?

„Geez, I'd like to think I could take all of them. I don't know their names. They're kids. I was just in Nashville recently and One Direction played the stadium there, and they shut the freeway down. No one was going anywhere. It was unbelievable to watch.“

So have you guys changed into a man-band now?

„The jeans have definitely got a lot tighter. I think we're just where we're at. We're not trying to be anything. We're 30 year old men, three of us are single, but we're not a boy band I guess.“

So you don't want to go under the man-band title?

„No. I mean we're not old or anything. I'm not about to start wearing my grandpa's suits, not just yet.“

Source: Cosmopolitan.co.uk

Hollywire Interview with O-Town

"O-Town Discuss Ashley Parker Angel + ´All Or Nothing´ LIVE Performance!" (Part I )"

"O-Town Picks OneDirection Over 5SOS in Silly Game!(HotSeat)" (Part II )"

Source: Hollywire

Skydive live acoustic

monaloring

"Skydive live acoustic by @otownofficial #skydive #otown"

Little Update about "MIXUnplugged with O-Town"

Mark the date! 

---

• RT Mix949 @mix949: 

  "We are planning our exclusive #MIXUNPLUGGED event with @OTownOfficial as we speak. Keep December 2nd open thanks @JacobUnderwood7"

  
  

  RT Mix949 @mix949: 

  "Hi @OTown fans.We will have more details on #MixUnplugged soon.For those of you who don't live in the area,we'll be streaming it"

  
  

  RT Mix949 @mix949:  

  "#MixUnplugged with allow @OTownOfficial fans to live tweet w/us during the event & hear the guys play new and old songs acoustic."

---

We can´t wait for more informations!

Glamour Interview [08/20/2014]

Before there was American Idol, there was ABC's Making the Band, a collaboration between the network, MTV, and the infamous Lou Pearlman (who created 'N Sync and the Backstreet Boys). At the time, O-Town was the first inaugural signing to Clive Davis' powerhouse label J Records. With over 3 million albums sold, two U.S. No. 1s, and enough screaming girls to make you go deaf, O-Town seemed destined for success. Contract disputes, canceled concert tours (because of 9/11), and a dishonest manager left the guys with no choice but to disband. Ten years later, things are a lot different, and the band (minus Ashley Parker Angel) have reunited for a brand-new album (Lines & Circles) and tour. While Dan Miller was off celebrating his 10-year anniversary with his wife, I caught up with Erik-Michael Estrada, Trevor Penick and Jacob Underwood to talk ridiculous millennial fashion, life outside the spotlight, and even the possibility of dating me (oh boy).

(from left) Dan Miller, Erik-Michael Estrada, Jacob Underwood, and Trevor Penick.

Glamour: Making the Band premiered in 2000. Looking back, what was the one accessory you wore, trend you followed, or thing you were into that you’re now like, "What was I thinking?!"
Trevor: The baggy clothes! The baggy jeans and the frosted tips. Everyone had those frosted tips, and oh man. [Laughs]
Jacob: My pants got a lot tighter, and my hair is a lot shorter now!
Erik-Michael: We had a lot of chains going on. We overaccessorized! Overaccessorizing was a big deal back then, and everything was just too bulky and big. It just wasn’t as tasteful as it is now. I won’t ever wear a leather suit again under hot lighting.
Jacob: And you’ll never catch me in a shiny Sean John suit again that was 10 times too big!

Glamour: Ashley is the only member not returning. How come?
Trevor: It just wasn’t something that he wanted to be involved with anymore. He has other opportunities he wants to work on, individually. No ill will, and it has nothing to do with us, but it’s just something that he didn’t want to do career-wise.
Jacob: Touring was another part of it, but for the rest of us that are in California now, it was like, "If we don’t do it now, and Ashley’s on the fence, and we don’t do it now after 10 years, then we’re never going to do it. So let’s move forward, and see what we can do." And then we did "Skydive" and jumped into a whole new album and now we’re on the road again touring.

Check out the whole interview HERE

Lines & Circles will be released on August 24.

Broadcast Music Inc: TwitterChat with O-Town!

Here are the Interview Chat for you to re-read. Enjoy!

Charmaine Frost ‏@crfrost2

@bmi @OTownOfficial Are any of you a fans of current TV shows? #askOTown

Broadcast Music Inc. @bmi

.@crfrost2 @OTownOfficial Trevor: #OITNB; Jacob: Game of Thrones; Dan: Ditto to Game of Thrones!: Erik: American Ninja Warrior #AskOTown

…............................................................

CiNdY ‏@cv21w

#AskOTown Hi guys Is a tour again planned by Germany? And how do you find her support pages on Facebook?

Broadcast Music Inc.@bmi

.@cv21w Jacob: Talking about getting back to #Germany as early as February. No solid dates yet. Stay tuned! #AskOTown

…............................................................

Minks_don't_get_down @Minkzzzzzzzz

@bmi what can we expect from line & circles #AskOTown @OtownOfficial

Broadcast Music Inc.@bmi

.@Minkzzzzzzzz @OTownOfficial Jacob: The first true #OTown album from the band. #AskOTown

…............................................................

TreeNiece @trinalanay

@otown_reloaded @OTownOfficial #AskOTown do you see a difference in fans in the present and past? Is the atmosphere at shows different?

Broadcast Music Inc.@bmi

.@trinalanay @otown_reloaded @OTownOfficial Trevor: Everyone has grown and matured. Our fans and us both are older and wiser. #AskOTown

Broadcast Music Inc.@bmi

.@trinalanay @otown_reloaded @OTownOfficial Erik: At first hard to interact with the fans as they were so young - easier now. #AskOTown

…............................................................

Minks_don't_get_down @Minkzzzzzzzz

@bmi #AskOTown Do you have bad qualities?? if yes which ones?

Broadcast Music Inc.@bmi

.@Minkzzzzzzzz Too many for one tweet. #AskOTown

…............................................................

Becky @BeckyF29

@bmi @OTownOfficial what's your favorite memory from the first time around, all those years ago? #AskOTown

Broadcast Music Inc.@bmi

.@BeckyF29 @OTownOfficial Trevor: Audition process. Erik: New ones on the horizon... #AskOTown

…............................................................

Shavon @latice777

@bmi @OTownOfficial Who came up with the song- I only dance with you? I absolutely love that song, I listen to it almost everyday #AskOTown

Broadcast Music Inc.@bmi

.@latice777 @OTownOfficial Erik: Thanks! Original was George Michael "Careless Whisper" - we revamped it. #AskOTown

…............................................................

Operation O-Town @OperationOTown

@bmi @OTownOfficial What's your most unforgettable memory from being on tour? #AskOTown

Broadcast Music Inc.@bmi

.@OperationOTown @OTownOfficial Dan: Anytime we performed in #Cleveland on tour was always fun 'cause it's my home town. #AskOTown

…............................................................

Ann-Kathrin Goldbach @AnnGoldbach

@bmi #AskOTown How would you call your new sound? - so exited for the new album

Broadcast Music Inc.@bmi

.@AnnGoldbach Erik; "Eclectic Pop" #AskOTown

…............................................................

Susi @Susij13

@bmi @OTownOfficial #AskOTown Jake: Which beer tastes better - German or American?? Be honest! HA, HA!!! :-P

Broadcast Music Inc.@bmi

.@Susij13 @OTownOfficial Jake: I think since San Diego has the most micro-breweries, I'd say we do. #AskOTown

…............................................................

Elizabeth @2ne1bomfan

@OTownOfficial fave boy and girl band group? #askotown

Broadcast Music Inc.@bmi

.@2ne1bomfan @OTownOfficial Trevor:@HAIMtheband! #AskOTown

…............................................................

Danielle Richter @Ansels_Gal

Are you guys' going to add any more U.S. Date's? @OTownOfficial #AskOTown

Broadcast Music Inc.@bmi

.@Ansels_Gal @OTownOfficial Dan: We added a whole bunch today. Check out our FB! #AskOTown

…............................................................

Katie Lynch @katie_k1265

@bmi what's your favorite place you have visited? #AskOTown

Broadcast Music Inc.@bmi

.@katie_k1265 Jake: #Germany! #AskOTown

…............................................................

Franca Sparaco @FSHeartsNCarter

@bmi @OTownOfficial What 3 songs on the album are your fave? #AskOTown

Broadcast Music Inc.@bmi

.@FSHeartsNCarter @OTownOfficial Trevor: Chasing After You, Rewind, Buried Alive #AskOTown

…............................................................

Christina Maxwell @Cmaxwell_

@bmi @OTownOfficial #AskOTown Tell us about the inspiration and the sound behind this new album

Broadcast Music Inc.@bmi

.@CMaxwell_ @OTownOfficial Erik: Being a part of this decade and coming back together with new creative ideas. #AskOTown

…............................................................

Amanda Mitchell @ammitchell23

@OTownOfficial @bmi what do you like about touring this time around #askotown

Broadcast Music Inc.@bmi

.@ammitchell23 @OTownOfficial Dan: Trying to live more in the moment this time around, trying best food in every city. #AskOTown

…............................................................

Shavon @latice777

@bmi If you could record a song with any music act, past or present, who would it be and why? #AskOTown

Broadcast Music Inc.@bmi

.@latice777 Michael - King of Pop! #AskOTown

…............................................................

Shavon @latice777

@bmi Question for Erik- How is life in LA different from life in NYC? #AskOTown

Broadcast Music Inc.@bmi

.@latice777 Erik: That's a loaded question ... but I am fortunate enough to experience NYC for 15 yrs and L.A. for last 8 #AskOTown

…............................................................

Rebecca Anderson @Rebecca939

@bmi Describe how you see your relationship with your fans? #AskOTown

Broadcast Music Inc.@bmi

.@Rebecca939 The feeling with our fans is like meeting long lost friends you haven't seen in a decade.#AskOTown

Broadcast Music Inc.@bmi

@Rebecca939 Jake: We spend a lot of time together - it's a strange friendship #AskOTown

…............................................................

Mary K @mkkostick

@bmi @OTownOfficial Where do you see the band in 1 year? In 5 years? #AskOTown

Broadcast Music Inc.@bmi

.@mkkostick @OTownOfficial Dan: We're trying to take every day as it comes and go from there. #AskOTown

Broadcast Music Inc.@bmi

.@mkkostick @OTownOfficial Very rarely does a band get a second chance to do what we do. Taking every day as it comes. #AskOTown

…............................................................

OTown LowDown @otownlowdown

@bmi @OTownOfficial #AskOTown When you're on the road what is the one thing you miss the most and why?

Broadcast Music Inc.@bmi

.@otownlowdown @OTownOfficial We can all say we miss #family. We'd all like them to experience it with us. Family no. 1 for sure. #AskOTown

…............................................................

Rebecca Anderson @Rebecca939

@bmi If you could have any super power, what would you choose and why? #AskOtown

Broadcast Music Inc.@bmi

.@Rebecca939 Trevor: Fly (#LA traffic). Dan: In the past I've said invisibility, now I'd say teleportation #AskOTown

…............................................................

~Melissa~ @LissaK_27

@bmi Me & @KimberlyBeth7 would love to know, what is the one thing that keeps you going? :) #AskOTown :))

Broadcast Music Inc.@bmi

.@LissaK_27 @KimberlyBeth7 Jake: Internal desire to always be better and the love of #music. #AskOTown

…............................................................

Franca Sparaco @FSHeartsNCarter

@bmi @OTownOfficial What does it feel like being back? #AskOTown

Broadcast Music Inc.@bmi

.@FSHeartsNCarter @OTownOfficial Erik:It's incredibly gratifying all 4 of us being cre8ive source behind each part of this process #AskOTown

…............................................................

Dawn @iidawnii

@OTownOfficial @bmi #AskOTown will you be doing meet and greets on tour?

Broadcast Music Inc.@bmi

.@iidawnii @OTownOfficial Yes! Also, if you buy limited edition gold foil T-shirt - automatic meet-and-greet access. #AskOTown

…............................................................

Anthony Romano @412ink

@OTownOfficial @bmi What songs are you looking forward to performing during your upcoming tour? #AskOtown #Pittsburgh #TakeOtownToPrimantis

Broadcast Music Inc. @bmi

.@412ink @OTownOfficial Chasing After You, all of the new material! We're adding a good 30-45 mins of new material to our show.  

…............................................................

Stacey_Swartz @Stacey_Swartz

What was your fear on tour?

Broadcast Music Inc.@bmi

.@Stacey_Swartz Dan: That nobody would show up to the shows.. that nobody cared. #AskOTown

…............................................................

Susi @Susij13

#AskOTown Did you guys ever meet Michael Jackson when he was still with uS?

Broadcast Music Inc.@bmi

.@Susij13 Erik: Yes, I got a chance to meet him after @TheGarden show in #NYC. #AskOTown

…............................................................

Minks_don't_get_down @Minkzzzzzzzz

@bmi #AskOTown favourite food?

Broadcast Music Inc.@bmi

.@Minkzzzzzzzz Trevor: Breakfast! Jake: @Innout burger; Dan: The Kleftiko, #GeorgesGreek, Chimichanga, #JayJays - Palm Springs. #AskOTown

…............................................................

Susi @Susij13

@bmi #AskOTown When's the best (day)time for you guys to be writing songs? What inspires you?

Broadcast Music Inc.@bmi

.@Susij13 Erik: I like to write in the morning. I wake up with fresh ideas - esp. after coffee #Mmmm. #AskOTown

Broadcast Music Inc.@bmi

.@Susij13 Inspiration: Trevor: #Life; Erik: Human interactions and #feelings - feelings specifically. #AskOTown

…............................................................

Susi @Susij13

#AskOTown Do you guys write (music) all the time?

Broadcast Music Inc.@bmi

.@Susij13 Yes we're writing all the time - go through spurts, then have dry spells. #AskOTown

…............................................................

~Melissa~ @LissaK_27

@bmi Me & @KimberlyBeth7 would love to know, do you guys ever get stage fright or is easy going out there? :)) #AskOTown

Broadcast Music Inc.@bmi

.@LissaK_27 @KimberlyBeth7 Erik: Hard to admit, but after not doing it for 10 yrs have been experiencing stage fright. #AskOTown

…............................................................

Christina IVU @ganocj

@bmi #AskOTown Most embarrassing song on your iPod?!

Broadcast Music Inc.@bmi

Last question! @ganocj Erik: No embarrassing songs! Trevor: Probably #Frozen soundtrack... #AskOTown

…............................................................

Broadcast Music Inc. @bmi

That's a wrap for our #AskOTown Twitter chat! Big thank you to @OTownOfficial and the fans for taking part! #WriteOn

Broadcast Music Inc - TwitterChat with O-Town

Broadcast Music Inc. @bmi :
".@OTownOfficial fans get your # ready!!!! BMI is hosting a very special#AskOTown Twitter Chat TMRW 1PM PT (4PM ET)!"

It´s TODAY (Jul,23rd 14)!

For German Fans, it´s 22:00pm our time.
For UK Fans, it´s 21:00pm your time

Yahoo! - "O-Town has a new single (and we’ll be listening to it on repeat all day)"

"They haven't released a music video in more than ten years, but time has been nothing but kind to O-Town.Last week the quartet debuted the music video for their new single, "Skydive," off their upcoming album, "Lines & Circles," their first since breaking up in 2003. The video shows a band that has grown up since 2000 when they formed on "Making the Band."Back on screen are Jacob Underwood, Erik-Michael Estrada, Trevor Penick, and Dan Miller. Gone is Ashley Parker Angel, who turned down the chance to reunite in 2011, turning the group into a quartet (though he did congratulate them on their video).

While "Lines & Circles" will not be released until Aug. 3, the four remaining O-Town members have obviously matured, if the new video is anything to go by. The saccharine lovelorn lyrics and dramatic scenes with hot actresses have persisted, but here are five ways the 14-year-old band has grown up:
No more group choreographyBack in the 200s, the boys tried to keep their dance moves in sync in "Liquid Dreams," but the result was pretty laboured and hard to watch. This time around, they are only fleetingly seen together on screen -- and even when they are, they've embraced their own individual moves."

Read more and watch the videos here: Yahoo.com

O-Town private: Thats a musicians quirk

"Even though 10 years have passed since O-Town first toured, the guys still have fun. 

Their new album will be released in August. That's reason enough to look deeper into Dan Miller (33) and his colleagues. In the Promiflash interview they've revealed a few things, fans might not have known before. Especially Dan surprised us with this revealing fact: “Everybody is always surprised but I don't like masses of people. I probably have the wrong job.” While one has small issues with too many people, the other one likes healthy eating.  

Trevor Penik (24) says “I love jucing. I drink a lot of green juice with cucumber, Spinach and turnip greens. At home I drink a green juice every single day.” His colleague Erik (34) also changed his way of life . “I don't think alcohol anymore. Ten years ago I used to drink a lot and go party. Now Dan and I will go to bed early, while Trever and Jacob party.” 

Now, the boy band that was so successful ten years ago, calls itself a menband."

Source: http://www.promiflash.de

Washingtonpost.com | O-Town reunite after almost a decade

American boy band O-Town reunite after almost a decade

June 23, 2014 10:23 AM EDT — 

"The American boy band O-Town, originally formed on the ABC reality series “Making The Band,” reunite and return with a new single “Skydive” after a decade long wait. (Reuters)"

OTownReloaded meets O-Town!

Before the show in Berlin (2014/June/18), we got the chance to met O-Town!

After giving the guys some candy and something to play with... We asked them some serious questions about the album, the US Tour... but also funny questions! 

Since we have some german fans who aren´t so good in english, we have transcript in german!
(Da wir wissen das wir einige Fans haben, die der englischen Sprache nicht allzu mächtig sind, haben wir es für euch noch einmal in deutsch niedergeschrieben)

We´ll post later the english transcription as well. 

We can´t wait to read your comments or see your likes! Feel free to share it well :)

And now... Skydive!

German transcript / English transcript