Scotland Today JC interview
(5/1/04) Scotland Today (thanks charlidos!)

Scotland Today's music correspondent Billy Sloan spoke to former *NSYNCH member JC Chasez, who is now establishing himself as a solo artist. Billy began by asking him about how his song Some Girls Dance with women came about.

JC said: "I was out and about on the phone to my friends one night and everyone has their own club track and I wanted to have mine. I wanted to find something unique and I did, I really did. I was out and about and everyone just talked about hitting the dancefloor, getting low, getting a drink or showing up being flashy and everything like that. I found something that everyone talks about, that everyone notices out of the corner of their eye and I pointed the finger right at it so it was a lot of fun."

Asked if the video was fun to do, he replied: "It was man. The thing is with the song it's a tricky line I'm walking with it. But I had fun with it. I made the video a bit dark, a little sexy but the reason I wanted to do it was to create mystery in the video. I didn't want to put it out in people's faces. I always like to think that people always want to have what they can't have. That's why there's a lot of shadows in this video and a lot covered up which is what I find sexy about it."

JC was a member of one of the most successful American bands of all time. Billy asked him if he looked back at that time is it with fond memories.

He answered: "Of course. I got to be successful with four of the nicest guys in the world. They're hardworking and I learned a lot from them and I wouldn't be who I am if wasn't in that band and I wouldn't have the opportunities I have it wasn't for that experience and I wouldn't give it up for the world and I loved everything along the way. Even the bad times are a part of what I am, who I am and I wouldn't trade it for anything."

JC is playing in Glasgow as the support act for Britney Spears, and he explained: "I'm actually coming over here with Britney. It's kind of like my life is coming full circle, like when Britney was starting out and we were pushing big in the States and she was the opener. Now she's the biggest female pop star in the world. We kind of got in contact with each other and I was like 'Well I'm kind of starting over and I need a place to gig' and she's like 'I'm going on tour. Want to come?' and I was like 'Absolutely'. So we're going to hit the road together and have some fun."

The Observer Schizo Review
(5/1/04) The Observer UK (thanks charlidos!)

JC Chasez used to cavort around stages in N*Sync alongside Justin Timberlake. Now he's set to follow Timberlake into post boy-band acclaim with his solo debut. True, Chasez hasn't got the Neptunes playing fairy godmother, but Schizophrenic comes with ballast. Naturally, the love songs are all drippy guff, but from the single 'Some Girls [Dance With Women]' on in, the partying end of the album is as uncomplicatedly enjoyable a pop event as you could wish for. Chasez is no great original: there are hints of everyone from George Michael ('Something Special') to Prince ('100 Ways', 'One Night Stand') to Jamiroquai here - even Justin. JC even quotes Robert Plant yowl for yowl on 'If You Were My Girl'. And his lyrics! There's a toe-curler on every track. But it's hard to mind, when Schizophrenic feels so good. Guest producers Basement Jaxx take the prize for 'Shake It', but some of the finest tunes here are the unexpected New Wave numbers, like 'Mercy'.

Sunday Herald (UK) Schizo review
(5/1/04) Leon McDermott Sunday Herald UK

3 out of 5 stars

There’s an essential difference between Britain and America. Yes, they’re two countries divided by a common language and all that, but more relevant to the youth of today is this: when a boyband on this side of the Atlantic splits, we get drippy balladeers and self-obsessed moaners.

When a band of similar stature in America splits, you get Justin Timberlake’s falsetto click-hop commercial soul and Schizophrenic. The debut solo effort of Timberlake’s former bandmate in *Nsync JC Chasez, it’s a curious thing. Imagine if Howard from Take That had made an album which mashed up tacky disco, wonky dancehall, vintage hip hop, muscular, fake macho funk and contemporary R’n’B. Then imagine it was good.

It’s not all great – there are a couple of listen-to-me-emote ballads – but Chasez has imagination. Basement Jaxx – whose last album, Kish Kash, featured Chasez – take production duties on Shake It, a dirty, joyous romp full of clanking, bouncing beats, backwards guitar and random bleeps .

Lead single Some Girls (Dance With Women) is Chasez indulging in male fantasy. Judging by the chorus – “Some girls dance with women / No-one gives them attention / I wanna get in with them / So pass me a drink and let’s roll” – it isn’t Chasez expressing surprise that not everyone’s a red blooded heterosexual like himself.

All Day Long I Dream About Sex is the biscuit-taker, however. Phased 1980s synths, Chasez singing in a yob, Anglophile accent, a hi-NRG bassline, wibbly Kraftwerkian touches, single-entendre lyrics: if this had been made by a group of ironic hipsters with eyeliner and asymmetrical haircuts, it’d be proclaimed the future of music...

JC Interview with Hitkrant
(5/1/04) Hitkrant Holland (thanks to Eva and to ShazaamSabina at JJB for translating)

There he is, the second ex-nsyncer to go solo. JC Chasez is releasing a new single called Some Girls (dance with women) and an album. JC explains this doesn't mean the end of *NSYNC though...

Finally there you are! We have been waiting for your album far to long!
"hahahaha yeah it took a while, that's right. After our *NSYNC-break, right after the celebrity tour, I decided to first take some time off. I was talking a holiday to clear my head after being on tour for so long. I was finally able to spend some time with my friends and family. When it became January 2003 I decided it was time to go back to work and make a solo album."

How did you do that? Did you think about what music style you would use?
"No not really. I just wanted to make songs that sound good. That's why there are so many different styles on the album, I didn't have a big plan so I just made songs that I like. Actually, I just called up some friends and told them: "I booked a studio, do you want to come? Let's make some songs." And that's what we did! When I had enough good songs I went to the record company and finally there was a CD."

What kind of music do you listen to yourself?
"All sorts of stuff really, but mostly older music. I hardly listen to the new stuff that's out now. When I put on a record it's usually something by the Police, Bob Marley or the Doors. Classics. They don't call those records classics for nothing, they are really good records!"

Aren't you sorry you didn't release your album before Justin did? Cause now everybody is going to compare Justified with Schizophrenic...
"No not at all. I didn't see it as a competition. I didn't feel like making a record straight away, I first wanted a break. Some people are really competitive, but I'm nothing like that! Like when they tried to make *NSYNC compete with the BSB, I never got that! The only thing you can do is release a song when you feel the time is right, and just hope that people will like it."

Just to make things clear.. there's still an *NSYNC?
"Absolutely! We aren't busy with *NSYNC right now, but there will be a album sooner or later. We are going to think up some new ideas this summer. It's going to be a important record so we aren't going to rush it. We want it to be great. All that talk about us being mad at Justin because he went solo is rubbish, haha. We talk to each other a lot and in July we are going to do a fundraiser concert."

We are pretty upset that you are opening act for Britney in the UK, but you aren't her opening act when she does her concert in the Netherlands!
"Yeah I'm sorry. But when Britney is playing over there, I will be busy with my own concerts in the US. But I will be back for a concert later this year. It's not definite yet but it looks good so far. And I promise I won't skip Holland, I'll come over and do a concert!"

We give you a small part to promote your album now. Go for it!
"Prepare for a roller coaster! It's called Schizophrenic and it has it's ups and down, and everything in between! It's a mix between all sorts or styles and it's very pleasing to the ear.. "

How did your CD go in the US?
"Amazingly well! All reviews where great! 9 out of 10 where really good, which is pretty remarkable hahaha. But I'm very happy with it!"

What do people find most remarkable about your CD?
"That some songs are about sex. I think the album isn't that much about sex as people say it is, but compared to *NSYNC there is a lot of sex. But this isn't an *NSYNC record, it's a JC record. And let's be honest, it's fun to hear those kind of things isn't it? Some of the most beautiful songs are about sex, like Sexual Healing by Marvin Gaye, I want your sex by George Micheal... there's just a lot of fun lyrics you can make about it.. hahahaha"

Do people think less of you because you are in a boy band?
"No, not that much! But I think Justin helped with that. He made a lot of prejudice disappear and he gave *NSYNC a big status. I see my connection with *NSYNC as a great one."

What do people compare your album with?
"I think it's hard to place. People have compared songs with different songs. I heard that they think 1 song sounds a lot like a Lenny Kravitz song, and others say there's a lot of Prince-influence in my songs. I love it! Those are great artists to be compared with!"

Where are the lyrics in the CD booklet?
"There aren't any, and I did that on purpose! Because I wanted people to listen to the music instead of read it. That way you can make the lyrics yourself. That way you make it your own. It could be that you interpreted in a different way but then at least it your way, which makes it good. And who am I to change that!"

You did a lot on this record right? You sang, produced, mixed, played the keys...
"Yeah. Well it is my album so.. hahaha"

How much did you do on the *NSYNC records?
"On the last albums I wrote 4 or 5 songs. I produced them myself. But that didn't really get much credit.."

Do you have your own studio?
"Yeah, a little one, but yes, I do have my own studio. I work there with friends, so that keeps it fun. You hang around with good friends and you end up with a CD. Sometimes it feels like work though, when you aren't feeling creative. Then you think: " goddammit, I wrote 2 songs yesterday and today I don't get any good ideas! What's wrong with me, I'm wasting my time doing this!" But those are just short periods..."

The Times (UK) Schizo review
(5/1/04) Lisa Verrico The Times UK

4 out of 5 stars

Boybands rarely spawn more than one successful solo artist, which should be bad news for JC Chasez, the former ’NSync bandmate of Justin Timberlake. Yet two years after his friend struck solo gold, Chasez looks set to follow in his footsteps. His debut album, Schizophrenic, is jam-packed with smart, chart-friendly tunes, as well as slick, dancefloor-friendly production, clever samples, some seriously sexy lyrics and fine singing.

As his album title suggests, Chasez can’t quite make up his mind who he wants to be. Within a superb trio of opening tracks, he takes on the mantle of Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and 1999-era Prince. He adopts an old-school R&B falsetto for the Earth, Wind & Fire-influenced She Got Me, does disco on the Donna Summer- sampling One Night Stand, has a go at dancehall on Mercy, takes his cue from George Michael on the acoustic guitar-backed Something Special and gets Basement Jaxx to help out on the swampy, blues-pop number Shake It. Throw in umpteen other producers (from the likes of the A-list Dallas Austin to the lesser-known talents of Robb Boldt, who handles the lion’s share of the 17 songs), a guest appearance by O.D.B. and steals from Corey Hart’s Sunglasses at Night and Smokey Robinson’s Cruisin’, and it’s easy to see why Schizophrenic should be a musical mess that’s trying too hard to please.

Yet, against the odds, almost every song works. The album may be slightly too rooted in the 1980s, while the lyrical obsession with women and sex is fairly predictable, but this is a far better record than Timberlake’s Justified — let battle commence.

Neil can't name NSYNCers
(5/1/04) Timothy McDarrah Las Vegas Sun

Love that Vince Neil. The Las Vegas resident and former Motley Crue frontman made a brief but hilarious appearance on "The Best Damn Sports Show Period."

During a trivia segment, show host Tom Arnold went from lounge chair to lounge chair (the show is being broadcast this week from the Skin Pool Lounge at the Palms) asking occupants questions he thought they could answer.

First, he asked a woman to name four U.S. presidents -- any four, in any order. She passed.

Next chair was Neil. Arnold asked him to name any two members of the band 'N Sync.

You could have been asking Neil to explain the Pythagorean theorem from the baffled look on his face.

And when someone off-camera yelled out "Justin Timberlake! Lance Bass!" Neil still looked like a deer caught in the headlights.

A quick-thinking Arnold then asked the rocker to name his five favorite Las Vegas strip clubs.

Neil lit up like a Christmas tree and promptly reeled off six -- Cheetah's, Jaguar's, Spearmint Rhino, Sapphire, Crazy Horse Too and Club Paradise -- without even pausing to take a breath.

For the record, 'N Sync features JC Chasez, Joey Fatone, Chris Kirkpatrick, Bass and Timberlake.