Jordan keeps going Former New Kid releasing 2nd disc

Jordan Knight's first album

Being a former member of the pop music phenomenon New Kids On The Block gave Jordan Knight no guarantees that he could carve out a post-teen career in the music business.

As evidenced by the gold status of his 1999 solo debut, Jordan Knight, there was life after teen hysteria.

Six years later, Knight's soon-to-be-released sophomore disc shows him moving beyond his signature soul/pop sound.

"There are a couple of songs that have a rock edge to them," Knight says. "I am kind of spreading my wings a little bit. The rest (of the CD) is pop/R&B."

The rock influences in his music are not an attempt on his part to toughen up his good-guy image. Knight has always been a fan of rock music and cites the Beatles, The Who and Led Zeppelin amongst some of his favourite rock groups.

Knight has recently come back into the spotlight as one of the six cast members of the reality show, the Surreal Life 3.

Why would he want to participate in a show that could be considered great TV and a trainwreck at the same time?

"They contacted me," he reveals. "My first instinct was, 'No way, no way!' and then people talked to me about it, saying that it would be good to get back into the spotlight and that it would be funny and dramatic."

For 14 days, six celebrities, also including singer Charo , rapper Flavor Flav (of Public Enemy fame), actress Brigitte Nielsen, actor/comedian Dave Coulier (Full House) and American Idol reject Ryan Starr, live in a house without TV, radio, cellphones or contact from the outside world.

Friendships are formed and buttons are pushed in a way Knight says he believes showed "the good, the bad and the ugly in everyone."

Knight has no plans to become a serial reality show celebrity, but he has caught the acting bug and is now fielding various offers.

"I'm looking to get into some cameo roles, and I've already had an offer from American Dreams and stuff like that," he says. "It's something I don't want to take too seriously, but I just want to have the experience of doing it."

How does a man who declared his dislike for the ever-present Surreal Life cameras find a balance between his privacy and a business that forces him into the public eye?

"I don't," he dead-pans. "But you do have your hotel room. It's a funny business for me to be in."

Jordan Knight's new CD is slated for a spring release.

The Surreal Life airs Sundays at 8:30 p.m. on MuchMoreMusic .

Terri - Lynne Waldron for Metro Toronto