Title: Chatting With Aaron Carter!
Topic: Article/Interview
Source: The Hamilton Spectator
Source: PREVIEW; Pg. D06
Date: March 9, 2001
Author: Nicole Dube
Nicole Dube, from Ecole Georges-P-Vanier in Hamilton, is a high school intern in The Spectator newsroom. Nicole, 17, a former alt/punk bassist, is an admirer of Aaron Carter. "He is a cutie ... he's got an innocent, cute-kid kind of voice, like a little Nick (Aaron's famous older brother, a member of the Backstreet Boys)!" Aaron called Nicole from a tour stop last week in Chicago and the two had a very pleasant chat. Little did Nicole know, but Aaron's mom was listening in ...
Need to know
Who: Aaron Carter with 11:30
When: Sunday
Where: Hamilton Place
Tickets: $29, $24 available at Hamilton Place and Copps Coliseum box offices or by calling 527-7666
Most kids his age are playing air guitar or lip-synching to someone else's hits. Not Aaron Carter. The 13-year-old from Tampa, in town to fill Hamilton Place Sunday night, is in the middle of a North American tour. This guy is a major-league teen heartthrob -- blond and brown-eyed and with a sweetie-cutie southern U.S. aw-shucks drawl.
But he's also all business: Aaron is in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the youngest singer to have four consecutive Top 10 singles, deposing former teen idol Jimmy Osmond.
At 13, he's established himself as a major international recording star. He wanted to be singer all his life, and began singing in the bathtub at age six; at seven he stepped out of the tub and joined a band as lead singer with his friends. They performed on the local pier and at several coffee houses.
Aaron then became a solo act, taking singing lessons and learning how to dance from his brother Nick (of Backstreet Boys fame), and soon he was winning talent contests.
In 1997, Aaron began touring with the Backstreet Boys and in March of that year performed for the first time in Berlin, where he stole the show. He was offered a recording contract with Edel Records and in the fall of 1997 had his first single, Crush On You. He had five singles by the end of that year, all from his self-titled debut pop album.
Aaron came back in 2000 with Aaron's Party (Come Get It) and it's with this upbeat and fun party album that he's making a big name for himself in North America.
His biggest idol is Michael (the King of Pop) Jackson, and Aaron's been nicknamed the Little Prince of Pop.
Aaron doesn't just listen to pop, he's a fan of all kinds of music, especially jazz.
He loves touring and performing, playing video games and swimming, and manages to have a fairly normal teenage life by staying grounded with the help of friends and family.
Aaron admits that brother Nick has helped make his singing debut a lot easier. However, it's Nick's guidance and support that have had the biggest impact.
Q & A:
What influence has your brother Nick had on your growing music career?
Aaron: He's always been there for me, and has helped me with a lot of things in my life, he's cool!
What do you enjoy most about being a pop star?
Aaron: I like being on the road, meeting new people and seeing different cultures and stuff.
Are there things that aren't so cool about being famous?
Aaron: A little bit, yeah. I mean, there are things, but you don't really think of them until they actually come.
How do you deal with the fame and all the attention?
Aaron: Well, I have my friend with me here to keep me down and square, so that's cool!
So, now that you're in the limelight, do you think you'll manage to still have a normal teenage life?
Aaron: I think so! I think I'm doing just fine right now!
Being on the road a lot, how do you keep up with school?
Aaron: Well, I have a tutor who comes on the road, and she teaches me any time we get the chance.
Do you miss normal, everyday school?
Aaron: Oh yeah! Definitely!
If you weren't a singer, what else would you like to do?
Aaron: I think I'd do marine biology because I've always just loved it. I love seeing new things and discovering new stuff. I love doing all kinds of weird stuff!
What's the most embarrassing moment you've had?
Aaron: (laughs) Probably a long time ago, I was onstage and I tripped over a monitor and I fell into the audience! (laughs) It was pretty funny!
So Aaron, the question every girl wants to ask: Do you have a crush?
Aaron: (laughs) I'd probably have to say Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, they came to my birthday party!
In one of your songs, Please Don't Go Girl, you sing the line, "You are my love within." Have you ever been in love? Because you are just 13!
Aaron: I think I have, once! A long time ago, with a girl named Amanda, she was on the Nickelodeon's All That Tour with me and we dated for like nine months!
Is there anything that nobody knows about you?
Aaron: (laughs) Probably my mom right now! (laughs) She's yelling at me, telling me to get off the video game!
Do you get in trouble a lot, Aaron?
Aaron: No! (laughs) Do I get in trouble a lot, Mom?!
Aaron's mom: Not any more than any normal 13-year-old!
Are you close with your mom?
Aaron: Yeah, we're very close! Aren't we, Momma? (laughs)
Aaron's mom: Yeah, we get closer every time I have to slap you! (laughs)
Do you have any tips or recommendations for anyone your age who'd like to pursue a career like yours?
Aaron: I'm gonna have to say, just put your mind to it, concentrate a lot, and know that you want it!
What's your biggest motivation?
Aaron: My family! They're always here to support me and they love me a lot!
In the future, do you hope to explore different types of music at all?
Aaron: Maybe. I'm doing rap right now, that's something I'm trying to pursue.
Do you hope to be singing for a long time?
Aaron: I think so! I think I'm gonna be singing for a while! Probably for the rest of my life! But when I'm 16 I want to go to college for marine biology!
GRAPHIC: Photo: Aaron and his big brother Nick clown around at a recent awards show.; Photo: Aaron Carter plays Hamilton Place Sunday night.; Photo: Nicole Dube
