Bryan: Luck of the Irish, I guess...they've taken to us big in Europe. I'm not really sure...our songs appeal to a broad audience.
Nicky: Great songs from production to vocals to support for the record company and the five of us are very close.
Kian: I don't think it's any one thing. We are ourselves and we try to make good music.
Shane: We work very hard and try to meet all of our fans in person.
Mark: To be honest, I'm not sure...to be ourselves. I know I don't like it when I know that the artist is putting on an act. We realize how lucky we are, so we work hard.
Bryan: We want to be the European new wave of bands. We want to take our music one step further, so that Moms, Dads and Grannies will enjoy it.
Nicky: It's important that we be ourselves and no one that we aren't. We were influenced by groups like New Kids on the Block and Boyzone. We know about being influenced.
Kian: We want to portray good things and encourage everyone to follow their dream.
Shane: We want to set a good example with our music. We want to let kids know what they can achieve.
Mark: A good one. Being a big influence on youth, we never want to set a bad example. Celebrities are usually considered "cool" and it is important to look up to "cool" people who are good. There's a lot of trouble out there with violence and drugs and such. It's hard because you have to be careful what you say.
Bryan: We are nervous because there are so many "boybands" here in the states. Groups like Take That and Boyzone are so huge in Europe, but they aren't all that popular here.
Nicky: Very excited! We want to be a big selling band here and we will work our socks off!
Kian: We are so excited you wouldn't believe it! And with everyon'e support, including Clive Davis behind us, we're ready to conquer America!
Shane: Very nervous, especially after spending lots of time, but excited because to break here would be a dream.
Mark: We're really looking forward to seeing how it is received. America is like a dream world. I mean, America seems really cool on TV with rural, city, and every variety of people. It would feel incredible to be successful here. It is one of our priorities to break here. We're really nervous about being received well.
Bryan: Actually, at that time, only Kian, Mark and Shane were in the a group called IOU who opened up for them. It was a great experience and great exposure.
Nicky: It was only Kian, Mark, and Shane and the Backstreet Boys are their idols. First they bought tickets for the show and then they found out they got to perform.
Kian: We weren't really intimidated, we knew they were better than us! We were actually in line for tickets to see them and found out we got to open.
Shane: It was the first show we ever did. We only opened one, Boyzone got it in Dublin. It was pretty amazing. It was a real turning point for the band.
Mark: For weeks on end, the Backstreet Boys show was the talk of the place. It's funny, we actually were queing in line at 6:00 in the morning for tickets to see the show with our friends. Then, we found out we were opening for them. It was quite amazing, nobody famous ever came from Sligo and the thrill of everything was incredible. We even played basketball with them before the show. They are wonderful guys.
Bryan: I write really whatever comes to me, about emotions, relationships, being lonely on the road. Our second album that we've already starting working on, has some of the songs that we have written.
Bryan: My parents are. They are the ones who put me onstage very early. As far as music is concerned, I like Michael Jackson, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Backstreet Boys, and Boyzone.
Nicky: I look up to my parents and close family because of all the encouragement and support they have given. Musically, I like Phil Collins and Sting.
Shane: My Mom, Dad, and manager, Louis.
Mark: My family and friends, Mom and Dad, grandparents. I'm so grateful to have a good upbringing. They've moulded into who I am. Musically, when I was 6 or 7 years old they made me love Michael Jackson. I also love Mariah Carey, particularly the song "Hero". I am absolutely in awe of her. I was very nervous when I met her for the first time. I had the opportunity see her again at a American Music Awards after party. She is a very nice person. She even offered for us to do a collaboration with her.
Nicky: Bryan, Kian, and Mark do, but I really don't. I play a little piano and am writing a lot for the second album. That tour will have to change the two albums!
Kian: I have played the piano since I was 6 and the guitar since I was 8. I also play the sax, flute, and the drums. Pretty much just give me a instrument... I'm teaching Shane the guitar now and teaching Nicky the piano.
Mark: Thank you very much first of all. Kian plays the most. I play the guitar, piano, soprano sax, clarinet, and the Irish Tin Whistle. A lot of people don't know what instrument that is, until I say it is the one played in "Titanic" and then everyone knows what I'm talking about!
Bryan: It was written by Steve Mac and Wayne Hector.
It's about a guy and a girl, and the girl becomes uncertain of their love because of what she hears from others. The song is his pledging his love to her all over again...
Shane:"Swear It Again" means a lot of different things to people, to be honest. The main message is when you're in love, don't listen to everybody about what's happening in your relationship.
Bryan: I was, but I always had a dream. I worked hard and played soccer and football. Of course, I understand those feelings, but what's most important is not to let others put you down. You can achieve anything you want.
Bryan: Weird! At first, critical but you get used it.
Nicky: It's weird. Nothing really prepares you for it. I'm very critical of them, but then I learned that magazine photos come and go. They are there one week and gone the next. What I care about is album covers now because they are the things that last.
Kian: The first thing I look at is the pictures and think, "Yeah". Then I read the articles. If you would have told me a year ago that this would be happening, I would have laughed!
Shane: Very cool. A lot of Smash Hits! We were on the cover for 2 months and those were the best days of my life. It's nice now that a lot of US magazines are starting to take notice.
Mark: Absolutely crazy. We don't usually see the pictures, every month here and there. We miss the cycle, you know, but our mom's usually keep a copy of them. We consider ourselves very lucky to receive the attention...
Nicky: No way! We listen to everyone. We are all leaders. Mark and Shane do most of the lead vocals, but we all support each other.
Nicky: They are blue with purple triangles on them. It kinda a funny story actually. You see, at what I would consider one of our first big performances, I happened to be wearing them. Then, at another great time I realized that I was wearing those same socks. When good things happened, I just also happened to be wearing these socks. I do have other socks! But good things just seemed to happen the days I wore that lucky pair! I now have 5 more pairs like them!
Nicky:"...my mom and dad ask me for my autograph."
Kian:"...I play at all the arenas around the world."
Shane:"...I have sold 50 million albums and play sold out arenas on a world tour."
Mark:"...when I have a platinum disc in every country."
Kian: Who said that I was mischievous?!? Well, there was this one time that I got Shane and Mark pretty good. Sometimes, I like to draw on people's faces while they're sleeping. One time when we were on a plane, I drew a lion on Shane's face and spiders with cobwebs on Mark's. Then when Shane woke up, he saw the spider drawings on Mark's face, looked over at me and snickered. And when Mark woke up, he looked at Shane's face and looked over at me and was laughing at Shane. What was so funny was that they were laughing at each other, and they both were covered with facial drawings.
