Interview: JC Chasez

February 7, 2008 | Filed Under other projects, tv-best dance crew | No Comments

I had a chance to visit the set of Randy Jackson Presents America’s Best Dance Crew this week, and had a blast. The show Randy Jackson’s brainchild of finding the best dance crew in America. The winning dance crew gets to take home a $100,000 cash prize. The show is taped live every week, and the first episode is February 7th at 10PM ET/PT (tonight) on MTV. Last week they had a two-hour long audition special, and now that they narrowed it down to the dance crews, the real battle begins…

Nads: JC! It’s so good to meet you. Now I know you have a lot of dancing experience, is it cool to watch for a change?
JC: Yeah, it’s really fun. I grew up dancing from my days on The Mickey Mouse Club, and then N’Sync, it’s really my whole life. I’m honored that they picked me to be a judge on this show. It’s right up my alley.
Nads: Do you get emotionally connected to these kids, and do you get to spend time with them?
JC: It’s hard. I do get connected to these kids, and every kid has a story. I think they’re all so unique, and all really good. So, really it’s about who does the best in competition. The one thing I don’t get to see is their routine before the show. That’s the big surprise.
Nads: I saw you at the Rose Bowl about 6 years ago, and fell in love with your guys’ show as thousands of 12-year-olds were screaming behind me.
JC: Ha. that’s so cool, don’t feel bad, you were in good company with the 12-year-olds. We used to have a lot of fun. It’s really cool to see these crews stepping up, and doing the same thing.

…

I want to thank Randy, JC, and Mario for talking to me. They were so much fun, and so down to earth. I only stayed for a little bit of the show, but the energy in the room was so intense. If you like watching dancing crews, I think this show will be your fix. It’s got a really hip, urban feel to it, and the dancing is awesome.

- excerpt from here

JC Chasez: MTV’s back in step with ‘America’s Best Dance Crew’

February 7, 2008 | Filed Under other projects, tv-best dance crew | No Comments

JC Chasez calls MTV’s new series “Randy Jackson Presents: America’s Best Dance Crew” one of the best ideas the network has invested in in quite a while.

“I’m glad they’re putting their money where their mouth is and bringing music and dancing back to music television,” Chasez, a former member of ‘N Sync, told the Daily News. “Everybody loves ‘The Hills’ and ‘Laguna Beach,’ but it’s good to have music and dancing and entertainment on MTV. It’s an important thing.”

Chasez, who is a judge on the show, says he was recruited by pal Jackson to bring his knowledge of group dance to the show, premiering Thursday night at 10.

“When it comes to choreographing, the group that I was in, ‘N Sync, we did the largest production tour in the history of recording, so I guess it kind of made me an expert,” said Chasez. “My goal is to give the dancers insight to what it is that I like or dislike, or both, about their performances so that they can take that knowledge and apply it in the future.”

Already, MTV has aired a live casting showdown, giving viewers a sneak peek at the talent that will appear on the main show. In addition to Chasez, choreographer Shane Sparks will judge and Mario Lopez will host. Eight teams of five to seven members will compete each week, showing off their choreography skills, to be crowned the country’s best hip-hop dance group.

“On first glance, there’s definitely some potential,” Chasez said of the crews who made it through the auditions. “I don’t have a favorite, but I see great potential in probably three or four groups.”

Though the style of dance that will be showcased is mostly hip hop, Chasez points out that there’s a difference between just popping and locking and really dancing.

“When I see a routine and it’s just every B-boy [breakdancing] move in the book, it’s like, ‘Okay, but what else can you do?’” said Chasez. “If I see somebody come up and drop into some kind of freeze, it shows me they’re athletic. Then if they do something very clean and sharp, all off a sudden, it’s like okay, this guy can also dance in a group, he’s not sloppy. I want to see range.”

- source

JC Chasez working on a new album

February 5, 2008 | Filed Under kate news | No Comments

JC Chasez recently parted ways with his longtime label Jive records, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been working on new material. The former ‘NSYNC crooner has been very busy in the studio and he recently told MTV Radio what he may call his next album. “Right now it’s called Kate or the Story of Kate. Right now I’m working on concepts to kind of expand the medium of it as not just making it an album but more of an experience so that’s something in the works.” Chasez told us that he’s been working with Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Dallas Austin, Sean Garrett and many others. He hopes to have it out later in the year.

- source

coming up

:: America’s Best Dance Crew

JC is one of the judges on MTV’s new dance contest. The show premieres on Feb. 7 at 10 PM, with a casting special airing on Jan. 26 at 2 PM.
Dance Crew website

:: Back When

The sixth track on the new Sugababes album Change, “Back When” was co-written by Dallas Austin and Gary White, with additional vocal production by JC Chasez.

Listen to a clip of the song here.

:: Treat Me Right

“Treat Me Right” is a track on the new Backstreet Boys album, Unbreakable. It was co-written by JC and BSB member AJ McLean. You can hear a little of what AJ has to say about the song in this post, and read reviews of the song here.

:: Break Out This Box

Get a preview of the Cheetah Girls song “Break Out This Box,” which was co-written by JC:

on youtube
song details from MySpace

:: Killer Movie

According to IMDB, JC will play the part of “Ted Buckley” in a new comedy/horror movie called Killer Movie. (Formerly called Dead of Night)

Director: Jeff Fisher
Genre: Comedy / Horror / Mystery / Thriller
Plotline: A reality television shoot that goes terrifyingly awry when its crew becomes stranded in a remote Northern town. A killer is on the loose, stalking cast and crew-members one by one.