By Jessica Wedemeyer
2:56 a.m. PST, February 15, 2022
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Nick Carter has gone home! The pop star has just released his latest single as a solo artist – the country-pop love song ‘Easy,’ inspired by his wife and children – with some key help from the music singer-songwriter Country Jimmie Allen. (Find it out here!) Wonderwall.com caught up with our favorite Backstreet Boy to find out how to spread his musical wings after a year of focusing mostly on family — “I kind of started being creative again and wanted to start write music,” he said – following the birth of his third child in April 2021. He also opened up about how he’s preparing to hit the road with the Backstreet Boys later this year, shared how he’s getting in shape without sacrificing time at home with her kids, talked about BSB’s 30th anniversary as a band (crazy!), and more.
Keep reading for highlights from our chat…while streaming “Easy” on repeat, of course!
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Nick Carter Opens Up About His Connection With Jimmie Allen For His New Song “Easy”
“I have a producer I’ve been working with for a year, Vic Martin. … Vic introduced me to Jimmie. I found out that Jimmie was a fan of the Backstreet Boys and also of me, and I listened to his music for a I was like, “That’s perfect! He was interested in working with me and I was interested in working with him, and Vic and I wrote this song called ‘Easy’ and we were like, ‘Maybe -be Jimmie would like to be on it’, and of course he did!… So he put his voice on it and he was excited about it – it fit perfectly.”
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Nick Carter Explains How His Wife Lauren Kitt Carter and Their Life Together Inspired ‘Easy’
“[The inspiration] was just a simple life – it’s being home, being a servant, taking out the trash, doing the dishes and cooking. My thing is, I love making breakfast. I literally wake up at 5 a.m. every morning, and I’m the one cooking the kids’ breakfast and getting them ready for school. When you listen to the lyrics of “Easy”, you can literally see what we go through every morning. … It’s very simple: I cherish [my wife]. She made me the man I am today and supported me along the way. It is therefore a dedication for her and my children. Also, when I talked to Jimmie Allen about the song, he’s in the same part of his life: he has new kids and a beautiful wife. It made sense to be grateful and to dedicate something to the people who love us unconditionally.”
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Nick Carter returns to music after two years off work amid coronavirus pandemic
“I’ve been in dad mode for two years since we left. I love it. Don’t get me wrong: it’s what I live for – driving my kids to school, being there for parents – conferences teachers, reading books to them, taking them to the park, just being involved in my kids’ lives to the fullest extent. We’re approaching a two-year absence with the Backstreet Boys. We were in the middle of a huge tour called “DNA World Tour”, and we had to stop that – obviously for important reasons. Now, in June, it’s our first show… and then no more tours. … So I have just said, “Well, you know, maybe it’s time to get my juices flowing, to get things going, to get myself motivated. So I started writing and recording and getting back into the entertainment and music world a bit to inspire myself and get back into that mode of touring and music.”
Nick Carter on the responsibility to act he feels amid the pandemic
“I’m definitely inspired – the inspiration really comes from our amazing fans who are patiently waiting to be entertained. Not just our fans, but everyone in the world yearns to go out and be entertained and listen to music and their to forget the shit of the world. It’s our job and my responsibility, not only as a solo artist, but also as a [a member of] the Backstreet Boys. I look forward to that time when we get back on stage and we just help people have fun. I’m so excited about it.”
Nick Carter Explains Why You Should Watch The Backstreet Boys’ ‘DNA World Tour’ In 2022 Even If You Saw A Show The First Time
“The show we had was so big – it was this huge production. … We were in the middle of the tour [when the pandemic kicked off]. We had already made a short trip to the United States. Now some time has kind of passed. I think people might not remember the show – or maybe they’ll want to come back and see it again! I hope it will be like a great movie that you really like and want to see again. We believe it was our best show to date. So we’re just going to use the same show, plug in some new stuff and then be the Backstreet Boys and go out and dance and sing and entertain. »
Nick Carter explains why he has mixed feelings about his kids joining him on the road for the upcoming Backstreet Boys tour
“If you think about the country world, they always bring their family with them. I was the last [member of the Backstreet Boys] really have children. I saw the guys take their families on the road. In the US, it’s easy to go on tour because you have buses, and it’s basically like a barbecue — you take the crib out and camp a bit and play at the same time. The children all mix. The other guys’ families are hanging out. It’s just a really big group of lovers. I saw how they did it. There are obviously challenges because what is most important to me is making sure my children go to school. Now that they have a routine, it’s important that they stay in that routine. So I don’t necessarily know what we’re going to do. If they have free time and it’s summer vacation, they can easily hop on a plane and go out and get on the bus with me. …You can have your cake and eat it too [with homeschooling], but it’s not really about me — it’s about what’s best for my children. … I really think I’m going to get a little homesick because I literally live for my kids and my family. But I ain’t been through what the other guys have been through [in terms of bringing the kids on the road].”
Nick Carter on sharing his passion for music with his eldest daughter, Saoirse
“It’s crazy because my daughter Saoirse, I think she has the musical bone in her. In the morning she wakes up and sings – she sings in her crib before I wake her up. I know the second where she sees me on stage and sees me performing, she’ll probably get jealous of the girls. I’ll probably get emotional and cry.
Nick Carter explains how he lost nearly 20 pounds preparing for the upcoming Backstreet Boys tour without sacrificing time at home with his kids
“I have 42 years old. … [The goals are] be healthy and stay active. I did intermittent fasting – I love it. I do six [hours of eating and] 18 [hours of fasting], and it helps me rejuvenate and maintain my energy. I definitely keep myself inspired when it comes to different workout routines. I do MMA [training] here in Las Vegas. I am going to [Randy Couture’s gym] Extreme Couture. I go to this place called Fit Club here. I mix. And Liteboxer is something I was able to add to make it even more fun. So if I’m home taking care of the kids, I can just hop in the garage for 20 or 30 minutes and burn some calories. I also like hiking. It’s difficult when you’re a parent of three children – or in any capacity as a parent – not knowing how to take time for yourself because you’re afraid of missing out. … [I rely on] a mixture of all these things [to stay healthy] — a little time for yourself but also without forgetting that you have to be there for your children. …I just weighed myself today and I’m 205 pounds. At the height of the pandemic, I weighed 223 pounds. On the road, when I’m dancing and performing, I’m around 200, so I’m very close – almost hitting what I like to call my “fighting weight.” “
Nick Carter at the Backstreet Boys 30th Anniversary in April 2023
“It’s absolutely crazy to think about it. You think, like, how do you transcend generations? How do you go decade after decade after decade and transcend yourself? It’s not easy. You have to find a way to connect with the new music and then keep nostalgic for the old music as well. All I can say is thank God that we’re still here and still able to do what we do. I’m so thankful for that , and I never take it for granted. … The truth is that when we’re on stage and I look at someone’s face there that connects with a song or a performance they loved when they were older young or in his teens – and now he’s coming to us to give him that experience again and give them that nostalgia – it’s such a wonderful feeling…. The fans inspire me to do this – knowing that those fans love our music. There is a special place in s our hearts for them. We recognize and understand the responsibility that we must carry on because we are entertainers: it is our job to entertain.”