Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo are spotted arriving to Miami International airport. Vanessa pulls her adorable dog out a Gucci dog carrier so she can walk him.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Nick and Vanessa in Miami
Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo are spotted arriving to Miami International airport. Vanessa pulls her adorable dog out a Gucci dog carrier so she can walk him.
Nineties Nostalgia Continues: Jeff Timmons from 98 Degrees
Posted on 11 November 2009
By Staff Writer: Tamar Kuyumjian
If there were anyone who ever cared solely about the music, it would be Jeff Timmons, former member of 98 Degrees. To prove it, he is giving out his new solo album completely free. Not yet titled and coming out near Christmas, it is sure to be a pleasure for any R&B or pop fans.
In coming months, this attractive should-be-model-turned-musician is hoping to get a college tour together. Don’t worry, I slyly plugged for a show at USF.
In an interview with him, I got a look into what it was like being in a hot boy band in the peak of boy band mania and what to expect from him as a solo artist.
San Francisco Foghorn: What is your fondest memory on stage with 98?
Jeff Timmons: Well we were around for a pretty long time, so there are a lot to choose from. But some of the highlights were performing for Michael Jackson (at the 30th Anniversary Celebration) and on The Tonight Show with Stevie Wonder.
SFF: The music video “Because of You” was filmed in San Francisco and partly on top of the Golden Gate Bridge. What is your favorite memory of San Francisco?
JT: Being on the bridge was definitely scary, a heck of a memory though. Before I was in 98, I used to drop the hat and sing for cash with my Ohio boys at the Wharf and Pier 39. We weren’t doing it for the money, just for the fun of singing some songs. Then people genuinely began liking the music and would invite us to play at different places around the city.
SFF: Looking back on yourselves now, were there any fashion trend choices you wish had never happened?
JT: How about the entire time we were out? I mean we had some pretty crazy outfits: silver suits, overalls without shirts. In 98, we were all jeans and T-shirt kind of guys so we didn’t trust our own wardrobe judgments. I blame it on the stylists.
SFF: If you could relive any moment from the 98 days, what would it be?
JT: When we went multiplatinum, and the Teen Choice Awards, that was pretty great. But there was a girl who was sick and with Make A Wish Foundation. Her wish was to hang with us at the Teen Choice Awards. A real friendship with her grew out of it and we both benefited. We were able to add excitement to her life, and she lived much longer than her doctors expected. That’s the thing about music; it transcends language, culture, race, and any other situation a person is in. Her being there made everything worth it.
SFF: What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you?
JT: There are so many to choose from. Once in Philadelphia, we were playing a show on an outdoor stage in late fall and I completely slipped on the ice and fell a foot off the stage. Or another time, I was sitting in front of Jerry Rice, who I am a huge fan of. The guys were telling me to calm down and be cool. But I turned around anyway and took a step forward and fell into the hole between the risers. That was embarrassing and no one would let me hide behind them.
SFF: What have you been doing since 98?
JT: Mostly I’ve been working on my own music: writing songs, producing, mixing. I’ve gotten a lot more involved with every aspect of producing music than I ever was in 98. It’s great because now I have control over the songs I want to sing and not worry or think about what other people want to hear. I also wrote some comedy scripts about the music industry and there is a possibility that it will become a TV show.
SFF: What can you tell me about your new album?
JT: It’s full of R&B, pop, and dance tracks. But more importantly, it’s completely free on my website, the whole album. I know that major labels are struggling, so I figure if I get the music out for free and build a strong fan base, it will re-energize excitement for music a little. It’s the ultimate risk, but I feel really good about it. From there, I’m hoping to do some college tours. I want to give back to the fans what they’ve given to me.
SFF: What inspired the album? Are there any boy band influences in it?
JT: The album doesn’t sound like the group. But there are strong Prince, Brian McKnight, and Michael Jackson vibes on it. I’m not trying to sound like them; it’s more of a dedication. With this album, I grew more confident in myself.
SFF: How is it different working by yourself? Do you miss the group?
JT: The people part, yes, but not the creative part. I miss the camaraderie of having them around, but working with a major label in a group is hard because you have to tailor each song to 4 guys. Often the important parts get left out because it won’t sell. I have much more creative control now.
SFF: A message to your fans?
JT: Thank you for your support in the past. It has enabled me to live the dream life. I hope you enjoy the combination of songs.
Jeff Timmons Former 98 Degrees Superstar TODAY
Jeff Timmons began what was originally a low-key solo career after a phenomenal run with the “boy band” 98 Degrees. He was the founding member of the group, and they produced multi-platinum records (11 Million sold), 8 top ten singles, and a Grammy nomination. He then released his first solo album, Whisper That Way; the album that gave him Top 20 hits on both the Billboard and Radio & Records charts, while having the lead-off single with the same title as the most added single at radio every week leading up to its peak position. The album also produced 3 more chart-topping singles worldwide.
While writing and producing his much awaited second Album, Jeff is also set to launch a new, massive multi-media distribution company called iamMedia. iamMedia will utilize traditional ways of promotion and distribution, and various non-traditional methods to bring brand awareness not only to his album, but a myriad of other artists, genres of music and other mediums of entertainment. Jeff is set to release his new album to everyone completely free between Christmas and New Year's Eve.
Anyone who registers at www.jefftimmons.com can receive the entire album!
CD: In 2006 you participated in Vh1’s reality show ‘Man Band’ where you were grouped with 3 other former boy band members from NSYNC, LFO, and Color Me Badd, to form a new band called ‘Sureshot’. What became of ‘Sureshot’? JT: Not much. We all sort of did the show for our own selfish reasons. We all have our own projects, and I don't think any of us ever intended on being a group. The songs we did together were pretty kick-ass, though.
CD: You have a new album, “Emotional High” slated to release in Dec/Jan 2010; tell us a little about this album and the single entitled “Emotional High”?
JT: Yes. When 98 Degrees was first signed to Motown we lived in NY. I had a girlfriend that I was head-over-heels in love with. We broke up just before the group hit, and I never saw her again. 10 years later, I got to see her again in NY. We both have our own lives now, kids, careers, etc, but the feelings will always be there. The experience inspired the song. We are good friends now, but after reuniting we were always talking on the phone to each other. She said "My God, You're like a drug!" I told her I was going to write a song about that, and did. She's a good friend to have, and while there may never be anything more, I still have strong feelings for her.
CD: Being a solo artist and having full creative control, what have you done differently in producing and promoting this album versus what you learned in the past?
JT: Well, I know more about the business for one. More importantly, I'm comfortable creating all of the music from the ground up if I have to. I engineer, write, produce, and sing everything myself. I know what I want to sound like now as a solo artist. When I first went solo, I was trying to be 98 Degrees by myself. Now, my buddies and I get in the studio and just jam. Up-tempo, ballads, club joints, whatever. We just do whatever we feel... and that's what music is about.
CD: Your entire album will be available to fans as a free download, all they have to do is register on your website; why free?
JT: I think it is the way of the future. Artists will have to use their music as a commercial for themselves, and figure out how to monetize it through sponsorships, touring, merchandise, whatever. I haven't had a song out with 98 Degrees in 8 or 9 years. People are not familiar with me as a solo artist. I can't expect folks to shell out 10 or 15 dollars for a CD. My goal is to get 1 million people signed up at my website for the free album. I'm about halfway there. I hope to re-energize the existing fanbase and excite people and gain new fans along the way.
CD: For others with the same passion for music and dreams of being signed by a major label, what’s the best way to get noticed?
JT: Be confident and believe in yourself. There will be a million people that will tell you you can't do it, but it only takes one yes to make your dream come true. Sing or play for anyone and everyone you can. Always have your music ready. Most importantly, stay humble and thank God or the universe in advance for your success. Always work hard and treat everyone you meet with tremendous respect no matter who they are.
CD: And now for my one useless question, the “98 Degrees Board Game”, do you have one?
JT: My mother has one in the box with the wrapper still on it. When my daughter was two, she played mine and threw all of the pieces all over the place. It was a silly game anyway. Kind of like the music business.
Off-stage and outside the studio, Jeff is an advocate for a variety of charities and foundations, especially those benefiting children. He works closely with organizations like the St. Jude Children's Hospital and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatrics Aids Foundation. Jeff, thank you for taking time to talk to us.
Register here to receive your free copy of Jeff Timmons new album 'Emotional High'
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Nick Lachey to Host New Singing Competition Show
Nick Lachey
Larry Busacca/WireImage
Hosted by Nick Lachey, the four-night NBC series premiering Dec. 14 features eight singing groups vying for an Epic Records/Sony Recording contract, and the only instruments allowed will be their own voices.
"There is nowhere to hide when you're doing an a cappella song," Lachey, the former member of 98 Degrees (and, he reveals, a barbershop quartet before that), tells PEOPLE. "There’s no band behind you and dubbing. It's just you. It’s just them naked on stage and what they have done to prepare is what will show through in that moment." – Jennifer Garcia and Mike Fleeman
Friday, November 20, 2009
Former 98 Degrees Member releases Solo Album online
SOURCE
By Jessica Bakeman
Free tunes for fanhood? That’s a trade Jeff Timmons, former founding member of the boy band 98 Degrees, is willing to make.
Timmons is releasing his 2009 album, a second solo project, to fans as a free online download — with hopes that they’ll tell their friends.
“Emotional High,” for which final tracks are still being chosen, will be released online between Christmas and New Year’s, an attempt to lure in listeners who have nothing to lose, Timmons said. To gain access to the album, fans simply need to fill out a survey on at www.jefftimmons.com, and will receive a code for downloading.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve had anything out,” Timmons said. “I don’t expect people to know what my sound is. I’m not expecting people to spend 10 or 15 bucks on a record if they don’t know what the songs are like.”
He said the future of the music industry will depend on artists being able to market themselves.
“You’re going to use your music as a commercial for yourself as an artist. It’s up to you to figure out how you’re going to get paid for that,” he said. “If I get a million people (to download my album), that’s a million more people that are aware of my product.”
Timmons plans to use this free model, ironically, to make money. For example, he might hold a concert where tickets are free. He would then seek out a sponsor to pay him for the performance. With a guarantee of a large crowd who will want to take advantage of free entertainment, that sponsor will get its money’s worth in exposure.
“I can guarantee that 10,000 people will be there because I’m giving all the tickets away, so now sponsors base sponsorship dollars” on those consumers, he said.
The music on the album, including the title track, “Emotional High,” and the edgy (for a former boy band member) “Sexy Mama,” echo the 98 Degrees style lyrically, exploring relationships and love. There are a few ballads, but the biggest difference in Timmons’ album and his boy-band past is the tempo.
“The radio is tempo-driven,” he said. “It’s very hard to get ballads on the radio today.”
He is excited about the new release.
“It’s kind of contemporary sound,” he said. “It’s definitely a sound that’s familiar on the radio. All of the 98 Degrees fans will be reenergized by the album.”
One of Timmons’ production partners on the album, Matt Fechter, shares musical history with him that predates 98 Degrees.
Friends from high school and then at Kent State where they both attended college, the two were in a boy band whose name changed often, from 501 Blues to Four Tools in a Box, finally settling on the title, Just Us. Timmons remembers his main motivations back then: “We were trying to impress girls in college,” he said with a laugh. “We thought we were really cool, but we weren’t.”
The group went to California from Ohio to make it big, and got pretty close. Just before signing, Timmons’ buddies backed out, unable to make the commitment.
Fechter reflects on that experience: “We were at it for a about a year and being young and naïve, three of the members decided to go home for the Thanksgiving holiday,” he said. “And once we got home, we got a little bit homesick and unfortunately, we decided we didn’t want to pursue it, even though we were getting that close. I think we were just a little immature and didn’t realize how close we were to making it.”
After that setback, Timmons put ads in industry publications looking for new band members, and the rest of the final band, 98 Degrees, joined him. They were signed not long after.
Fechter was brought on as a songwriting partner and one of Fechter’s songs ended up on 98 Degrees’ Christmas album, “This Christmas,” released in 1999.
Fechter also shared in the success of a couple of top-10 hits overseas from Timmons’ first solo project, “Whisper That Way,” released in 2004.
“Whisper That Way” addressed more serious material than the new album, as Timmons said he was going through a difficult period emotionally.
“I was having a tough time personally. I was married and going through a divorce and had kids I was fighting for,” he said. “My career had slowed down; that genre of music we were considered — a boy band — was a blessing and a curse. It has been considered ‘trendy’ music and a lot of people didn’t think we could sing live or that we produced our own music.”
“Emotional High” represents the fun side of Timmons, which he said reflects where he is in his life now.
“I like to have fun, probably too much, and I don’t take a whole lot seriously besides my kids,” he said.
Having worked with Timmons on the production and some background harmonies, Fechter said listeners can expect a mix of Timmons’ familiar ballads and a new, exciting sound.
“There’s definitely a lot of R-’n’-B-influenced uptempos, mid-tempos and, of course, there are still a few ballads on there, too,” he said.
An avid producer and businessman, Timmons’ solo project is not the only endeavor he has in the works. After nailing down the contracts with a few suppliers, Timmons is set to introduce iamMedia, a music distribution company he started working on five years ago.
“The main reason the music industry, the paradigm, is failing is because there are not as many places to get CDs,” he said. “It’s not because of downloading, it’s because (CDs are) not that available; there aren’t many outlets to purchase CDs.”
Similar to the Starbucks model, where CDs are sold by the register to entice consumers into making an impulse purchase, Timmons’ company would put CDs in grocery and convenient stores, shopping malls and truck stops — “high traffic stores.”
“Put them at the check out line where they’re impulsive, (and customers will) buy them on the way out. There are lots of ways to make money on it,” he said.
The displays would include screens with multimedia, showing an artists’ video, and providing the opportunity to buy not only CDs, but ringtones, and other multimedia products.
Timmons said he is currently in talks with convenient stores like Dollar General, CVS and Walgreens.
“Once we get all the content providers in place we’re going to launch,” he said.
Timmons is also lending his talent to other artists. An up-and-coming R ’n’ B artist, Rhapsody speaks highly of the work he has done for her.
“I think he’s pretty rare,” she said. “He just works… he’s a workaholic.”
Former manager and on-air radio personality Chad Zimmerman — who goes by Chad Taylor in his radio work in Iowa — agrees that Timmons’ commitment to his work and fans is relentless.
“I’ve never met anyone more passionate or driven about the music business than Jeff is, and that’s a sincere answer,” he said. “This is a man who works tirelessly in the studio, but he also takes time to talk to his fans on the social networking sites.”
When fans request autographs after a show, Zimmerman said, “he would wait and sign the last autograph.”
Timmons is hoping to reach both former fans as well as a new demographic with his release, and sees college students as a major target demographic. As many of the 98-Degrees fans were in their pre-teens, that group is now in the college age group.
“I definitely want to tap into that younger fan base, but I don’t want to alienate anybody or target anyone specifically,” he said. “College kids are great and they spread the word. With technology, it’s a loyal fan base.”
As for the cursed blessing of his boy-band association, Timmons hopes it will help him gain exposure for his new album, perhaps through former fans who may now be in positions of power at magazines or other entertainment news outlets. He hopes they might want to support his comeback.
Timmons is leaning on his past success to give him a shot at listener’s attention.
“You’re never gonna get away from it. There was a time when we were on TV every day for like three years. It’s not a bad thing … to be connected to a successful genre of music,” he said. “I’m not crying about it.”
Photo credit: Jenn Hoffman Photography
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Jeff Timmons will be performing at the Blue Martini
Start Time: Wednesday, December 2, 2009 at 8:00pm
End Time: Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 2:00am
Location: 4200 Conroy Rd, Orlando, Florida
Hi! Come join me for a night of performances and partying at the Blue Martini in Orlando on December 2.
There will be a special meet and greet and show for VIP's, and a second performance for the entire place.
This is really my first show launching my "free" music to support a new project that I'm very proud of. I would love to share the experience with as many as possible.
See you there!
11/10 2 Deep Zone with Nick Lachey and Andrew Hawkins: Thoughts and Suggestions?
This week’s show discussed the Bengal’s season up to this point and their upcoming game with the Pittsburg Steelers, the Nationally ranked Cincinnati Bearcats football team, and had special guests Nick Lachey and Artrell’s brother, Andrew Hawkins. Now that you have heard what the guys in the studio have to say about the latest football talk, what do you as a listener have to say? What questions do you have for the guys? Who would you like to hear from on the show? Any topics are up for discussion and Artrell and the guys would like to hear what you have to say!
Thanks to Leslie at Nickfanatic for this
• Nick Lachey phoned into 2 Deep Zone yesterday along with interviewer Artrell Hawkin's brother Andrew discussing the Bengals & Bearcats seasons.Listen to the podcast @ Artrellhawkins.com. (Just click on the link '11/10/09' just above the video clips on the right side. Nick is on between 21 mins and 31 mins.)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
