Nick Jonas on Breaking Into The Industry and Collaborating With His Brothers
Last fall, Nick Jonas teamed up with Quaker Chewy in search of the next big superstar. Thousands of teens submitted videos, and Nick narrowed it down to four promising singers. From there, the country voted and Gabrielle Giguere, one lucky fourteen-year-old from Florida with a jazzy, soulful voice, took the prize.
And what a prize it was! Gabrielle was flown to Los Angeles, where she and Nick teamed up to record and a single with film a music video. We chatted with Nick about searching for the next big star, breaking into the music industry, and the possibility of recording music with his brothers again.
1/8The youngest JoBro spilled about starring on Broadway, mentoring young singers, and teaming up with Joe and Kevin.
Photo: Fairchild Archive2/8Hi Nick, what are you up to these days?
I'm getting ready for . I'm really excited about that. That's taken up my time—setting up my life here in New York City and preparing to move my whole world out here and do that show. So those are the main focuses, and continuing to write and produce for other people is always there, but the Broadway show is my priority.
Nick, left, with Joe and Kevin Jonas. Photo: Fairchild Archive3/8What's your advice for someone who wants to break into the music industry
Find things you're passionate about and find others who are as passionate as you are and will focus on giving you an opportunity to shine and to have your moment where you can be in front of others to show what you can do. At the end of the day, it's really about the passion and whether or not you're willing to give all that you have for something.
The thing about my brothers and I and our career—at the beginning, we were dropped by our first label and we had to make that decision whether we wanted to continue, whether or not our passion would drive us to that point. We were much more inspired, had a lot more to say, and thankfully we pressed on and have had an amazing journey since then. It's all about continuing to press on, finding your passions, and finding other people who are passionate as well.
Nick, center, with Joe and Kevin Jonas. Photo: Fairchild Archive4/8What's next for your music career?
I've been doing a lot of writing this past year, for other artists and some for myself. For the most part, my mentality is that a great song is a great song, whether or not it's something you hold on to for a little while or until the time is right to release it with my brothers or myself.
I'm definitely looking forward to the next Jonas Brothers project, and I believe that will come before anything I would do on my own. We've actually talked about it recently for the first time, and I'm really excited for the next chapter for us musically. It's obviously important that we continue to follow our goals and ambitions as individuals, but when the time is right, we'll start up and we're excited for that.
Photo: Fairchild Archive5/8Lately you've been writing for a lot of other artists. How is that different than writing your own music?
You write a lot for other artists; what's that like? In the earlier days of my songwriting career, I definitely felt like it was great to write about things that were going on in my life as my way of expressing myself. Realizing that our fans connected to what we were talking about was always incredible for us.
However, after having a lot of writing experience and having opportunities to work with artists and hearing what they have to say, it's definitely broadened my perspective when it comes to songwriting and how to craft a song for someone else. It doesn't have to be specific to something you're going through. Now I love taking a concept or a though or phrase and trying to make a song about it.
Photo: Fairchild Archive6/8Who do you look up to in the music industry?
I admire Paul McCartney, and have had the opportunity to meet him a few times. He's an incredible guy and an incredible musician and songwriter and performer. Stevie Wonder is also another one I'm thrilled to have met and spoken with and performed with, actually. Just another amazing person and such an incredible talent.
I love great music and have no real favorite genre or anything that I listen to exclusively. Great music is always on my iPod. Right now, I'm listening to the Adele record. I love that. And I know everybody is, but it's really great. NeedToBreathe—I love NeedToBreathe. I'm really digging Fleetwood Mac, I just think they're awesome. I met Mick Fleetwood in Hawaii on vacation earlier this year and he's... well, extremely tall.
Nick, right, with Joe and Kevin Jonas. Photo: Fairchild Archive7/8What's it like to be a mentor in the music industry at such a young age?
The one mentality I've always tried to have is that no matter what stage in your career that you are in as a musician or a performer or a songwriter or whatever, there's always more to learn. People that have been doing this for 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 years would say as long as you have an open mind, there's always more to learn.
I've learned some in my 10 year career now in both the theater world and recording music. I've been blessed to learn quite a bit and I plan to learn even more. Of what i have learned, I'm excited to share with someone who's just breaking into it now and wants to have a long career in music and wants to continue to grow himself.
Nick with Gabrielle Giguere, winner of Quaker Chewy Superstar Search.8/8What do think about the resurgence of boy bands?
I think Europe has never let it go; it's never been out of the spotlight there. America is taking on the European mentality. There's a band called The Wanted that I think is fantastic. I loved their music when i was over there in March or April this year, and I saw their videos and was like, "These guys are great." I'm all for them making a transition over there. As far as One Direction goes, and Mindless Behavior and all the other bands, I'm all for it and if there's ever an opportunity to work with them, that'd be great. At the end of the day, I love pop music and always have. There's something to be said about a great pop song. It's great to see that people are into it.
What's your favorite show right now?
I love television, but all of the shows that I love get canceled. I loved Heroes; it got canceled. I loved Flash Forward, and it got canceled. I loved this show seven or eight years ago called Jack and Bobby. I loved Jack and Bobby, it was so good, and then it got canceled. I try not to actually like TV shows anymore because it ruins it for everyone. Of the shows out right now, I'd say Modern Family is just awesome and it would be cool to be part of it in some way.
The end of the year is quickly approaching. What's your New Years' resolution?
I made a resolution in 2010 to stop drinking Diet Coke and I haven't had Diet Coke since then. I think it was the best life change I've ever made, because I drank quite a lot of it. As far as new resolutions go... I'm just going to stick with my Diet Coke.
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