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How does performing solo compare to doing a big arena show with the Backstreet Boys? 

I enjoy it. I have a four-piece band and I play guitar. There are some things that are similar but for the most part, it’s like a pop-rock show. It allows me to get close with the fans and get personal with them, instead of having them see from the nosebleed sections. I’m fortunate to be able to play venues that size, but I can touch their hands and stuff. I’d rather go see a band in a smaller venue, anyway.

Doesn’t it shrink the production value? 

We definitely pushed it to the limit with the solo tour. I felt that it was important to put costumes in it, give it a theme. It’s a spacey-type theme. Me and my band are arriving from outer space and then kind of take off. I come out with a space helmet and space suit. It’s really cool. Everything has come from my mind. It had to be entertaining. The last time I did a solo record, I just got up in front of a mic and sang. It was boring.

Is it easier to record solo or to do an album with the group?

The process was definitely more work, and I gave it a lot more time. There was a lot of stuff happening with NKOTBSB but I’d already made the decision to move forward with the solo album, so there was some pressure. In the long run it paid off because I was able to do both and people saw that. My record was finished before we even started rehearsing.

Is your solo sound different from what people expect?

It was important for me to stay true to who I am—I couldn’t go out there and try to be a country artist or do Slipknot music. It doesn’t alienate fans, or make people look away and cringe. There is dance music, and there’s a little bit of rock influence, but not enough to make it distasteful.

How does someone who’s had such a lengthy career get new fans and keep it fresh?

It’s complicated. People know you in a certain way and it’s hard to change their minds. People are set in their ways and they like what they like. I’m always growing and changing and trying new things, and developing into an entirely different person than I was a couple years ago. You have to do everything you can to get in their faces and remind people. You have to be creative and willing to change.

What are some of the creative things you’ve done to spread the word?

YouTube is really cool. I direct my own videos and I’m been able to get a big following. People see the creative side of me. There’s so many different ways. I was just on Dr. Phil talking about all the things I’ve gone through in my life. I got to give some advice and share some experiences, and I got to perform.

Are you performing any BSB classics on tour?

Oh yeah, you’ve got to take care of the fans. We do “I Want It That Way” and four or five others. We do a rendition of “Larger Than Life” mixed with Kool and the Gang’s “Fresh.” The Backstreet Boys songs are classics, but I gave them a new twist. The audience is satisfied.

What was it like performing at Fenway Park?

It was surreal. You’re walking around and it’s just massive and crazy. Sharing it with the New Kids was the best part. You could see on their faces how happy they were.