by kellie abrahamson kabrahamson1@aol.com
WHAT: Aly & AJ with Drake Bell and Corbin Blu
WHERE: Times-Union Center
WHEN: Sunday, August 12 at 7:30 pm
If you don’t know who they are, either you have no children or your TV has been on the fritz. Either way, Alyson and Amanda Joy Michalka are two of the biggest names in tween and teen entertainment. Actresses, musicians, and, most recently, clothing designers, these talented teens are building an ever-growing empire and kids are responding in a big way, watching their films, buying their branded merchandise and picking up their albums. The latest of which, Insomniatic, debuted at number 15 on the Billboard 200 just last month. The songstresses, known as Aly & AJ in the music world, are currently on tour in support of the album with fellow singers/actors Drake Bell and Corbin Blu. The teen pop invasion rolls into Jacksonville this Sunday. EU caught up with Alyson “Aly” Michalka to talk about the new album, the tour, getting Punk’d and avoiding DUIs.
EU: How do you think Insomniatic differs from Into the Rush?
Aly Michalka: I think the content of the record is definitely more mature. I mean, AJ and I have grown up, we’re now 16 and 18, and we’ve gone through more things. We’ve experienced more stuff; we’ve been out on the road… We’ve become stronger songwriters as well as musicians and vocalists. Just knowing our range, I think that that’s definitely affected the record and [it is] just what we wanted. We wanted for it to be a step up, to progress, and I think we did that.
EU: How much of the music did you personally write?
AM: Every song. We wrote every single song and we had a huge hand in sitting with the musicians and listening to the production and all of that stuff was definitely very important to AJ and I. I mean, we were at the studio almost every single day for 5 months.
EU: Do you consider yourselves role models for kids?
AM: Yeah, for sure. I think that’s definitely a compliment. I know that AJ and I have younger fans as well as older fans and it’s nice that we’ve been able to grow up without growing out of our fan base. We’ve been able to take our younger fans with us as well expand and acquire new fans.
EU: So we won’t see you girls in and out of jail for DUIs in a few years?
AM: Oh, no. No it’s definitely not going to happen. It’s funny too because AJ and I are such homebodies that it would be very hard to fall into that. I mean, AJ and I have each other and our heads on straight. Thankfully we come from a good family and we have a good support team so it’s going to be, I think, a really good road for us because we’re just normal people that just happen to do music and like to entertain.
EU: You got Punk’d not too long ago.
AM: Yeah, that was so fun.
EU: And by your own sister!
AM: I know, right? It was terrible. I can’t even believe that I fell for it, too, because I know her so well. She didn’t break character once. I was so happy. I think it was the highlight of my life so far.
EU: Any plans on getting her back?
AM: No, I think we’re just going to end it at that because I think that she deserved to Punk me and she got me really good... I’ll get her again in some other way I’m sure!
EU: You’ve been on tour for a few weeks now. How’s it been going so far?
AM: It’s been so fun. We’ve had a great time. We’ve gone to really cool cities. We got to hang out and just chill and go shopping and get our nails done a little bit, but mainly it’s just us on the bus hanging and chilling with the band and eating Chinese food and pizza at the end of the night and watching scary movies. Its fun, I mean, we have a great time and everybody’s been really nice on the tour. We’ve had some amazing crowds, some great responses to the music.
EU: You ladies, Drake Bell and Corbin Blu are all musicians and actors. With so much in common I imagine you have a lot to talk about.
AM: Yeah, totally. And it’s cool because Corbin, he’s obviously on our same label… and he comes from doing a lot of stuff with Disney Channel and we can definitely relate to him. He’s got a really great family and he’s super nice. We really connected well with him especially.
EU: Your shows will probably be the first concert for a lot of kids, my own daughter included. What can they expect?
AM: It’s going to be a really good show. I mean lots of up-beat, rockin’ songs that you can definitely enjoy. I think that the lyrical content is really smart and clever. AJ and I are going to be playing a lot of different instruments; the keys, the bongo drums, and guitars. It’s very musical. You see the live show and you can just get the full picture of who we are as artists, so there’s a connection that you get walking away from the show, I believe.
Aly & AJ will perform at the Times-Union Center on Sunday, August 12 at 7:30 pm with special guests Drake Bell and Corbin Blu. Tickets are $35. For more information, call (904) 630-3900.
|
EU Critic’s Choice Awards
