Interview: The Wanted

With a string of number one hits to their name 'The Wanted' are fast becoming one of the biggest boy bands in the world.

Heeding from the UK, Silva, Nathan, Max, Tom and Jay touched down in godzone this weekend and Chris Henry was lucky enough to get a bit of time with Nathan and Jay before their secret invite only showcase in Auckland City.

Welcome to NZ Boys! Have you had any time to explore NZ since you have been here?

Jay: We have literally just arrived last night and today is our first day here but we have some time off tomorrow and we are all pretty excited about seeing a bit of it!

Nathan: A few of the boys are keen to try out bungy jumping but me and Tom are not keen to risk our lives, I think I would definitely have a heart attack on the way down!

What is your favourite memory of the bands journey so far?

Jay: I really can't choose just one, its been the most amazing journey it would seem wrong to single one out as more important than the others! Saying that, I can't go past a gig we did at Wembly Stadium in the UK in front of 80 thousand people! Was pretty incredible.

Nathan: My favourite day has had to the day of the Billboard Awards. People say that you can experience every emotion possible in one day and I did that and it was incredible. I was the most nervous I have ever been and then I met Stevie Wonder and then I cried by eyes out with the realisation that I had just met my lifetime hero! I went back into dressing room, and the boys were asking why I was crying and I was just like "I just met Stevie Wonder!"

What is your favoUrite song to perform?

Jay: I have favourites for lots of different reasons, I love 'Glad you Came' because it was our first big hit and and I love 'Warzone' when we play it back home. When everyones singing along it's just great fun!

How involved are you two in the songwriting process?

Nathan: We are totally involved in the songwriting process, I think on the upcoming album there are only a couple of tracks we haven't written which is really exciting. When you start as a boyband the label aren't sure if they can put their full trust in you so we said just let us go and write a song for you and see what you think. They did and the track ended up being the tile of our first UK tour (Battleground) and now they have let us do pretty much what we want.

Jay: We don't do the 'sit in a room and get 20% deal' a lot of bands do. The writers who have worked with us again and again have said the reason why they come back is we get in a room and actually talk about what the songs about, not get a track and here write a verse. We know exactly how much we do.

What did you want to be when you were you were little?

Nathan: I really wanted to be an explorer but I have realised quickly that everywhere has already been explored apart from of course space and the depth of the ocean! I still watch David Attenbrough though, the dreams not quite dead!

Jay: This sounds weird but I always wanted to be an old school crooner, a swing singer like Frank Sinatra playing in the corner of a bar, I thought that would be very cool!

You guys travel the world alot, Is anyone a bad traveLler?

Jay: Nathan is always at least 30 minutes late. you'll be waiting outside his house and call him and hes all like I'm 2 minutes and twenty minutes later he comes out!

What are you exited about this side of Christmas?

Nathan: Our next single! In my heart of hearts i know it will do well (touches wood). We changed things up when we did 'Glad your Came' and because we had done a bit of a rock vibe in the last tracks so when we went a bit dancey people loved it. This track coming up is a bit more more retro and we hope people like it, plus Nathan gets to go wild in the middle eight and its pretty cool!

What message would you like to give to your fans that look up to you?

Nathan: The title of role model is a scary one! I think some people think we party to hard but we are old enough to and never want to encourage our younger fans to do so. We love the fact that our fans are so commited to us because it means they aren't hanging in alley ways causing trouble. Our fans are amazing and the way they are about us is awesome but the way they respect other artists and fans is just amazing.

Jay: Where we came from I feel is great to show people that people can do anything. If you work hard you will get there, Jay was working in a restaurant, Tom at McDonalds and they got to where they wanted to be because they worked hard!

Finally, what's the best bit of advice you have been given?

Nathan: My dad said keep your head down and work hard!

Jay: My mum said no matter what you do, be yourself and don't change for anyone!

The Wanted's self titled album is in stores now.