Title: Carter Steps Toward Adulthood With "Another Earthquake"
Source: The Virginian-Pilot(Norfolk, Va.)
Source: DAILY BREAK, Pg. E1
Author: Ed Condran, The Virginian-Pilot
Date: August 23, 2002
Topic: 2002 Article/Interview
NICK CARTER'S warning was warranted. The mega-pop sensation's younger sibling is all that and a pack of Pokemon cards.
Aaron Carter is a multiplatinum monster. The 14-year-old is the youngest male solo artist to have four Top 40 singles. "I'm proud of the success I have," Carter said while calling from New York. "I've worked so hard for it."
Indeed. Much of Carter's childhood was sacrificed so that he could follow in the footsteps of his big brother. Carter first stepped on a stage at age 7. Even then it was evident that he possessed plenty of charisma.
"A lot of that is because I love what I'm doing," Carter said. "There is nothing else I would rather be doing. It was so cool that I've gotten nothing but a good response since I started this."
Carter's first album, "Aaron Carter," a 1998 disc full of bubble-gum pop, and the follow-up, 1999's well-produced "Surfin' USA," were embraced in America, Japan and Germany.
The soft-spoken, well-mannered Carter has expanded his fan base by opening for the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears.
"I learned a lot from whomever I shared a stage with," Carter said. "Everything I've experienced has helped me."
Before the release of Carter's third album, 2000's "Aaron's Party (Come Get It)," the young pinup became ubiquitous. You couldn't turn on Nickelodeon during 2000 without catching a glimpse of Carter's glamorous mug. A video collection was released and eaten up by adoring fans. Carter hadn't even hit puberty, but his biography, "Aaron Carter: The Little Prince of Pop," was published.
Perhaps the book was a bit premature?
"A lot had happened in my life," Carter said. "Fans are into that stuff."
Interest in Carter's burgeoning career hit a new plateau when his latest disc, "Oh Aaron," hit the bins in August 2001. This is the first Carter release to feature the junior superstar's broken voice. Carter's prior work was a little disturbing, since his Mouseketeer voice was delivering lyrics that were a bit too adult for a tyke. Fortunately the incongruity is a thing of the past.
"I'm getting there," Carter said. "I'm practically grown up. It's cool growing up before the world."
What often isn't so cool for child stars is that it's hard to stay successful as they roll into adulthood.
"I know that," Carter said. "I'm just going to work as hard as I can and see what happens. It's happened in music where kids were just as successful as grown-ups. I'm going to work to be one of those kids."
Carter is hoping his forthcoming album "Another Earthquake," due out Sept. 3, is another step toward adulthood. Expect Carter to preview much of the disc, which includes the breezy track "Summertime," Saturday at the Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater.
"I'm just trying to make better and better music," Carter said. "Every album should be better than the last."
Reach Ed Condran at AceBezerko(AT)aol.com
GRAPHIC: COLOR PHOTO; ANDREW MAC NAUGHTON; Aaron Carter, 14, is the youngest male solo artist to have four; Top 40 singles.
