Howie D Says Back To Me Represents Backstreet Boys 'Brand'

On his first solo album, Backstreet Boy Howie Dorough is making it all about him. After spending the better part of nearly two decades as a member of the Backstreet Boys, Howie D is declaring Back to Me on his album, out Tuesday (November 15). And he admitted he's feeling some butterflies about the release.

"It's really exciting," Howie told. "I can definitely say it's mixed emotions: It's nerve-racking, but at the same time, very exciting. I'm the fourth one coming out with my project now. ... I feel like the timing is right for me. I feel like I've put together a great body of work for this album."

It's a good time to be Howie D. He's riding the wave of boy-band nostalgia, having spent the past year working with BSB and New Kids on the Block, and he's ready to hit the road with Britney Spears later this month to open for her Femme Fatale Tour. This album, Dorough explained, has been a very long time coming.

"I started working on this record a little over five years ago. ... I really felt like I wanted to make sure it was the right record," he explained. "I didn't want to rush something out there. I believe that first impression can be last impression, and the last thing I wanted to do was have people be like, 'Oh, wow, he should be in that box.' "

After some tweaking, Dorough thinks he found just the right sound for Back to Me. "My record initially started off in a Latin direction 'cause I thought I wanted to do something totally different, but then over time, I kind of felt like I really didn't want to stray too far from who I really am and what people know of me as the Backstreet Boys," he said.

"I think there's something in that brand that we really have that's special that people really like. ... I love the music that I do with Backstreet Boys," he continued. "All I did with this record was that take staple sound and push the envelope a little bit. I went a little more on the uptempos, a little more on the dance Euro vibe, but definitely still have the signature sound with me, with my ballads and the kind of sultry sound that people say I have."

Howie D explained a bit more about tapping into his romantic side, while opening up the album to other sounds. "My voice definitely lends itself to a lot of the ballads," he said. "There's definitely another side of me that people are going to get the chance to see. I do love energetic, positive music. I love dance music. This whole wave that's going on, like for me, I love dance music that gets me energized."

Will you be checking out Howie D's new album? Tell us in the comments below!