a1: Shattering the boy band cliché

The hard part about being in a boy band is having to constantly grapple with the never-ending tirade from discerning music critics. The issue, of course, is substance. Like burgers, the boy bands have become ridiculed for providing a quick, meaty fix and an enticing sizzle, but hardly any nutritive value.

Blame it on MTV. In a medium where sound takes a backseat to the more overpowering kaleidoscopic assault, the question of substance often turns out to be futile. Who cares if you can’t carry a tune, as long as you look dapper and dandy?

Sadly, most boy bands have been considered as po-seurs – willing puppets aimed at raking in millions of dollars in royalties, live tours and nifty merchandising ploys for a handful of scheming record executives.

Fortunately, there are a few exceptions. Believe it or not, there are a few deserving boy bands out there who do more than flash their toothsome charms and spiffy outfits.

Count a1 as one of them. While their name sounds like a nifty tag for a hardware or convenience store, the UK-based group offers more than the proverbial nuts and bolts. For one, they write their own songs. Secondly, they play a variety of instruments, in the studio and during their live gigs – a feat that not many boy bands can equal.

Within six months after their debut, they shot up to number six in the UK charts with Be The First To Believe. After just a few months, they climbed a notch higher with Summertime Of Our Lives, and followed through with Everytime/Ready Or Not, Like A Rose, and, more recently, a remake of the ’80s A-Ha classic, Take On Me.

The following is a transcript of a phone interview with the group conducted at the Sony Music Phils. office a few weeks back. The quartet, composed of Paul Marazzi, 26; Mark Read, 22; Ben Adams, 19; and Christian Ingebrigtsen, 24, had just completed a regional tour and had been holed up in a swanky hotel for the informal chat.

a1 is now in Manila for a promotional tour.

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On the boy band syndrome:

Paul: "I don’t know how many other boy bands write their own songs."

Mark: "There will always be people who will judge us before they even listen. We understand that. We just concentrate on what we love doing and ignore the critics."

Ben: "Well, hopefully, we should be showing off our individual musical skills soon."

Christian: "We write our own songs and we also write for other artists. Most of us have had extensive musical training. If a critic writes us off as just another boy band, I’ll laugh at him because I know he’s wrong. I’d like people to say, "Oh, finally, here’s a boy band that can write and play their own stuff."

On their musical influences:

Paul: "When I was growing up, I used to like a lot of Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Rolling Stones, Prince and Red Hot Chili Peppers, Marilyn Manson, some old soul stuff and old rock."

Mark: "I like the Beatles, Elvis, Elton John, Billy Joel, Michael Jackson, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi and Marilyn Manson."

Christian: "Classical stuff: Edvard Grieg, Chopin, Beetho-ven, Mozart. I also like the Nordic composers, Garth Brooks and the Beatles."

On the origin of the band’s name:

Paul: "I have no idea. I just came in one day and the band was named. We all had ideas and they weren’t all very good, and the manager said, "Let’s call it al! Do you like it?" and we said, "OK, never mind what we call it. Let’s just get it out and do something, you know."

On bizarre fan encounters:

Paul: "I’m not really the heartthrob of the group, so I don’t get that many fans. No stalkers. I get some poems and pictures. People appreciate me for being a funny guy. Some send me jokes."

Mark: "In Japan, they gave us really unusual gifts, like massage kits, acupuncture needles. They care for our health, I think (laughs)."

Ben: "Sometimes, the fans would sneak into our hotel rooms. At times, they’d rip out your hair. A few send letters, notes and text messages over the phone."

On their new album, A-List:

Paul: "The first album was very pop. Not much money to produce it. Mostly British producers were involved. The past year, we grew up as songwriters and were able to collaborate with people who’ve worked with George Michael and ’N Sync."

Mark: "We’ve grown up a bit. Now, we can get away with slightly more mature melodies and throw in more Celtic, Scottish and French influences."

Ben: "A lot of the studio work was done in the US We’ve worked with people who worked with Mariah Carey, the Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears and Michael Jackson."

Christian: "It’s very important not to move away from your audience too much. Our main love is pop – good, melodic music. We might change with time, but we do it subtly."

On their instrumental virtuosity:

Paul: "I don’t play. I just compose stuff in my head."

Mark: "I play piano."

Ben: "I play piano, violin and oboe.

Christian: "I can play piano, guitar, some flute and violin."

On collaborating with other artists:

Mark: "It’s likely that we will all be keen in exploring those avenues."

Ben: "I’d love to work with Destiny’s Child, Michael Jackson and Tracy Chapman, because they’re all special to me."

Christian: "We’re already doing that. I would love to work with Garth Brooks, though. He’s the biggest-selling solo artist of all time. He’s outsold Elvis and Michael Jackson in the US. He’s huge, so if I get to work with him, I’d be very rich! (laughs) Just kidding. I really like that kind of music, you know, pop with a little bit of twangy guitar."