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The duo's first project is the soundtrack for the indie film "Olive Juice", which
stars Leighanne.
"I personally think that the CD rocks," Leighanne says before leaving for Las
Vegas for a Backstreet show. "I think that it's a little better than the film
because we have so many different kinds of music and all the music we put on
there is really good."
The soundtrack, which features music by the
Backstreet Boys, a theme song penned by Brian
and J. Michael, and several tunes by
up-and-comers, is the first of many projects the
couple hopes to collaborate on in their new
company.
Although Leighanne says they've received "tons" of
demos from wannabe music stars, both she and her
husband insist they'll take their time in developing
and nurturing new artists. Brian and his band-mates
have been stung by money-hungry pop svengalis in
the past, something he swears he'll never do.
"... because I've been an artist for so long, I know how artists feel," Brian says
from his tour bus. "The only reason we created the record company was to
create a good working environment for all people, for artists to come in and
feel cared for and feel loved and feel respected. [The Backstreet Boys] have
been through a lot of tough times in our career. Everybody knows that, and we
just want to create a record company that people will love to work for."
For Leighanne (who manages to come off sounding unbelievably sweet but
sincere and intelligent at the same time -- sorry, jealous BSB fans), the thought
of nasty things being said about BriLeigh productions sounds like it would be
her absolute worst nightmare.
"We want to start off pretty slow, one or two artists in first year," she says, "...
just give the artists our full attention, to do it right, have a great reputation. We
really care about how our company is perceived by the public and by the
artists."
But creating a warm and fuzzy working environment is more than just some
abstract plan that Backstreet's sentimental crooner and his wife daydream
about. Brian actually has definite ideas about what he does and doesn't want
to put his artists through.
"Record companies can be very stingy in a manner where, when they sign you
to an agreement, they don't allow you to work with certain people," he says.
"They have to give all the okays and they have to make all the final decisions,
and that's frustrating to me because we've wanted to work with many different
people, the Backstreet Boys ourselves. We've recorded a duet with Lionel
Richie, a duet with Elton John, and a lot of people don't even know these things
because we can't publicize them in a manner where our record company will
allow us to. I would want my artists to be able to work with whoever they felt that
they wanted to work with that they had the chance to. We're not looking to
make a beaucoup amount of money, we're just lookin' to help other artists be
successful and enjoy what they do."
Brian and Leighanne don't really need "beaucoup" amounts of money anyway
because, after all, he is a Backstreet Boy. After spending eight-and-a-half
years touring, promoting, and recording as a BSB star, Brian has come to a
point in his life where he can take short breaks without worrying about slipping
off the music radar or whether he's going to be able to pay the rent.
"It's been like six or seven straight years of working
very hard to get where we're [the Backstreet Boys]
to the point now [where] we can work for quite a
while and then have some time off at home," he
says.
Leighanne, who says Brian was a bit too busy with
Backstreet to do as much with the "Olive Juice"
soundtrack as he would have liked, acknowledges
that life as a Backstreet wife can be tough. They're
both on the move a lot, and if she's not shooting a
movie, she's on tour with him.
"We've basically been touring since we've met," she
says. "And he's been on tour since our honeymoon."
Now that Brian can afford to take breaks, the two can solidify their relationship
outside of the touring world, and their production company is giving them the
opportunity to work together creatively.
"It's fun because we know each other so well and we know what each other
thinks," says Brian. "Sometimes we'll butt heads or disagree about certain
things, but if I ever have any questions, I obviously don't hesitate at all or feel
intimidated about my relationship with my wife, as opposed to our business
relationships.
"We strive for the same things in life, and we have the same goals through our
companies and individually as well, about having a family someday and moving
forward with our lives in all different aspects."
Not everything is sappy and sweet for Brian and
Leighanne. Being in the spotlight means more
people notice you. Not all those people will be
absolutely stable. Last year, the couple's dogs were
kidnapped (but eventually found safely), and
recently they've been slightly shaken by an
overzealous fan.
"We had a stalker in Atlanta," says Leighanne, "and
now we're going to change our whole security, our
fences and our cameras ... she's 40 years old, a
mother. She came on our property like four or five
times. We had to call the police."
Like Backstreet star Nick Carter's ex-girlfriend Willa Ford, they've also been
targeted by mean-spirited websites.
"There was this horrible thing going around with this hate fan club of the
Backstreet Boys and saying that they want to kill them and kill their wives and
stuff like that," she says. "That was over the Internet."
Before Backstreet fans reading this interview start thinking the group doesn't
realize they have loyal, stable fans too, Leighanne quickly says that most of the
reaction she and Brian have received as a couple has been positive.
"We have some really great fans," she says. "They gave us incredible wedding
presents, really thoughtful, like quilts and afghans."
The Littrells hope that BriLeigh projects will meet with the approval of their
thoughtful fans. In addition to the music side of their company, the couple also
hopes to develop films and TV programs. Brian says he wouldn't mind working
on a romantic comedy, which is the couple's favourite type of film, "things that
are light-hearted, things that are family-oriented", he says.
Leighanne, meanwhile, admits that she'd love to have the opportunity to play a
villain. "I think I could do a villain pretty easily," she laughs.
And although he does have a brief cameo in "Olive Juice", don't expect Brian to
pull a Lance Bass and turn up in a starring role in a BriLeigh production .
"It's really funny how anybody that acts wants to put a CD out and anybody who sings wants to be a movie star," he says. "I know I kind of stick with the things I would consider myself good at and that's the music side, and I hope people think that I have a little bit of talent in that. A lot of times you open yourself up to criticism that you really don't need."
Brian thinks he'll probably leave the acting to Leighanne and maybe score soundtracks for BriLeigh films.
At this point, Brian's cell phone begins to cut out as the Backstreet tour bus crosses the desert on the way to Las Vegas. After the show and promo stops in New York, he and Leighanne will have a bit of time to talk about music, artists, and their plans for BriLeigh before he heads back out on tour in Japan.
Brian Thomas Littrell ~ The Golden Voiced Backstreet Boy
- Established Jan 1999 -
