Jesse McCartney: And, you know, I think that as far as the content too, lyrically there’s – they’re going to hear a lot of growth. So more then anything I think that the growth from Beautiful Soul to now is pretty evident.

Access All Areas.net.au: Did you prepare differently for this album, or do you have a consistent approach in the studio?
Jesse McCartney: I – you know what? It’s always different in the studio; you can never really prepare what it’s going to be like when you’re working with new writers and new producers. It was a little different this time because I was travelling a lot. I did a lot of the record in Atlanta and Georgia, I did some of it in L.A. some of it in New York, so I bounced around a lot, because the producers that I work – were working with were kind of celebrities in their own right. I mean, as far as – I mean, they were working with everybody else as well, so it was tough for me to kind – I was just kind of bouncing around the country. So that was a little bit different for me, I was used to always recording in one place.

Access All Areas.net.au: What do you think your fans are going to think about the songs on Departure compared to what they liked about your previous albums?
Jesse McCartney: I think that the fans are – there’s going to be a little bit of shock value for the fans, but in a good way. I think that, like I said, I think that the growth is going to shine through more then anything, as – as opposed to ‘What is he doing?’

Jesse McCartney: I think there – it’s going to take a second for it to settle, but I think that they’re all going to jump on board because its – its really tasteful, I think that the songs are really great, that they’re really well written, and I – you know, that – it’s a feel good record. It’s a pop record that’s going to move them. And, you know, certainly I wrote it for people that are my age, and it’s accessible for people my age.

Access All Areas.net.au: Was this album easier or more difficult to record then your previous albums?
Jesse McCartney: This record was actually – You know what? I definitely found myself – I pushed myself harder then I have on any other record. Vocally I made it a point to – to show maturity. I went back in and studied with my – my vocal coach for a couple of months, Seth Riggs, who’s an unbelievable – you know, he – he was Michael’s vocal coach, Ray Charles, I mean, he’s done everyone and anyone. And he’s an amazing guy. And he definitely, I found that after working with him for just a month my range improved, I got a few more notes out of – you know, out of me, and in both directions, my range was, you know, expanded. And because it’s so R&B it’s – there’s definitely a little bit more of the vocal acrobatics, so.

Access All Areas.net.au: Can you please take us through some of your favourite songs on Departure, and tell us what the songs are about.
Jesse McCartney: One of my favourite songs is, the song is track 7 on the album, it’s called ‘My Baby’, and I – it’s one of the first songs that I wrote two years ago when making this record. And it’s the only one that kind of stuck with us the whole time, and barrelled on through still, and was at that top as a favourite. It just never got old.

Jesse McCartney: I think that it’s a really big song as far as the production value and – and the – what you’re getting for your money. Like its, from the second you put it on, it’s a really catchy track, and the melodies are pretty infectious.

Access All Areas.net.au: When you go to perform the songs from your new album, do you see a whole new look on stage?
Jesse McCartney: As far as the live show, its something that I’ve been thinking long and hard about for the last month or so, and I definitely plan on putting a band together very soon. I do plan on making some changes, I want to have two keyboards players because there’s so many different parts now on the album that need to be played. I want people that are a little bit more R&B influenced, so – and then I – I’m definitely seeing dancers on the stage with me, probably four or five girl – you know, female dancers, behind me.

Jesse McCartney: So yeah, it’s definitely going to be a different show.

Access All Areas.net.au: Are you anxious to hear what people think about your new music?
Jesse McCartney: I’m very anxious to hear about what people think about this new record. I think that I’ve been, you know, in the studio for two years in my own little bubble, and now it’s kind of like ‘Wow, we’re ready to go.’

Jesse McCartney: So far I’ve gotten such a positive response from the single that I – I’m just so excited; because if they like the single, I think they’re really, really going to like the album in its entirety.

Access All Areas.net.au: Are there any songs on Departure that are a personal reflection? If so, which ones and what do they mean?
Jesse McCartney: A lot of these songs were – were autobiographical. I wrote this record at a time in my life where I started a new chapter. I, you know, I just got my own place, I live in L.A. on my own now, I – I’ve been single for about a year, which has made for great song writing, and you know, its definitely – Like for example there’s a song on the record called ‘Not Your Enemy’, which is a pretty big pop power ballad that’s the last song on the album that I think is really well written, and it’s kind of – it’s based off my perspective – perspective as an outsider looking into another relationship, and the male’s point of view. So yeah, I mean, I – a lot of my writing is just based on personal experience.

Access All Areas.net.au: Were there any songs you recorded that aren’t going to be included on the album? If so, which of those is your favourite, and why?
Jesse McCartney: Well I – there were many songs that were recorded. When I was finished I think I had a catalogue of 40, 40 or 50 songs, some unfinished, some completely finished. There was song that I wrote that ended up becoming a hit for another artists, Leona Louis, she recorded ‘Bleeding Love’, which is a song that I wrote initially for my record, and later realised that it probably wasn’t right for this album, that I also – I had a song that was in that vein already.

So she recorded it and made a big hit out of it, but yeah, I mean, I – there’s a bunch of songs that I miss. I feel like I have a lot of great losers. [laughs]

Access All Areas.net.au: Speaking specifically about your first single, ‘Leavin’, can you tell us about what the song means to you?
Jesse McCartney: ‘Leavin’ – You know, ‘Leavin’ is one – is the one song on the record that I can say is not about my life, or about – it’s – But when I heard it, I felt like my voice would sound really – it would just be in a perfect place for my voice.

Jesse McCartney: The key that its in, the range that its in, I love that it’s such a laid back track, it’s almost got a Caribbean style vibe to it, which as crazy as this industry is, I kind of pride myself in being pretty relaxed and laid back.

Jesse McCartney: And so the song, when I heard it, despite the fact that the demo singer nearly broke my eardrums, I thought that it would be really good way to also segue the old Jesse into the new Jesse.

Access All Areas.net.au: We understand that Tricky and The-Dream wrote the song ‘Leavin’ for you, and they had such a smash hit with Rihanna’s ‘Umbrella’, how did that song come to you, and what did you think when you first heard it?
Jesse McCartney: Yeah, I – you know, Tricky and The-Dream, they had monster of a year in 2007 with, you know, Rihanna, and you know, they wrote ‘Umbrella’ for Rihanna, they had J. Holiday’s ‘Bed’, they – they’ve done a lot of writing and producing, and they – they’re now working on Mary J’s new record.

Jesse McCartney: When I first heard it, I initially – because of the demo singer, I was really kind of taken – just wasn’t really taken by the song, like I wasn’t thrilled. And I just kind of lived it, and then started singing it myself, and I made them send me actually a track of the song without any vocal on it, just to see in my head what I could do with it. And after about a week I really started getting into it, and said ‘You know what, I really think I can do this.’ Shot down to Vegas, flew down to Vegas, recorded the song, and next thing we know its the first single for this new album.

Access All Areas.net.au: The video for ‘Leavin’ is very sexy, can you tell us a little bit about the filming of that.
Jesse McCartney: The video treatment was based off an idea that I had. I had one or two ideas, really big, or really intimate, and I’m happy we went really intimate. I worked with Sanji [Sedaka] *8:55 who is the king of shooting intimate. He directed also ‘She’s no You’ which is video he did on my first album.

Jesse McCartney: He – he shot a beautiful video. He used a lot of incredibly oblique camera angles, he – he does – he’s one of the few directors that still shoots himself, he’s the cinematographer, the DP, just as kind of often out and about, I don’t even know what he was doing there.

Jesse McCartney: He – the video, there’s a rawness to it, and there’s something so stripped down, no pun intended, but there’s something so stripped down about it that you’re kind of – you have no choice but to pay attention, there’s nothing to distract you from what’s going on. And the actress, [Nicky Huey] *9:37 who did an incredible job, she became a friend of mine, like we’re cool now, and I’m really happy with her performance as well.

Jesse McCartney: We saw over a hundred girls for this video, and we definitely found the right one.

Access All Areas.net.au: We understand that you wrote a few of the songs on this album, is the first time you’ve written on one of your albums?
Jesse McCartney: This isn’t my first time writing on – on any – on any my records. I wrote on my first and my second record, and its – its what keeps me going. Its one of the, you know, the bets parts is creating who you are.

Access All Areas.net.au: How do you approach the process of writing songs, and do you feel that being a song writer as well a performer separates you from some of your contemporaries?
Jesse McCartney: I do think that, you know, that there is a little bit more to say about people who write their own material I think as far as the industry goes. There’s a respect thing there that people acknowledge.

Jesse McCartney: And you know, [sighs] I think it does, it sets you apart in – in some ways. But you know, there’s some people that are just naturally gifted with one thing, or you know, and maybe its – and maybe it is their voice. You look at people like Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, and they can sing circles around probably anybody on the planet, and they don’t do a lot of writing, but they’re Grammy – you know, because of that one thing that they have, which is great.

Jesse McCartney: But yeah, every artist has a different thing going on, you know? Some artists are acrobats on stage, some artists sit behind a piano and don’t move, you know? And it’s all great.

Access All Areas.net.au: You co-wrote the song ‘Bleeding Love’ which became an international smash hit or Leona Louis, can you tell us about how that came about, if you have plans to record a version of the song yourself?
Jesse McCartney: I – I, you know, Leona Louis obviously she – she cut a song that I wrote with Ryan Tedder, ‘Bleeding Love’, and it did phenomenal things overseas, and now it’s here in the US and starting to top the charts. And I’m really happy for her.

Jesse McCartney: I’ve never met her actually, which is kind of funny, I’ve never gotten a chance to meet her. I’d love to do a duet with her actually, it’s something that I’ve been talking to some people about.

Jesse McCartney: But she – she killed it. She did this huge, huge pop diva-ish version of it, and I love it, I think it’s awesome. I do have a copy – a version of my own, because I cut it originally for my record. So there is a copy floating around somewhere of me singing it, so you guys will have to check it out.

Access All Areas.net.au: Tell us a little bit about some of the producers you worked with on Departure, and were there a lot of fun memories you took from making this album?
Jesse McCartney: Some of my – yeah. Some of the people that I worked with have become like life time friends after working with them on this album. Sean Garrett who is a obviously star-studded A-list writer/producer, has become like a big brother to me. I flew down to Atlanta to work with him, and he kind – he kind of mentored me, and talked me through the whole writing aspect, and the business aspect, ‘cause he – he’s pretty sharp when it comes to business. He’s a kind of a business guy, which I really respect and admire about him, and he’s an unbelievable – unbelievable song writer. He’s written like nine number one hits in the last three years. Really something to say about that guy.

Jesse McCartney: And then JR, who is just, he’s a real character. Really, really smart, a lot of people don’t know that the graduated from Berkeley School of Music with like a classical jazz degree, like really super gifted on the piano, just really attracted to R&B and urban music I guess, and he – and he’s great at it. And he has the tools to really create some amazing music, and just a nice – really nice guy.

Jesse McCartney: So I made a lot of great relationships on this record, and I, you know, they’ll be life time friends I’m sure.

Access All Areas.net.au: Which of your friend were you most nervous about playing your new album to, and what did they say after hearing it?
Jesse McCartney: You know, I was most nervous about playing my new record for my parents. [laughs] Simply because they’re kind of old school in the sense that they, you know, [sighs] they’re a sucker for just the big pop power ballads, you know, they like all the pretty stuff, which is great, you know, that’s all good. But it’s kind of hard to get an actual read, because it’s not the record for them, it’s the record for people of my contemporary.

Jesse McCartney: [laughs] But there’s still that kind of, like urge to please the – the mum and dad, like I still have it in the back of my head like ‘Man, they’re going to hate this track, but it’s so hot. But they’re going to hate it.’ And, you know, I kind of went back and forth with – with that emotion for a while, but they got over it pretty quickly, and they’re my parents so they’re going to love anything that I do really.

Access All Areas.net.au: Do you have a message or advice for you fans when they listen to your new album?
Jesse McCartney: Yeah, just turn it up really, really loud. The – my – my message for all the fans, is when you put on the record, press play and put it on volume 11, ‘cause it’s – it’s one of those records.

Access All Areas.net.au: Just a couple of questions about your national. What countries have been your favourite to visit?
Jesse McCartney: [sighs] Oh man, I love travelling, it’s my favourite part of this whole industry, and – and I’m kind of a sucker for the romantic countries like Italy and Spain and, you know, I love all of Europe really. But – but Asia has this just – I go over there and I – I’m kind of like, I feel like I’ve just stepped ten years into the future. Well specifically in Japan, I feel I’ve stepped ten years into the future, and I have no idea what’s going on, doors are sliding open out of nowhere, and I really love the Japanese cuisine, so I love – I love flying out there.

Jesse McCartney: Then Aus – a place like Australia, I can’t say that I have one favourite place, they’re – its – everything’s great.

Access All Areas.net.au: What country do the craziest Jesse McCartney fans come from?
Jesse McCartney: The Aussie fans are – are kind of crazy in a cool way. They’re all about having fun, they don’t care what time it is, it’s 11 am, lets get hammered, I love that about them. They – I shouldn’t have said that, that’s just ridiculous.

Jesse McCartney: I – I, you know, what, their support over there has been incredible, that when they show up to the concerts they are extremely enthusiastic and – you know, it’s different all over the world. In Japan everyone’s really quiet actually, and really respectful, and its their way of showing, you know, their love and support, but it’s a whole other dynamic over there.

Access All Areas.net.au: What does it feel like to be noticed when you’re thousands of miles away from home?
Jesse McCartney: You never get used to the feeling of being recognised by a stranger. I don’t really know how to describe the feeling, it’s – I’m sometimes a little socially awkward too, so don’t really know how to like get in there and react, but I’m getting better at it, I’m certainly getting better at it. But yeah, when you’re over in, you know, in Boon’s land, in some place you’ve never been, and someone’s like ‘Hey, good to see you,’ it’s pretty weird man. It’s cool though, I – you know, it’s a blessing that there’s, you know, supporters and fans out there all around the world.

Access All Areas.net.au: How are the fans from other countries different from your fans in the US?
Jesse McCartney: Like I said, like the fans are really, everywhere it’s different, you know? In certain areas of the country, certain areas of the world, they’re really quiet and respectful, like in Japan, or in parts of Asia, they’re just really – like in Taiwan, they’re very – like they part when you’re walking, like they’ll get out of the way so that you can walk. [laughs] Where as in America you can’t move ‘cause they’re standing right in your way. I – the fans are great man, I love all of them.

Jesse McCartney: The Italian fans, they – they’ve been big supporters for years, it’s – man, that’s the reason I make music, just for them.

Access All Areas.net.au: Over the years what have you learned about certain cultures that you really appreciate and respect?
Jesse McCartney: You know, it’s – that’s – that’s a good question. I think that being able to travel, you know, that I’ve learnt so much about people, and – and different cultures. I’ve soaked so much information in just by watching how people work, that I would never get if I was – if I hadn’t left the country, and I’m just so happy that I’ve had that – that opportunity. It’s changed my life, changed my whole perspective on how I see things, and you know, you can never be too cultured in my opinion.

Access All Areas.net.au: How much do you miss home when you travel internationally?
Jesse McCartney: You know, when – when you’re travelling, its – it can be tough, because there’s so much going on and you’re so disconnected from what’s going on at home, and from your family, and your friends that it – there are times that it gets really tough and difficult when you’re out there by yourself especially, ‘cause it can be lonely, it really can be. You know, and I – like I just have the greatest bed of all time, and when I’m travelling I miss that bed more then anything else.

Jesse McCartney: But yeah, you know, and my little brother who’s like, you know, my home boy, and sister, and that, I – I stay – try to stay fully connected through the internet and cell – three phones to every ear, so.

Access All Areas.net.au: What would you like to say to all the international fans that have supported you over the years?
Jesse McCartney: To all my international fans, I love you all very much, you guys have been amazing supporters, and are the reason I drive, and you know, drive at this ongoing process in this – in this crazy industry, and – and I thank you very much.

Access All Areas.net.au: Growing up, did you ever imagine you’d be this well known?
Jesse McCartney: Growing up? Ah, no. I – you know what? Certainly to – you know, I – I had this – you know, this dream of one day being a rock star, but never crosses your mind that you’re ever going to get any recognition for it, or that anyone’s going to see, you know, see you perform, or buy your record or – I never even though I’d make a record. I, you know, I just love to – it all came out of the love of entertaining people, and it didn’t matter if it was 50 people in a community theatre, or you know, or, you know, what it’s like now in front of an arena. I never expected any of it, you know? I – I just – I can still remember being five years old and discovering Elvis Presley on my own and all of my parents’ record collection and listening to ‘Blue Suede Shoes’ and – and imitating him, like [laughs] you know? Those memories will never leave me, and I certainly – I don’t think anyone ever expects to become famous in any way. They never – you can’t. That’s – you know?
Jesse McCartney: But you can always dream big, I certainly – I certainly used to dream pretty – pretty big. I still do.

Access All Areas.net.au: What else do you consider to be your biggest influences?
Jesse McCartney: My biggest influences growing up where, you know, James Brown, Michael Jackson, Ray Charles, Elvis, the Beatles, oh, the Beach Boys, I just loved music so much that it didn’t really matter what style. Although I found myself being really attracted, you know, having a strong taste in – in R&B music.

Jesse McCartney: The first record I ever bough was TLC’s Crazy Sexy Cool, which was like an amazing record, I was like eight or nine years old. I bought that, and I bought Seal’s – Seal’s record. I forget what it’s called, but it’s the one where he’s absolutely bald and naked and he’s like this. Kiss by a Rose? Kiss from a Rose? Those are my two records.

Jesse McCartney: And then I started developing, you know, a taste for more country music, and I don’t know man, I just – I loved music so much, I would listen to all my parents’, you know, records in their collection.

Access All Areas.net.au: Are there any current artists that you really like?
Jesse McCartney: Current artists that I really like. I’m really – I love Fiona – Fiona Apple’s latest record, Extraordinary Machine I think is brilliant. I love Conya, I think he’s a visionary. I think that – I think that both Natasha and – and Daniel Bedingfield, like listening to them as pop artists growing up before I was ever anybody or anything, you know, I – I kind of idolise their careers, and the choices they made as far as choosing songs to sing. I’m a big fan of them.

Access All Areas.net.au: Two more. What are the perks and advantages of being a successful artist, and do you see any disadvantages?
Jesse McCartney: Well I mean, there’s a – yeah, there’s a lot of perks, and there’s a lot of disadvantages to being in my position. There is responsibility I feel to – There’s a responsibility to – to kind of be aware of, you know, who you surround yourself with, and – and how you’re perceived. You know, I think that – that the people, the fans, they – when they adore you, and they’re buying into you, and they’re supporting you, that you owe them – you owe them that. You owe them the image that they have in their head, you know? I – I think – I think that – And that can be difficult when there’s cameras everywhere and you know paparazzi and all this garbage that goes on, it can be – it can be slightly difficult.

Jesse McCartney: But you know, it’s just – it’s kind of a package deal, you know? It’s kind of the way it goes.

Jesse McCartney: There’s a lot of perks, yeah. I mean, travelling that’s – I mean, to me that’s like the biggest perk anyone can ever ask for. Most people never get to leave their home town, and I’m flying all over the world, and it’s – it’s a real blessing.