DOLLY quizzes Martin Johnson, lead singer of hot US band Boys Like Girls, about love, bad dates and working with Ashley Tisdale.
So Martin, can you give us the low down on the new album?
We're really, really, really excited for it. It's called Love Drunk. Basically we toured for three years and grew so much as a band and sonically we really became something different, this different animal. We decided to take some massive chances on this record and really go for it. We went for a big sound and kind of just put it out there. It's different for Boys Like Girls. I think we really found ourselves and found a different, unique sound that really defines who we are as a live band. It's very dynamic; it's got all different types of songs, all different types of vibes, and lyrical pieces for everyone. Musically it's pretty broad, but all the lyrics are from personal experiences and written like a journal. It's just straight up.
Are any of your songs inspired by past loves?
Heart Heart Heartbreak and Love Drunk are a one-two punch about the same girl. Since the last record I was in a relationship, I was in two different relationships, and they're reflected in a couple of songs on this record. The ups and downs of them.
What was it like working with Ashley Tisdale on the video clip for Love Drunk?
She was great! I met her a couple of years ago at a radio show and she was like "Oh my god, you're Martin from Boys Like Girls you guys are my favourite band." And I'm like "Oh my god, you're that chick from High School Musical." That was kinda funny. We just started to become great friends and texted each other every once in a while, and then when it came time to choose a girl for the video she was purring for it. She was great on the video set, had a lot of fun and made friends with everyone there. She was a great person to be around and brought so much energy to us to.
Is she a bit of a diva?
No, no, no she's the absolute best. She rolls and she's not a diva at all. She's totally cool and it was cool because she's a Boys Like Girls fan so it was awesome to have her in the video as a fan.
Have you had any crazy fan moments?
Yeah a little bit of the mania, but that type of thing is kind of a compliment. I just smile it off and take it as a fun part of the whole deal. But there are times when it gets a little crazy. It does get difficult when you literally can't get out of a building or something. But I do love it; I've always been an attention hog. That's why I'm center stage, that's why I'm a front man. So I mean, I don't mind.
Have you ever had a massive dating fail?
It wasn't really a date, but I invited a girl over to hang out with a group of friends. We're all hanging out and she said something rather insulting to one of my friends. I sort of brushed it off a little, but then she kept pushing the factor. I'm kind of a stand-up person, especially if you mess with my friends, so I kind of pushed her. Then she got deeper into it and that was the point when I entirely lost my cool, called her some nasty words and asked her to leave. Then she ended up throwing her drink all over my face, a drink that I had poured her! So she in general was not a good call for a date, and did not get a call for a second one.
How old were you when you had your first kiss?
I was in 5th grade, so pretty young — probably 10 or 11 years old. We had planned it all out. It was at an amusement park with a ferris wheel, but nearly a ski lift, and it goes the whole way to the top and you can see the whole amusement park and then it comes back down. We had been planning it for a month or so that our first kiss would be at the very top. And at the very top in 5th grade we had probably a 0.4 second peck on the lips and then we didn't talk for the rest of the way down. It was a pretty cute moment. I won't forget that one.
What's the most romantic thing you have done for a girl?
I'm a big cheesy stinkball with the music stuff. For Valentine's Day we did the whole deal and went out and it was really cute, and when we came back I told the girl I had a new song I wrote and that I forgot to tell her it's the last part of my Valentine's Day present. It was a song about her, and I sang it to her.
Do you have any plans to come back to Australia soon?
Yes, but I cannot reveal them to you yet because they are top secret. No, we are coming and we can't wait. We absolutely love our Australian fans. It is the best country. Everybody there was so nice to us, all the woman are attractive, the sky is always blue, and I just want to put my self in a box and ship myself there permanently.
Tell the DOLLY website readers I love them very much and that I cant wait to see them!
Boys Like Girls new album, Love Drunk is in stores NOW!
