Pop-rock group Hot Chelle Rae are currently on tour around the U.S. with recording partner and good friend Demi Lovato. J-14 got to hang out with the boys backstage before their first show in Holmdel, NJ, and they gave us the scoop on touring with Demi, new music, and what their fans can expect in the future.
J-14: You're playing your first show tonight on the Demi Lovato tour. Excited?
Nash Overstreet: We've been really excited about this tour for the past six months. We played with her the first time last November or December. She came out and sang "Why Don't You Love Me" with us, which is on our album.
Ryan Follese: We knew when we did that song that it was going to be a duet, but we weren't quite sure with who and then we found out she was a fan of ours and we've always been fans of hers. We reached out to her and she was stoked to be on the song. She's an unbelievable vocalist. I'm looking forward to listening to her every night. We're really excited to just get to know her a lot better and just hanging out. Tour hangouts are always the best.
Jamie Follese: I'm excited about getting the ins and outs of 'The X Factor'. I want to know stuff before it happens and I plan on finding out on this tour.
J-14: So tell us about your single "Honestly". Is there a story behind that song? An ex-girlfriend?
Ryan: We were in New York writing, and it was just us talking about ex-girlfriends. We wanted to write a song that wasn't necessarily about feeling sorry for yourself, but more about getting even, which is secretly what we think a lot of people want to do. We kind of want to do that sometimes. It's just about getting even with a smile on your face.
J-14: This past spring you were on tour with Taylor Swift in Australia. What was it like?
Ryan: It's hard to really explain in words what it was like. Not only was it the most fun shows we've ever played in a place that we love, part of our heart is in Australia but it was awesome getting to hang with our crew and they're all just the coolest people, friends, that I talk to on a regular basis.
Nash: Aside from the shows, that were amazing because they were all sold our arenas, we went out on boats, we went to the koala sanctuary, it was just awesome.
Ryan: She's [Taylor Swift] just the sweetest. She loves to bake.
J-14: Are you working on any new music?
Nash: We're working on new music every little break we get since the beginning of the year. So we'll be putting out a new single out before the end of the year and hopefully have a new album out within the next 9 months or a year.
J-14: Do you guys have any pre-show rituals?
Ryan: We like to drink something caffeinated, jump around. We always say a prayer. We look each other in the eye and shake hands and say have a good show. We started chest bumping!
Photo: Courtesy of Nicole Mazza/J-14 Magazine
