Brian Littrell Launches
Music Label
Source: MTV.com
-Teri VanHorn
Brian
Littrell spent the Backstreet Boys' six-week hiatus planning his
future as a record mogul and television and film producer.
The singer has gone into business with his wife, Leighanne
Littrell, forming a music label and entertainment production
company called BriLeigh Productions.
Littrell insists that the family-oriented company does not signal
his retirement from one of the world's most beloved boy bands —
but he does plan to make it his day job when the group eventually
cuts back on touring.
"I love being a Backstreet Boy, and I love performing, but
the odds of actually traveling the rest of my life are slim,"
he said Tuesday while en route to a Backstreet Boys video shoot.
"I plan on making my schedule centered around being home
more and doing less traveling — not necessary sitting behind a
desk all day dealing with business, but being a family man and
being a husband. ... If I could have it my way, it would
obviously be to still make Backstreet Boys records and move
forward in business ventures like BriLeigh Records."
The Littrells have been mulling the venture for two years but
finally got it kick-started over the last month while Backstreet
Boys took a break from their tour so A.J. McLean could go to
rehab (see "Backstreet Boys Postpone Tour As A.J. McLean
Seeks Treatment").
The couple will focus on building a small roster of acts for the
record label first, but they plan to delve into film and
television projects by the end of next year. Their first release
will be the soundtrack to the indie film "Olive Juice,"
starring Leighanne in the lead role and featuring cameos by Brian
driving a horse-drawn carriage and McLean playing a club DJ.
The soundtrack, which Brian and Leighanne produced and assembled,
will feature Backstreet Boys' "The Perfect Fan" as well
as cuts by Los Angeles singer/songwriters Judith Owen and Brett
Laurence, Joseph Graye and the Average Joe Band, and actor/musician
Joe Pesci. Brian co-wrote the title track with J. Michael Davis,
a local Atlanta artist who also performs the song.
"I was playing golf with the producers of the film, and we
were talking about somebody producing the soundtrack,"
Littrell said. "I jumped in the car to leave the golf
course, and I pretty much had the [title track] written by the
time I got home."
Littrell said he would have performed on the track, but the Boys'
record company said no. "I don't want to go solo right now,
and that would have been everybody's perception," he said.
"J. Michael is a longtime friend of Leighanne's. He actually
sang at our wedding — a very talented guy."
"Olive Juice" is due on video in early October, while
the soundtrack will come out October 23.
Though BriLeigh Records has not yet signed its first act,
Littrell said the label has offers out to a few artists, whom he
declined to name until the deals are inked. He said the scope of
the label will be broad.
Backstreet Boys will resume their tour Friday in Milwaukee (see
"Backstreet's A.J. 'Psyched' To Return, Says Howie D"
or click for photos from the tour). Littrell said the break has
been good for everyone.
"We're looking forward to getting back on the road, and A.J.'s
doing well," he said. "We're heading to Milwaukee
tomorrow to start pre-production and rehearsal and get back in
the saddle. A lot of times just having down time is a good way to
prepare for a tour. You have to have your life in order to
continue on and take care of business.
"We're all very concerned about A.J.'s well-being," he
continued. "With him being out on the road with us, we're
all like brothers — we can take
care of one another."