Trivia / JC Chasez

• Development Hell: Schizophrenic was originally slated for a summer 2003 release. Its release date changed multiple times before finally dropping in February of 2004. The Story of Kate, which JC had been working on since 2005, did not have its singles serviced to radio or any music videos, and ultimately never saw release (some tracks have leaked online in the years since).
• Doing It for the Art:
  “This [Schizophrenic] record is nothing like an NSYNC record…I didn’t feel boxed in by anything. I did this record just out of love for music. I didn’t try and format it or anything like that. Because everybody’s always like, ‘Aren’t you worried about commercial success?’ I’ve had commercial success, and I’m thankful for it everyday, but this is just out of labor of love. I just wanted to do a great record that I enjoyed and that’s why I did it.”
• Executive Meddling: In 2019, music producer Alex Greggs spoke at length in a podcast interview about Jive Records' sabotage of JC's debut solo album Schizophrenic. Greggs confirmed how Jive believed JC to be less marketable than Justin Timberlake because the latter was more willing to abide by industry politics. Greggs also detailed how Jive gave conflicting information to JC about what they wanted his album to sound like, simultaneously prodding him to record radio-friendly urban pop, while also trying to steer him in a different direction than Justin. *NSYNC's sound engineer Tim Miller reiterated Jive's lack of support for JC, saying they declined to promote JC's club tour. After Schizophrenic flopped, Jive wrangled JC into making a sophomore album (tentatively titled Story of Kate) featuring production from Timberlake as well as Timbaland, but continued to shelve it up to 2007. Chasez subsequently left Jive, and though he has not released any further solo records, he remains active in the industry as a songwriter and producer.
• Executive Veto: JC was denied a bigger production budget for Schizophrenic. His club tour was not supported by the label either and struggled to sell tickets. Album release dates were continually pushed back, to the point JC was in the dark about an exact date and fans were left confused.
• He Also Did: Did the sound mixing with sound engineer Tim Miller for NSYNC's Pop Odyssey tour. Co-wrote the NSYNC song "You Don't Have to Be Alone (on Christmas)" which appeared on the soundtrack for How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
• Keep Circulating the Tapes: Since Kate was never released, fans have had to rely on online leaks of unreleased tracks, demos, and fan-made albums over the years.
• Shrinking Violet / Reclusive Artist: JC’s talked about how he enjoys a quieter life behind the scenes and out of the spotlight. He doesn’t use social media.
• Troubled Production:
  "The creative process, when I was making [Schizophrenic], I didn’t always feel supported when I was making that record. As well as…some of the songs I would make just to get out of my system and I never thought they were going to be, you know, considered."
• What Could Have Been:
  • "The Game Is Over", a song on NSYNC's Celebrity album co-written by JC, looked like it was going to be a possible single for that era, according to promotional materials◊ from Jive.
  • Was an opening act for Britney Spears' Onyx Hotel tour. He opened a few of her shows in the UK and was to play other dates, but unfortunately the tour ended when Britney injured her knee.
  • JC was supposed to be a guest singer on Santana's 2005 album All That I Am, singing on a song called “If I Don't”. For unknown reasons he was left off the final track list. In general, fans often wonder what JC's career could've been like had he received the proper label support.
  Alex Greggs: Jive went through a major shift in staff and values and vision when Clive [Calder] left. If Clive had stayed there six months longer when we made that record, I think the JC record would’ve been phenomenal...He really listened to his artists. If Clive was there and JC said to Clive, ‘I’m not happy with the cover’ or ‘I don’t want this as the single,’ Clive is the type of person that would listen, and most likely would educate JC or myself or anybody else on a decision that didn’t make sense to us. He was great at that. If we didn’t like something or didn’t understand it, he would give an explanation why it should be this way, and 99% of the time, he was right. But with the shift in staff at Jive, there wasn’t that one driving force or visionary. Barry [Weiss] was good at his job, but he wasn’t Clive Calder.
  • His performance at the 2004 Pro Bowl halftime show was canceled in the wake of the 2004 Super Bowl XXXVII Halftime Show controversy. Originally set to perform "Blowin' Me Up (With Her Love)", Chasez was abruptly pulled from the festivities and replaced with Hawaiian hula dancers.