Aaron Carter hits epitomize the '90s. From "I Want Candy" to "Aaron's Party," his songs are sung loudly and easily identified by millennials. Now, he's back with "Fool's Gold," his latest single he'll perform Friday at Cat's Cradle. Assistant Arts & Entertainment Editor Ryan Schocket asked Carter about his music, Hilary Duff, Justin Bieber, Donald Trump, whether he still wants candy and whether he's a UNC or Duke fan.
Daily Tar Heel: Why is the college audience good to play for?
Aaron Carter: They’re around my age, and in a general sense, everyone is studying really hard, and when they come to concerts, it’s a way for them release. So the crowds are really great to perform to.
DTH: Tell me about “Fool’s Gold.”
AC: "Fool’s Gold" is a song that I wrote and produced with a team of people. I have a co-producer and a co-writer that I work with, but it all starts off with my ideas — stuff that’s within me. Just writing a story about a love.
DTH: If you could choose one song of yours that’s your favorite, what would it be?
AC: Right now, I would say my “Fool’s Gold” record is my favorite of my own. I produced it. I mixed it. I mastered it. I wrote it. I directed my music video for it. I put all my capital into it. I would have to say that. I’ve put so much time and effort into this project and this song.
DTH: Do you still keep in touch with Hilary Duff?
AC: No, I don’t talk about her at all.
DTH: Has Cat’s Cradle been a good venue for you?
AC: I love coming up to North Carolina. Anytime I get a chance to come up there, there’s a lot of different venues I performed at. I plan on doing the best I can and keep building.
DTH: UNC or Duke fan?
AC: What do you think?
DTH: I hope you would say UNC.
AC: Well, duh.
DTH: OK, good.
AC: It just makes sense. I gotta be a part of it. I was in N.C. and I bought the blue sweaters and the Jordan pants. So, I’m about that life.
DTH: You’re a Tar Heel.
AC: Yeah, I am a Tar Heel, actually.
DTH: You recently talked about how you’re different than Justin Bieber. How so?
AC: I don’t know, man. Maybe I’m not different. I mean, I’m not gonna be the one who makes those kinds of opinions of myself because I feel like that’s very egocentric. I kinda did say it a little bit, and I don’t like the way it came across. I’m a little bit older, and maybe I’ve had harder life experiences. I’ve been broke on my ass, not being able to depend on anybody — not my brother, not my mother. It’s been a very challenging obstacle to overcome, but it’s not that I can’t transcend. The difference between Bieber is that he had a chance to grow up in the spotlight. I went away for a while, and now it’s my time to grow up and show people that.
DTH: Are you a fan of his? Or do you not like him?
AC: Oh, absolutely. I’m not a fanatic. I appreciate his music. He’s got good music.
DTH: Have you ever turned on "Aaron’s Party" at a party that you’ve held?
AC: Absolutely not. I would never do that.
DTH: What about the Shaq song?
AC: That would just be weird. That’s like someone at a party being like, “Oh, I want to show you my home videos when I was 11. Come here. Watch this.” You know what I mean? I don’t want. That’s weird. I’m trying to drink right now and play beer pong — like, you’re weird.
DTH: Tell me about the Donald Situation experience.
AC: A lot of people say this, say that, try and bully me around — just because I put my opinions out there. I think it’s a little contradicting how I say I want to vote for somebody, and they want to give me all this knowledge in this belittling, demeaning, degrading way — such as they claim Donald Trump to do. They’re doing the same thing he’s doing, and they don’t supporting.
If you’re going to be a Democrat, why don’t you look up what democracy is? A lot of the people who are arguing with me — they’re not in my tax bracket; they’re not in my shoes; they’re not in my position. I’ve made hundreds of millions of dollars in my career, and I’ve lost a lot of money too.
Politics is starting to become something I’m starting to get interest. As of voting right now, I’m not going to disclose who I'm going to vote for anymore or if I am going to vote. I might not even do it now. Maybe will. You know what? I don’t need the un-silent majority to try to think they can dictate what I’m going to do. They’re upset at me for voting for somebody they claim is going to be a dictator. Maybe they need to figure it out a little bit better. And if they’re going to give me an opinion, and they don’t agree, they need to say, "I don’t agree with you. You need to look at the other side of the coin."
DTH: Do you still want candy?
AC: No, I don’t want candy. I want fool’s gold. I want real gold, actually. That’s the moral of that song.
@RyanSchocket
arts@dailytarheel.com
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