Recommended tracks: “Can’t Love You Anymore,” “Y.O.U,” “Arizona”
Artists you might like: Backstreet Boys, Ryan Cabrera
AJ McLean has never stepped away from reinvention throughout his career, and hi my name is Alex seems to act as a turning point. After decades of pop superstardom, solo ventures, and acting appearances, McLean has repeatedly shown a willingness to challenge himself artistically, whether it’s competing on Dancing with the Stars, launching his nail polish brand Ava Dean Beauty, appearing on RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race, or mentoring new talent on Netflix’s Building the Band.
Once upon a time, McLean was just a young man named Alexander living in Florida with his mother and grandparents, learning how to perform through acting and singing at local theatre venues. When McLean was 14 years old, he was chosen as the first member of what would later become known as the Backstreet Boys. The group went on to sell over 130 million albums, amass countless No. 1 hits on the charts, and create a legacy of record-breaking tours that helped define a generation of pop music. His vocal style and presence were unique from the start, and he has continued to evolve as an artist ever since.
For decades, McLean felt like “AJ” was this edgy, larger-than-life character that existed within the Backstreet Boys world, but it wasn’t necessarily who he was at his core. Behind all the success and fame, he struggled with addiction for much of his career. Now, after four years of sobriety—the same four years he’s spent creating hi my name is Alex—he’s finally ready to show the world who Alex really is. This solo project has given McLean a chance to step out from the persona of AJ and share his truth, his growth, and his creative vision on his own terms.
The EP opens with “Can’t Love You Anymore,” featuring a bright and rhythmic beat with lyrics expressing the agony of loving someone with everything you have but feeling the love will never be enough for the recipient. The repeated “What am I still fighting for if it ain’t for us” represents the tension between wanting to be with someone and knowing that the effort may ultimately be worthless.
The track “Thinkin’ Bout Us” maintains that bouncy pop energy while diving into personal reflections on past relationships. With Emma Rosen credited on the first three tracks, it’s obvious from “Y.O.U” that her signature genius is at work.
I feel that McLean’s background in musical theatre and dance is particularly evident in the second half of the EP, with songs ranging from upbeat tracks like “What You Know About That” and “The One That Got Away” to an emotional piano ballad, “Arizona,” which kickstarted the entire project. Even after being sober for two years, he was willing to confront the root of his addiction and checked himself into an outpatient facility in Scottsdale, Arizona. Ultimately, it was “Arizona” that sparked his desire for the world to get to know Alex, not just AJ.
