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Okay. Why were you able to take control of what you recorded this time around?
When we were starting to find songs for this record, I think the initial attitude was Cool, let's go with what's popular and what's automatically going to be a hit. But there is so much of that kind of pop already. My manager and I went into the studio without my record company knowing and recorded some of the songs as demos, so we could go back and go, THAT'S the music we want to record. I don't think the record would have been made the way it is if we didn't go off and do that.
Everyone's saying the teen pop trend is dead. Was that part of the reason for your new direction?
There's no backlash, but pop music as we know it is evolving. 'N Sync is moving in an edgier direction, incorporating electronica and weird dancing stuff into their music. That's good. We need to change pop's image because it's just become this predictable, stereotypical blah blah blah genre of music that is written off and people hate.
You've been talking about changing the format of your MTV show, ''Mandy.'' What gives?
It was not as music oriented as I wanted the show to be. I think MTV is awesome, but I kinda think that the show I did this summer, anyone could have hosted it. I want to put my own stamp on it and put a musical touch to it.
You're following up your supporting role in ''The Princess Diaries'' (now in theaters) with the lead in ''A Walk to Remember,'' coming out early next year. How'd you score that one?
I was like a pit bull. I would do anything to get this role. Nicholas Sparks, who wrote the book, is one of my favorite authors. You have to read the book. You'll cry. Even before I got the role, I was researching to find out what kinds of leukemia my character could possibly have, because the book isn't very specific about it, and I was researching the Baptist religion, doing all this stuff. I dyed my hair brown, cut my bangs and wore dowdy clothes, which I kind of liked. I don't think people would expect that from me.
