MTV Asia Interviews Westlife - taken from www.mtvasia.com (february 2002)

They have sold millions of records, topped the U.K. charts with all except one (darn that Bob The Builder!) of their singles released so far, and they are probably Ireland's best pop export since Boyzone. We can't be talking about anyone else but MTV Asia Awards 2002's Favorite Pop Act Westlife!

Armed with their third album and latest single, both titled "World Of Our Own," the lovable lads -- Mark, Kian, Shane, Bryan, and Nicky -- met up with MTVAsia.com for the first time at the Fullerton Hotel in Singapore. Read on to find out what these charming lads of our hearts had to say!

*Note: Sections of this interview were taken from the Press Room Session at the MTV Asia Awards 2002 on February 2.

By MTVAsia.com's LENNAT MAK. Photos by EILEEN KEH **see the photos**

You guys were crowned Favorite Pop Act at the first MTV Asia Awards! What's next? Still aiming for America?
Mark: That's definitely on the cards. In fact, this summer we will be going over to the States. In about three weeks time, we will be going over to Miami to shoot the American version of the "My Love" video that we are going to release soon. We have extremely high hopes. All we can do is try our best and hopefully it will work out for us.

Why do you think it's difficult for European acts to break into the American market?
Mark: For us the reason is numbers. First of all, when we went over there, our record company was falling apart at that time. The guy (Clive Davis) we have been talking to about our career in America actually left the record label. We were stoked. We don't have anybody else there 'coz the record company had to reform. So we decided to come back and try to conquer the rest of the world. The time has to be right for us. You have to spend a lot of time in America to be successful and that's something we are willing to do this time.

Why did you feel the need to re-shoot your videos then?
Nicky: I don't think the video means anything special. We all look a lot more different since "My Love," (which) was released a year ago. We've changed our haircuts, we look different, our styling changed. If we are going to launch the old video in America, we are going to look like what we looked like in the old video!
Mark: We have progressed since and we don't want to go back there again. So we are making a new one!

How competitive do you think the U.K. scene is now? Do you think Westlife have a monopoly?
Bryan: Yeah! (Laughs)
Mark: To be honest, ever since we started off, there are so many different bands coming out every year and for some reason the public have really grabbed on to Westlife and they won't let go. It amazing. We don't actually know why, all we can do is go out do our jobs -- sing, make videos, do interviews. We don't like, sit down and plan exactly how to do it. For some reasons, people just like us.
Nicky: We always remain down to earth, which is very important.
Bryan: Did anyone hear me asking for that candy cart? (Laughs)

About your image in the new video "World Of Our Own," are you trying to come across as bad boys?
Mark: The video has a little bit of a "bad boy" tag to it because of the clothes we are wearing. It's not really to change our image or the type of band that we are. Basically, we wanted to have a different vibe for that video. Our videos have started to get very boring, like the same thing with a different background you know. We wanted to have a theme to it. This time, we used the gangster theme, so the next video we will probably use a different theme.
Nicky: We are probably going to be police officers!
Mark: Nicky has a thing about police officers and stuff. But anyway...

Like "Y.M.C.A?"
Shane: Yeah! (Laughs) We might do "Y.M.C.A!"
Mark: You never know!

What's your favorite song on the new album "World Of Our Own" then?
Nicky: For me it's "My Heart's Not In It." "World Of Our Own" too!
Shane and Bryan: "Bop Bop Baby."
Kian: "I Wanna Grow Old With You."
Mark: "I Cry."
Shane: Imaginery Diva."
Kian: I think this album has got a lot more quality songs on it than the last two albums. For the last two albums, there were maybe six great songs, six good songs, and then six bad songs. For this album, we feel there's a lot of quality songs and a lot more variation. There're mid-tempos, some up-tempos, some great ballads. I think in general, it just helps to create a different vibe on the album. We feel this is our best album that we've made so far. Anybody who's a Westlife fan, will really, really enjoy this album.

Bryan, how has fatherhood been for you now?
Bryan: Excellent! Brilliant! It just changed a bit. I feel a lot different to things now.

Do you carry a picture of them with you?
Bryan: Yeah! I have it in the hotel room right now!

Nicky, we heard that you are going to get married. Is that true?
Nicky: Nope! It's not true. Since Bryan, there are lots of speculations that I will be the next one to go. But no, no plans as well. Maybe in the couple of years, but you never know. Me and Georgina are still young and there's plenty of time ahead of us.

Since you are focusing more on America this year, will you be coming back to Asia soon?
Nicky: Absolutely! We are not moving to America! We've got a European tour starting in April, which is before America. The American dates are probably July or August. Then we are planning another promo trip back to Asia. It's a huge market for Westlife. Everyone here is so lovely to us. We enjoy coming here and we will definitely be here maybe one or twice before Christmas.