JC Chasez is ready to delve into the world of musical theater. The *NSYNC superstar revealed exclusively via Billboard on Sunday (Sept. 8) that he’s teaming up with Golden Globe-winning songwriter and composer Jimmy Harry for a musical theater concept album called Playing With Fire. The 16-track project is inspired by Mary Shelly’s seminal 1818 novel, Frankenstein, and blends electronic pop with classical music from the romantic era to create a fresh twist on a centuries-old story.
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The reimagining of the classic story came together when Harry showed Chavez a theatrical adaptation of the story by his late mother, playwright Barbara Field. Chasez was immediately captivated by the story, and the duo worked together to create an album that represents a conversation between a dying Frankenstein and his creation, The Creature, at the grave of Frankenstein’s wife, Elizabeth. Through musical conversation and flashbacks, “the two grow to understand each other and the reasons for their actions that brutally affected each other’s lives. They eventually find sympathy, love, and forgiveness for each other,” per a press release.
In addition to writing the project, Chasez also lends his vocals to a number of tracks on Playing With Fire, alongside singers Cardamon Rozzi and Lily Elise. The album marks his first major musical project since his 2004 solo album, Schizophrenic.
“There are similarities [between writing a pop hit and musical theater songs] and there are some some very big differences,” the star previously told Billboard of his interest in musical theater. “When you’re writing a single for something, you’re just looking to write about what you’re feeling in the moment. When you’re working on a musical, there’s always a bigger picture and the story is always the driving force.”
He added, “It’s kind of like the last thing that I haven’t really dabbled in. I started in television, then I moved into music and I made a couple of films. Now, it feels like this is the last untapped thing. It’s nice to experience all sides of it.”
Playing With Fire is out via Center Stage Records on Oct. 25. See the full track list below.
- “This Is How the World Ends”
- “How Do You Sleep”
- “You Used to Touch Me”
- “Broken”
- “This is the Beginning”
- “One Over R Squared Part 1”
- “I Found Death at the University”
- “One Over R Squared Part 2”
- “The Animation”
- “Father”
- “No One Loves No One”
- “It’s Just a Dream”
- “Build Me Someone to Love”
- “Playing With Fire”
- “The Death of the Brides”
- “Don’t Go”
