Kevin on the Hotline

Did you know that J.O.N.A.S., the hit Disney Channel “original series” starring Jonas brothers Nick, Joe and Kevin, was supposed to be about a teenage rock band leading double lives as government-hired spies, with the title an acronym for Junior Operative Networking As Spies? When it premiered last May, the plot was totally changed. It became about a band of three brothers who have to cope with being rockstars while trying to live an ordinary life.

“It’s very much like what we are in real life,” said Kevin Jonas during an exclusive phone interview three weeks ago. He was then in London with brothers Nick and Joe promoting Lines, Vines and Trying Times, their latest album (released locally by MCA Music Inc.) after It’s About Time (2006), Jonas Brothers (2007) and A Little Bit Longer (2008). “We’re just having as much fun as the televiewers. Isn’t it amazing?”

Surely it is, especially to Jonas fans who have been closely following the progress of the brothers’ career since they appeared as guests in an episode titled Me and Mr. Jonas and Mr. Jonas and Mr. Jonas for the same channel’s show Hannah Montana starring Miley Cyrus (reported to be Nick’s girlfriend). Then came Camp Rock, Jonas Brothers: Living the Dream and, finally, J.O.N.A.S.

Touted as the biggest boyband since The Beatles, the Jonas Brothers are famous for their wholesome “family-friendly” image. Noted for being “committed Evangelical Christians,” according to a report they signify their vow to abstain from premarital sex by wearing purity rings on their left-hand finger. They promised to themselves — “And God,” said Nick — to stay pure until they get married. They also stay away from alcohol, tobacco and drugs, making them the perfect role models for their fans.

Their father, Kevin Jonas Sr. (their exclusive manager), is a former Assembly of God pastor. The brothers were “home-schooled” by their mother.

Kevin might have to take off his “purity ring” soon since he’s marrying his fiancée named Danielle Deleasa.

Like true Christians, the brothers share not only their talents but also their blessings, having donated 10 percent of their earnings to their favorite charity, Change for the Children Foundation which they themselves started. One of the beneficiaries is the American Diabetes Foundation. Since last year, Nick, a Type 1 diabetic, has partnered with Bayer Diabetic Care as a diabetes ambassador “to promote the idea for young people to manage their diabetes.”

In the following Conversations, Kevin Jonas talked about their latest album and how they try to live up to being role models.

Why did you call your latest album Lines, Vines and Trying Times?

“Well, hmmmm, the album sums up the feelings in the song that we are writing and a lot of other things besides. The meaning of the title is simple. Lines refers to the lessons that we learn in life and the words of wisdom that we pick up in this journey called life; Vines are the things that tangle you up along the way; and Trying Times are the things that we are going through and the challenges that we’re facing. My brothers and I hope to inspire other people to do great things.”

The album is said to reflect the softest side of the Jonas brothers more than ever. How’s that?

“You know, we’ve been performing together for only a few years and a lot of things have been happening to us. We’re living one day at a time and enjoying every minute of it. The album expresses our appreciation for everything that we have and what we hope to achieve. We’re learning from everything that we do.”

I notice that you choose intriguing titles for your songs such as Paranoid, the title of the first song from the album. Why so? (The song garnered over three million views on YouTube within 10 days of its release.)

“The song is something that typically a lot of people can relate to and can understand, and we’re very happy with the result.”

There’s also Fly With Me (which became part of the soundtrack for the movie Night at the Museum 2 in which the Jonas brothers did the voice of the cherubs that came to life).

“Yeah. Fly With Me is a very fun song for us. We really enjoy writing it and singing it, another song you can easily relate to. It’s dedicated to people that we love. For us, we’ve been traveling a lot, we’re constantly on the road, and it’s difficult to always be away from our family and the people we love, and you wish that they can all fly with you. But it’s nice that we have our family that supports us in everything that we do.”

What’s your favorite song from Lines, Vines and Trying Times?

“Yes, it’s Fly With Me. As I’ve just said, the song expresses how badly we feel when we are on tour and how we long to be with our loved ones when we are far away.”

Who do you miss most when you are on tour?

“Oh, my fiancée Danielle.”

Oh yes, of course. I heard that you’re getting married.

“Yes, we’re getting married and I’m very happy and very excited.”

Who will be the Best Man, Joe or Nick?

“Actually, both of them are.”

How soon will the wedding take place?

“Well, you know, we have set a date but we’re trying to keep it private so we have to keep it that way.”

Aside from your fiancée, I understand that you also miss your family terribly when you are on tour. The Jonases are such a closely-knit family, right?

“You know, as much as we do travel a lot and we are together most of the time we also do find time to do our own personal things. But it’s a good thing that we brothers do get along very well.”

Are you more like friends than brothers?

“You know, we are brothers first and foremost, but we are friends. We know how to get along. We realize that we have to be both brothers and friends for our own good.”

Do you confide in each other — you know, share confidences and secrets like friends do?

“You know, people are surprised by the fact that we get along so well. It’s really cool. I think people really appreciate that we are trying our best to be good at what we do.”

You are such wholesome guys. Are you aware of your responsibility as role models?

“Being looked up to as role models is very flattering, thank you. We don’t want to rush things. We are taking things one step at a time.”

How was your childhood like?

“It was amazing! Our parents raised us very beautifully and we are very honored to have them in our life. They’re supportive of us.”

How do you handle success?

“It all boils down to taking one day at a time. We keep our feet on the ground. We always remember how it is to be at the top and how it is at the bottom. That’s not saying that we are at the top; it’s just saying that there are things and people around you, and that you must remember where you came from because they are the same people you meet on your way up and they are on your way down.”

I heard that you take time to communicate with your fans through your Facebook.

“Oh yes, we do. We do hold weekly Facebook chats with our fans. We take their questions and we give them previews of our songs from the new album. We owe it to them.”

Aside from The Beatles, who are your musical influences?

“Oh, people like Stevie Wonder and so many other artists.”

J.O.N.A.S. is one of Disney Channel’s top-rating shows. Tell us more about it.

“We’re just very happy that the show is doing well. It’s incredible! It’s giving us a really amazing time. But really for us, it’s a show that gives us a chance to go farther than where we are. It reveals so much of what we really are.”

So what we see is what we get.

“Yes, you’re right. Sometimes, we even get crazier.”

Away from work, how do you spend your time? How do you enjoy yourselves?

“You know, we love to hang out with friends. We go to the movies. We have fun just like everybody else does.”

Could you describe yourself, Nick and Joe?

“Joe is very, very funny; he’s a comedian and he loves to make people laugh. Nick is very, very serious, and very driven; he takes life very seriously. Myself? You know, I’m a fun-loving guy who enjoys life as much as I can.”

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