For more than three decades, Alexander James McLean has been known to the world as AJ McLean, a founding member of the Backstreet Boys and one of the most recognizable voices in pop music. Now, he’s ready to introduce himself on his own terms. Meet Alexander James.
The public name change isn’t about leaving AJ or the Backstreet Boys behind; it’s about where McLean is in his life now and becoming more comfortable with the person behind the performer. After growing up and spending nearly his entire adult life in the public eye, he’s found himself thinking differently about who he is, what he wants to say and the kind of music he wants to make.
“This is about removing the armor,” McLean says. “AJ was the performer. Alexander James is the truth.”
Fans first got a glimpse of that shift with the EP hi, my name is Alex, followed by the album My Name Is Alexander James. Working on both projects as Alexander James gave McLean the space to find his own version of authenticity — to make music that came from where he actually is in his life, rather than where anyone expected him to be.
You can hear that freedom on songs like “Can’t Love You Anymore,” co-written with Teddy Swims and Rob Grimaldi, and “Flowers,” featuring Ty Dolla $ign. The songs are personal and passionate, spanning relationships, loss, gratitude and some of the lessons that come with getting older and knowing yourself better.
And that’s also where the next chapter starts.
On September 15, Alexander James will release “Into Your Heart,” a standalone single that shows another side of his musical direction. A hip-hop-meets-pop record with an undeniable groove, it’s less about fitting neatly into a genre and more about making something that feels good. It’s confident, playful and a total vibe — the kind of song that reflects the freedom McLean has found in letting instinct lead the way.
But “Into Your Heart” is only the beginning. This fall, AJ McLean Presents Alexander James’ follow-up LP, Sex, Love & Music, a collection filled with hit after hit, inspired and built around the many sides of his life and artistry. The LP captures the energy, emotion and freedom of this new chapter, moving across soul, pop, R&B and hip-hop while staying rooted in the sound and perspective that feel uniquely his.
Rather than trying to define a specific lane, McLean is following what feels right. Sex, Love & Music reflects that approach: bold, personal and unapologetically open to wherever the music wants to go.
AJ McLean will always be part of the story. More than 30 years with the Backstreet Boys, countless sold-out shows around the world, hit records and landmark Las Vegas and Sphere residencies don’t disappear because he’s presenting Alexander James under a new creative banner, nor would he want them to.
Alexander James isn’t about becoming someone new or erasing AJ McLean, it’s about giving another side of him the space to be fully seen. More than three decades of history, hits, mistakes, love, loss and growth have led to the artist and person he is today, with more to come. He’s not starting over or looking back. He’s moving forward, trusting his instincts, having a hell of a lot more fun and making music on his own terms. No rules, no lane and no armor, just AJ McLean presenting Alexander James.