James Maslow Talks Hosting CW’s ‘Big Stage,’ New Music And Secret Side Project

With his recently-released “Love U Sober” music video, his new CW summer series “The Big Stage” premiering tonight and filming for his new indie comedy, “We Need to Talk,” with Emily Bett Rickards currently underway, James Maslow is busier than ever.

Since his musical series, “Big Time Rush,” wrapped six years ago, the 28-year-old’s been focused on finding himself as a solo artist and as an actor coming off of a Nickelodeon show. After a few years of trying out different things with his music and acting, Maslow is “incredibly happy right now” with the projects he’s working on.

Aside from those previously mentioned, he also has more solo songs and videos on the way, a secret side music project he’ll be announcing soon and multiple movies in the works, including “My Boyfriend’s Meds” with Jaime Camil and “Wolf Hound” with Trevor Donovan.

Some of those projects are still a little ways off, but others are ready (or almost ready) to be consumed, including his movie-like “Love U Sober” music video, which Maslow dropped on Wednesday, and his new TV show.

While Maslow is not part of The CW’s upcoming “Riverdale” spinoff, “Katy Keene,” despite what the internet (and his IMDb page) have people believing, he is co-hosting the network’s brand new non-competitive talent showcase series, “The Big Stage,” which premieres tonight.

Despite everything that’s already here and everything on the way, Maslow teases that there’s still much more to come. “All of [this] is still just the beginning of what’s already in the can and coming out, and I’ll keep creating even more.”

Keep reading to find out what the singer-actor is able to share about his new projects.

International Business Times: Your “Love U Sober” music video is like a mini movie. Is that what you plan on doing for the rest of your music videos on the way?

James Maslow: As best I can. It’ll be different vibes for sure. The next single is called “Delirious,” and it’s much more pop-y and sexy and upbeat. So, we’re shooting, it looks like, in Malibu. It’s a completely different vibe, but, yes, I still want to have a very cinematic look to it.

IBT: You’ve released mainly singles since your 2017 album. Do you plan on continuing to do singles instead of EPs and albums?

Maslow: Yeah. I’m very proud of the music that I’ve put out before, but “Love U Sober,” to me, is the beginning of a new chapter, a new way of doing things; and the first time that I’ve actually had a real game plan. All due respect to what I did before, I just made music and put it out, a handful of fans listened to it, did a little touring, it was great, it was much less calculated, much more casual.

Now, I will not put out a single without the budget, game plan, PR plan, even a social media plan, as people are starting to see and realize with the assets coming out with “Love U Sober.” So, definitely singles for a while, and then maybe repackaging into an EP, but it’s very much a single-driven game these days.

IBT: Do you plan on touring with the new music, as well?

Maslow: I do. I love nothing more than touring. But then I get sick and bored of touring on the road after months, and then I love nothing more than being on set. So, today it’s touring. But there really is nothing like it, being able to play music live and see fans’ reactions in real time. And then, better yet, have fans sing along to music that is just so incredibly personal to me. It’s really fantastic, and I can’t wait to get back on the road.

To be honest, I can’t fully announce this project, but I’ve got a side project with music, as well, that I’m about to put out a whole bunch of music with. And I think the touring for that might actually happen more quickly than my JM project, if you will. That’s how I differentiate between the two in my mind. So, that touring could happen as soon as this summer.

IBT: Is that going to be a project with someone else?

Maslow: It is. It’s with my best friend Eugene Ugorski, who’s actually a producer on “Love U Sober.” He and I do all my music together; Literally, in house, at a studio there, we record there, I cut the vocals, we write, we do it all together. He’s been my best friend of 15 years. He’s one of the most accomplished musicians in the world.

The side project is him and I at the heart of it together. I don’t want to give too much away, but we’re gonna have turntables in front of us. I can say that much.

IBT: Aside from music, your new CW show, “The Big Stage,” comes out on Friday. What can you tell me about that series?

Maslow: “The Big Stage” is just awesome. We were able to [get] some of the most awesome and awfully-talented people from around the globe. From Russia to Vegas; some of them you’ve never heard of, some of them have residencies that you pay a ticket to see already. But we’ve given everybody an equal chance to come up on our stage and just show the world their talent — whether it’s acrobatics or singing or it’s ventriloquism or magic. It’s just so fun because you’re not tied into one genre. We get to showcase talents across the board, in every which way you can imagine, on our stage.

Catch Maslow hosting The CW’s “The Big Stage” when it premieres on Friday at 9 p.m. EDT. Fans can also stream or download his latest single, “Love U Sober” and see the new music video for it on his YouTube page. You can also stay up to date with all of his projects by following him on Instagram and Twitter.