Best known to millions as AJ McLean of the Backstreet Boys, multi-platinum artist Alexander James McLean steps into a bold new chapter with his powerful solo EP ‘hi my name is Alex,’ arriving November 27. After three decades of sold-out tours, global hits, and cultural impact, McLean sheds the pop persona that made him famous to reveal the man behind the music — Alexander James. “AJ has been my armor for a long time,” he says. “Alexander is who I really am — a father, a friend, a survivor, and someone who’s finally comfortable being honest, being myself. This EP is Alex.”
The six-song project marks a rebirth, blending soaring pop hooks with deeply personal reflection. Written and recorded alongside GRAMMY-nominated producer Rob Grimaldi, ‘hi my name is Alex’ moves between high-energy tracks like “Can’t Love You Anymore” and “Thinking Bout Us,” and more introspective moments such as “The One That Got Away.” The emotional centerpiece, “Arizona,” draws from McLean’s time in recovery, a turning point that helped him reconnect with his true self. “That time in Arizona changed everything for me,” he says. “It’s where I started learning who Alex really is.” With a full-length album set for early 2026, Alexander James reclaims his voice, delivering a sound that balances honesty, soul, and pop brilliance — a reintroduction that’s as heartfelt as it is fearless.