Though they’ve still got lots of touring ahead this summer, the Backstreet Boys [ tickets ] are getting to work on their follow-up to 2007′s “Unbreakable” as singers Howie Dorough and A.J. McLean finish up their respective solo CDs. So far, the group–which also includes Brian Littrell and Nick Carter–has recorded one as-yet-untitled song written by Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic fame. But the Backstreet Boys plan to forge relationships with other writers as well during the recording process. “We’re definitely talking about putting the Max Martin relationship back together again,” Dorough said to LiveDaily about the producer/songwriter who penned “I Want It That Way.” “I’ve actually done some writing, as well as A.J. has with Ryan Tedder. He’s really, really great. I foresee us possibly working with him. He has the same management. We’re just going to go out there and really explore. There’s a lot of new writers who have come to the table since the last album. We’re going to do what we can to make it once again the best record. We’re going to do a lot of writing ourselves but as well reach out to great producers to help us.”As for solo material, Dorough, whose mother is Puerto Rican, is working on a Latin-English-themed album. “I’m kind of exploring my roots in that direction,” he said. “I’m doing something that’s a mixture of English and Spanish–Spanglish–some Latin rhythms. I’ve grown up listening to Jon Secada, whom I’ve had a chance to do some writing with, and just watching the careers of Enrique [Iglesias] and Ricky [Martin] and people I think have done a good job of crossing over. I’m going to do something in that vein as well.” Dorough is confident that fans will enjoy his solo material when it comes out sometime in 2009. “Together as a group we have a strong, strong, humongous fan base,” Dorough said. “We’re blessed, as well, as we each have our niche markets and our own personal fans. We have individual fans outside of the group. I really notice that, for me, being part Spanish, I’ve always had a calling, a really big appreciation from all of the Latin fans.” [Source]

Just before the start of the North American leg of their Unbreakable tour a couple of the Backstreet Boys are working on solo projects. A.J. McLean is nearly finished with his first solo effort, in fact he has already begun touring behind the new material doing a few club dates in Europe and North America in tandem with the Backstreet Boys tour. Howie Dorough is exploring his Latin roots on his upcoming solo release working with Jon Secada and George Noriega. Neither record has a release date as of yet. The other two Backstreet Boys have already tested the solo waters, Nick Carter released his pop rock solo record, Now or Never in 2003 while Brian Littrell released the contemporary Christian record Welcome Home in 2006. Though the boys are branching out there is no break up in the works, in fact the quartet already began recording new material while they were touring in Europe earlier this year and they plan to hit the studio again once this leg of the tour has wrapped up. Their upcoming North American tour is made up of nearly half Canadian and half American dates. Here are the details of the shows on this side of the border: July 29-30, St. John’s NF

Backstreet Boy Nick Carter has opened up to Usmagazine.com about his mother’s arrest on Thursday.”I love my mother and offer her my full support in these unfortunate circumstances,” Carter tells Us.Jane Carter was booked after she failed to appear in a Florida court for a hearing about her divorce from John Holcomb, according to TMZ.com.Among the accusations, Jane is accused of trashing their former residence.An order was issued for her arrest after she skipped the hearing. She was arrested at a ceremony in Sumter County, FL, where she was working for aconstruction company.Nick and his brother Aaron cut Jane

I just had to do it! What can I say? I’m a fan-girl, and I’m not ashamed to say so. My beloved Backstreet Boys are heading back into the studio to work on their sixth studio release. The now quartet have come back together to keep their legacy alive since the departure of fifth member Kevin Richardson in June of 2006 and multiple solo endeavours from different members of the group. Backstreet has been recording new material, Billboard reported, while touring Europe. Band member Howie Dorough told Billboard that the studio is their first priority as soon as they finish touring North America on 6 September, ”We’re looking at getting back into the studio quite quickly”, also adding that they have plans to work with Swedish super producer Max Martin

You haven’t heard the last of the Backstreet Boys!AJ McLean, 30, Howie Dorough, 34, Nick Carter, 28, and Brian Littrell, 33, have already started working on its follow-up to last year’s “Unbreakable,” reports Billboard.BSB already recorded some new material for their six studio album while on tour in Europe. But the boys have plans to hit the studio again after its tour of North America, which starts Tuesday in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and wraps on Sept. 6 in Seattle.“We’re looking at getting back into the studio quite quickly,” says Dorough, adding that BSB may work again with Swedish producer/writer Max Martin, who worked with the group on “I Want it That Way,” “Shape of My Heart,” “Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)”.“We want to hopefully have something ready to go or at least be heavily into it by the end of the year and have something out towards the beginning of next year,” Dorough says.Dorough and McLean also have solo projects in the works. [Source]

An additional block of tickets are now on sale for the Backstreet Boys’ concert Aug. 7 at Toronto’s Molson Amphitheatre. Tickets, $27.50 (lawns), $45.50, $59.50 and $75.00 are available through Ticketmaster, the Molson Amphitheatre’s box office, Livenation.com or charge by phone at 416-870-8000. The group, which recently started working on its sixth studio album, begins its North American tour Tuesday in St. John’s, Nfld. The band is touring in support of last year’s CD, Unbreakable. [Source]