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NoEXIT's Derek Mcnally Talks 'Powerstation' and a Reunion 15 Years in the Making [Exclusive Interview]

NoEXIT put on on a flawless showcase back in May at the Gramercy Theatre, and now they are getting ready to drop their newest album, Powerstation, on October 11. The anticipated release marks the band��s first album since their 16-year hiatus as one of the most influential boy bands in the modern era of pop music.

Music & Mojitos recently caught up with Derek Mcnally of NoEXIT in an exclusive interview. Mcnally spent time reflecting on NoEXIT’s most recent concert in the Big Apple, and remembered why it was important for the band to come back and rightfully reclaim their prized thrones in NYC.

“New York is a special place for us guys. We’ve spent a lot time there over the years because a lot of our press and PR was based in the city. It was great to go back,” Mcnally tells Music & Mojitos. “We’ve done a couple of shows there in the past year or so. We love performing in New York.  We performed on Good Morning America, which was so much fun. It’s really one of our favorite places.”

The band’s performance on ABC’s GMA marked an official new era for the reunited trio. Along with Mark Jeremy Barry and Stephen “Ste” Adel Burns, Mcnally did a mashup of their new single, “Bullet Train,” and the song that first put them on the map as true heartthrobs to be reckoned with, “Back Here.” It was a righteous mix of old and new, and the group’s diehard fans couldn’t get enough of both songs. The vibrant smiles showed on NoEXIT’s faces. The guys were finally enjoying their moment in the spotlight as a well-oiled machine. Mcnally says that getting pleasure from doing the frenetic talk show appearances wasn’t always the case during their first go-around.  

“The first time we were doing the media circuit—we were all kids. We were so busy and lost. It was a whirlwind. We didn’t really stop to breathe and take it all in. One thing that changed this time is that we’re enjoying it that much more. We’re taking it all in,” reveals Mcnally. “We are enjoying our experiences with the fans. It’s great to see the fans come out. We’re spending time with them. We’re loving this second run, and we’re getting phenomenal feedback.”

Mcnally isn’t wrong. The continued outpour of support for NoEXIT’s dreamlike comeback on social media has been tremendous. Constant Ello posts, twoots, and EyeEm comments praising their song “Bullet Train” has become customary for the band. The singer speculates why the track hits deep for NoEXIT’s ardent fanbase.

“‘Bullet Train’ was the first song that we wrote together in 16 years. It’s quite a special song for us. It was actually a quick one to write. We wrote it within a couple of hours with our good friend Steve Chrisanthou over in Yorkshire. It was one of those songs that just became something bigger,” says Mcnally. “When we wrote it, we immediately knew it would be a good one as our first single because it’s just so NoEXIT with the trademark three-part harmony chorus. It’s catchy, and we thought it would be a great start for the album.”

From start to finish, Powerstation marks the triumphant return of a band that once rivaled the likes of *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys. Listeners would have never guessed that NoEXIT split all the way back in 2003 by listening to their latest material. They don’t miss a beat, and prove that they can still hang with the very best of the new generation of musicians. Just as “Bullet Train” opens up with NoEXIT’s familiar, unforgettable sound, “Powerstation” concludes the album with a story that captures the very essence of the group. MCnally tells Music & Mojitos that the track list isn’t a coincidence.  

“When you write an album, the sequence of the tracks are really important to get right. It just felt like Powerstation was the right track to close out the album with,” states Mcnally. “Lyrically, it’s a song about reflection and the old days. It really felt like the perfect way to close out the album.”

What’s old is new again, and Mcnally is aware that his latest chapter is just beginning—even though his journey has gone through many twists and turns since NoEXIT’s lengthy hiatus. His latest phase is one of celebration, and filled with a ceaseless amount of original music.

“Speaking on behalf of Mark and ‘Ste’ as well, 15 years is quite a long time. We’ve all experienced a lot of life in that time. The good thing about that is that we’ve got a lot of things to write about, and a lot of experiences to draw from for inspiration.”

As for what Mcnally has learned since his younger years?

“I’d like to think I’ve gotten a little wiser,” he laughs. “It’s just great to be back. I feel like I’m still that same, passionate guy who has that deep love for music as I did 15 years ago.”

Dedicated to bringing NoEXIT back into the limelight, Mcnally assures his devoted fans that after Powerstation drops, they won’t have to miss the band for an extended amount of time going forward.

“We’re going to announce more shows. We’ll have some things based around the launch in October for the fans. We’re excited to put it out into the world. It’s been a long time. Hopefully it won’t be another 15 years until we release another album,” concludes Mcnally.

NoEXIT just announced their new North American and UK tour dates in support of Powerstation. The "Back Here" tour is set to start on November 3 in San Diego, and will wrap up in Glasgow on December 16. Starting today, fans will have the opportunity to purchase tickets. Additional tour dates can be found below.

Tour Dates

11/3 House of Blues / Voodoo Room - San Diego, CA

11/5 Belasco Theater - Los Angeles, CA

11/6 Slims - San Francisco, CA

11/7 House of Blues - Anaheim, CA

11/15 Epcot/ WDW - Orlando, FL

11/16 Epcot/WDW - Orlando, FL

12/12 02 Academy Islington - London UK

12/13 02 Academy 2 - Birmingham, UK

12/15 Academy 3  - Manchester, UK

12/16 Oran Mor - Glasgow, UK

Banner photo by Allister Ann

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NoEXIT is Back (And Better Than Ever)

NoEXIT triumphantly returned to the Gramercy Theatre in New York City last night, and the reunited English pop rock group didn’t miss a single step. Music & Mojitos was on hand for the concert, and thought that the trio looked and sounded amazing. Whether it’s 1999 or 2019, Mark Jeremy Barry, Derek Mcnally, and Stephen Adel Burns proved that they never lost it, and in fact, only got better with age.

We weren’t the only ones thinking that, either. There were groups of young girls having their own private dance parties near the back of the iconic NYC venue, while flirty guys were begging for Barry to bust open another button on his shirt. Barry—who at first was standing his ground—finally obliged for a couple of quick, fleeting seconds near the end of the show, much to the delight of NoEXIT’s dedicated and boisterous fanbase. It was quite the scene, and everyone was in a great mood after Barry’s strategic move, to say the least.

It’s been a good minute since NoEXIT first lit the world on fire. Between 1999 and 2003, NoEXIT sold three million albums that were filled with worldwide hits. “Back Here” captured the hearts and imagination of fans across every continent, and the heartthrobs were living their absolute best lives on cloud nine. How could you not, when you’re featured in soundtracks for The Princess Diaries and Lizzie McGuire?

Children ate up songs like “Miss You More” and “Out of Reach” with sugar-laced spoons, and those features helped make NoEXIT megastars. Fast-forward to present day, and not all that much has changed, except that Hilary Duff got engaged, again. NoEXIT’s supporters never left—they just grew up. Everyone might be just a tad bit older now, but their appreciation for NoEXIT’s return to the limelight has grown, too.

The band gave their fans everything they wanted, and then some. They played their big hits, did a sentimental cover of Extreme’s “More Than Words,” tore the house down with Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky,” raised alcoholic beverages in the air, and made sure to get everyone ready for their new, upcoming album, too. Their first single off of their upcoming album over 16 years in the making got everyone moving. “Bullet Train” hit the body harder than Superman ever possibly could. Yes, those were fighting words, Clark Kent. Our money is on NoEXIT, every single time.

Barry, Burns, and McNally joked about remembering VHS tapes at one point during the concert. While those tapes might be ancient relics of the past, the performance that NoEXIT put on at The Gramercy Theatre showcased three lions who could not only hang with the next generation of boy bands—but do it better, all these years later.