Adam Anders co-wrote the massive Backstreet Boys hit "More Than That". The melodic voice of his wife Nikki Hassman is on the soundtrack of "The Wedding Planner". Together they wrote "When You Love", sung by Sinead O'Connor on the score of "Rugrats in Paris".

And last week they were in Thailand polishing a pair of songs for the Tata Young album coming out next month.

"Everybody says I look Asian," Nikki said during an interview. "I think it's a compliment!"

Asked to pitch in on Tata's record, the New York couple made their first visit to Asia.

"Tata told us how beautiful Thailand was, and that we had to come here."

So, was Tata sexy, naughty and bitchy?

"We had a great connection," Nikki said. "She was warm, really genuine."

"She hasn't been naughty," Adam added. "Sexy?" He hesitated and half turned to Nikki.

"Sexy - I can say that!"

The songs in question are "Zoom" and "Back Out of This".

"We looked at Tata's vocal range, what she's going through and the types of music she likes to sing," said Adam.

"'Back Out of This' is about her wanting to back out of a relationship, but wanting to do it in the gentlest way possible. It's got a hip-hop flare to it," added Nikki, who sang backup on the track.

"'Zoom' is about getting to know the real Tata… every artist wants people to get to know the real them, rather than what everyone thinks they are."

The duo have worked with Steven Curtis Chapman, Jesse McCartney, Billy Crawford, CeCe Winans, Sarah Paxton, JC Chasez and Tiffany Evans.

"We see other artists perform and we get jealous," Adam joked.

Topping their individual success as a producer and songwriter, they're about to sign with a major record label as Roomfortwo, with a debut album planned for mid-2007.

Any plans for revisiting Thailand?

"Maybe a tour with Tata," Adam said, "but I don't think so, since we have different kinds of music. Ours is more adult contemporary, more mature, deeper lyrically."

Adam started out playing bass at 16 in Florida and Nashville, working for various artists, including Nikki.

She'd realised her dream to be a singer with the "contemporary Christian" group Avalon, then signed with Tommy Mottola at Columbia Records. Mottola's departure from the label meant only two of her songs were released.

The two have written several pieces for Nick Lachey, erstwhile husband of Jessica Simpson - "mostly love songs when Jessica and Nick were together" - but they write all kinds of music.

Nikki likes country, hip-hop and straight pop. Andy prefers Abba and arty types, including Sting and Tom Petty.

In songwriting, though, they share simple principles.

"It's a good song is when you can perform it with one instrument," Adam said.

"If there's too many electronics and technical things, that means the song is not good."

"And if a song can be carried melodically, it's a good song," Nikki added.

Hear some of Adam and Nikki's tunes at www.myspace.com/roomfortwomusic.

Lisnaree Vichitsorasatra

The Nation