As far as music collections go, everyone has a few skeletons in their closet. Those first couple of albums bought in 7th or 8th grade usually don’t reflect the updated tastes of the owner.

Although that is true for fans, musical growth is not exclusive to them. Artists also commonly change their styles as their experiences shape their outlook on life — or they simply grow up.

The latter goes for teen pop star Aaron Carter.

“For the past three years, I’ve been looking for a new sound,” he says.

In fact, the now-17-year-old star has come a long way since he released “Aaron’s Dance Party” in 2000.

On the heels of the release of his new single “Saturday Night,” Carter is hoping to show the music world what he is capable of.

“I’m going to be writing pretty much all the stuff on the new album,” he says. “I want to be seen as a real artist.”

Carter seems to have the right idea about the steps he is taking to accomplish this goal.

In addition to writing his own music, he says he is also out to do something new that will stand out amid the backdrop of pop music, which he thinks is less than cutting edge.

“Don’t get me wrong, music is really good nowadays,” he says. “It’s just not really original.”

To breathe new life into his music, Carter says this time around, he was able to do more of what he wanted and come out with a product he is proud of.

“I definitely have more creative control,” he says. “I can’t be performing something I’m not comfortable with.”

He says the music he feels comfortable performing is not only the music he likes, but the music he has written is about the world he lives in, not something written to please his audience.

“I have a lot of stuff to write about,” he says. “This is my life — I don’t know what school is, first period or any of those things, but checking mics and interviews, I know those like the back of my hand.”

There is little room to doubt that he knows the wear and tear of life on the road — he says for the past six years he has spent seven or eight months on the road, bringing his upbeat pop to audiences across the country.

“It’s hard to deal with being on the road — you don’t get to see your family,” Carter says.

Literally growing up on the road has been tough for the teen and has required him to grow up faster than most kids his age. He says it is something he enjoys doing enough to keep up with it for a long time, though.

“It’s definitely made me a lot more mature,” he says. “It’s just a crazy life.”

Who: Aaron Carter

Where: Val Air Ballroom, 301 Ashworth Road, West Des Moines

When: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Cost: $22 advance, $25 door