Nick Jonas donning Dolce & Gabbana for VMAN magazine. VMAN says “The 17-year-old [Nick] has, up till now, been known as the curly-haired, youngest sibling in the Jonas Brothers. He wasn’t the lead singer; that duty fell to the more flamboyant middle brother, Joe. But he was the driving force, the songwriter, the image-maker, the brains.”

more Nick after the jump…

We knew Nick’s the brains and now with Nick going solo on the side, the world just has to take him very seriously. Perhaps we have the next Justin Timberlake in the making? As Hollywoodlife puts it.

Highlights of the Nick’s VMAN interview:

On his musical roots:

“My real musical discovery started when I was 10 with Stevie Wonder and the Jackson 5, and acts that I connected with because they were young when they were doing it, like me.”

On his heroes, the Kings of Leon:

“I admire Kings of Leon. I think their records are amazing,” said Jonas. “It’s cool to see that they get to do what they love. But I think they clearly have an appreciation for where they came from, and it has shaped who they are.”

On the HOT photos, and breaking free from his brothers:

“With the record, with the art, I do want to express myself fully; express the thoughts and stories and ideas that I have,” said Jonas, “And I think on this record I did the best job I could with that.”

Click over to VMan to read the entire interview.

Do you think Nick is going to be as big as Justin Timberlake over the years? I think so!

photos: Mario Testino for VMan