http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/music/interviews/Darren+Hayes+interview-100009.html Interview: Darren Hayes
05 October 2011
In our in-depth chat with the former Savage Garden man, he talks about his new album, Star Wars, finishing his degree and the future.
Former Savage Garden member Darren Hayes returns on 17th October with Secret Codes And Battleships, his first solo album in four years.
The second single from that album ('Black Out The Sun') was released on Sunday, and we chatted to Darren a few days before it's release.
We spoke to him about his Star Wars audition, the new album, adjusting to his career after Savage Garden and wanting to be a chef.
-You've got the new single out on Sunday. Are you excited for it?
I'm excited for the album, to be honest. I mean, I love 'Black Out The Sun', I'm really grateful for the airplay it's got and that stuff, but I just feel it's about the record really. I'm relieved the album's coming out, it's been four years. That's more my focus to be honest.
-Do you think the heavy download culture, and people picking songs of iTunes, has made singles less important now?
Ah, that's a good question! Yes and no, because sometimes a single can sell extraordinarily well, and no-one touches an album. Other times, I know with my record, our plan was to release a lot of music up front.
For me, it's about giving people reasons to buy a record. It depends who you are, and it depends on your age. I've been doing this for 20 years, and I don't at all I think I'm someone who's going to be in the Chart Show in two weeks. I think of myself as someone who, hopefully, slowly and steadily sells a record.
-Do you still get a buzz around the release, perhaps just around the album then, after all those years?
Oh, for all of it, of course! I think anyone who creates anything, whether it's yourself as a writer, anyone - when you finish something, it's gone from being just your thing and it's out there, it's a great release.
For me, I think specifically with this record...it was such a hard flog, which I'm proud of, but it took years to make. There were definitely days when I didn't think it was gonna see the light of day. So, that alone is exciting.
-Like you said, it's taken you four years to get it finished. Has it been hard sitting on some of the earlier tracks from those sessions?
Yeah, and I think you can doubt yourself. You start to second-guess your first instincts. You have to remember that the first time you heard a song and played it to the people around you...that's your first reaction. You can get bored of that.
You start to second-guess things, and you can complicate the matter. I think that was difficult, trying to put that into perspective and not doubt myself. I was aware of wanting to make sure I was making music that was at least relevant today, and wasn't desperately hip, not trying to be something I'm not. It took a while to get that balance right.
-Did you do anything particularly differently this time round, in regards to the writing and recording?
Well, yeah. The biggest thing was that I opened up to constructive criticism. I think, having began a career where Savage Garden was just two people, myself and Daniel, we wrote everything. We virtually produced or co-produced everything.
Through success, it happens to some of the great artists - you can mistake that control for autonomy, and then suddenly, no-one's really questioning you.
On this record I allowed that outside voice… which is hard on your ego, but I really welcomed that. Going back to [former producers] as a 40 year old man, having the career I've had with ups and downs, it was a really humbling experience. I think they appreciated me being open to their input.
-Do you think that open mind set is the benefit of the experiences you've had over the last 20 years?
I think it's getting older. Certainly for me, when I left one successful thing, which was a bit of a phenomenon that I couldn't control, I had a chip on my shoulder in terms of not wanting to compete or compare to that.
It took me a while to realise...that's what I do naturally, I'm quite good at that. Making peace with that and getting over the chip on your shoulder only really happens if you've rebelled and grown up a bit.
-In our interview back in June, you mentioned that after each album you like to take a bit of time out to do something different. Do you have any ideas what you'll do this time?
[Laughing] Wow, that's a good question. God, I always have too many. I'd really love to go and do a chef's apprenticeship. I really would, I love cooking.
I'd love my degree from university, because I'm one subject away from having a Bachelor of Arts, which I know I can't use, but it annoys me. I probably should do that one subject. Yeah, I'd love to learn how to cook professionally, from scratch.
-Just taking a bit of time out after this then to see what happens?
I don't think I will, I'd like to. The reality is I'll probably go on a course for two weeks. To be fair, I think the next two years of my life are pretty much sewn up. I'm up for it.
I don't think second chances come very often, and I definitely feel like this is a second chance in my mainstream career. I'm excited about that.
-I wanted to ask a bit about the artwork for Secret Codes and Battleships. Was John Gilsenan [the designer] someone you respected?
Very much! My whole thing with this record was I wanted something tangible to balance out the digital world that we live in. I loved what he did. I knew that I wanted a collaged, maximist vibe for the front cover. I wanted a cover that you could get lost in.
I sent him a fan letter to say: "Look, this is what I'm doing". God, we did stuff for a year before he did the album cover. I told him the album title, and he made up symbols and codes.
He was involved even in the photo shoots, everything from the colours I wore, to the type-face. All that stuff is so important to me, because it's the stuff that got me into music as a child.
I would obsess over packaging, the credits. In terms of a world for a record to exist in, I was inspired by Prince, Michael Jackson's Dangerous, Fleetwood Mac's Tusk. Those kind of records where that world is so much a part of the music. The visuals, to me, are just as important as the sound.
-To get the whole package rather than a stand-alone song?
Just to paint a picture. You mentioned in the beginning about singles and the dismemberment of the album as an artform. I loved that this is a way for you to also see it as one whole work.
-I was told before the interview that I should ask you about your Star Wars audition?
[Laughing]God, it was embarrassing. I'm such a fan, I'm such a geek - I grew up obsessed with the movies, obviously. Basically, at the height of Savage Garden, for some reason we had an acting agent, which is hilarious because everyone in Hollywood had one.
I shocked them because I went to a meeting and said "I don't want to be in any films, I just want to be in Star Wars! Get me in that movie!" They eventually got me an audition for Episode III, the really bad one.
I sat in front of the casting director, and it was that classic Hollywood thing. She looked at me, looked at the script and actually said "I'm looking at you, I'm looking at the script, and I'm just like...I don't have anything for you".
I was like...okay. She said "Do you want to look at the set?" "Yes!" So, I got to walk around looking at the spaceships, so I was happy. There you go…my Hollywood career.
-You mentioned Episode III. I'd guess you weren't a big fan of the new trilogy?
No, not really at all, in any way, shape or form! I like the lightsabers, but that's about it.
-I'd also assume, then, you've not reacted brilliantly to the changes George Lucas is making for the Blueray release?
No, I haven't. I just think what would be really cool, and I think people are asking for is, he needs to make the original theatrical release, without any changes, on DVD and Blueray, and be done with it.
Let the moaners like me have that, it's all we want! Then go away and Photoshop anything you want into the films, we don't care. I think it's that idea of permanently changing cinema history. It's a disturbing thought.
-To round off, looking past the album, what do you have planned for the rest of the year?
To be fair, it's a lot of touring. I hope, come January, the third single 'Bloodstained Heart' will be taken to radio in the UK, then later in that year to the US. There's a lot planned, and a lot of hopes and dreams. All of it involves a lot of travelling and singing my arse off. I'm up for it, it's been a long time coming.
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