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Darren Hayes was the
frontman of Savage Garden. It wasn't exactly a matter of choice as bandmate Daniel Jones
was notorious for his reluctance to take on a more prominent role in the group. Jones
opted to take the backseat approach while Hayes was the face and voice of the Australian
duo.Now the face the music world has come to recognise so intimately has taken on a whole
new look. The always-in-place dark hair has grown into its natural blond hue and is
shag-cut to give Hayes a grungier image. No longer so clean-shaven, the stubble dotting
his face seems to complete a transformation which more than hints at the change that has
taken place.The face says it all. Hayes is a new man and a new musician. If you have not
already guessed it, Hayes has taken the solo route with his debut album Spin. The first
single Insatiable, which by the way is a roaring hit, offers a glimpse of Hayes on his
own. How did it feel going back
into the studio on your own this time?
Recording a solo album was a bit hard. I've been with Daniel (Jones) for nearly 10 years.
It was just two albums but we've sold over 20 million copies. We've travelled the world
(to do promos), we did two huge world tours, we've sat together and made all the
decisions, wrote all the songs and produced the music. Daniel was my co-pilot. We were
Savage Garden. So, doing it on my own was a little scary. I wasn't sure if I could do it
and that's the truth. It took me a year to make this album because I wrote about 35 songs
in order to find the right ones I felt was a good representation and collection of who I
was musically, on my own.
Writing that many songs, was it a
process to get Savage Garden out of your system too?
I knew if I was going to make a solo album, it had to sound like a solo record and not an
imitation of where I had been. It was more a process of finding out who I was and taking
responsibility for more the music even though Daniel and I wrote the music together
(previously). This time in the studio, it was all on me. That was a very empowering
feeling.
Was there any instinct or impulse to
get as far away from Savage Garden as possible?
I didn't consciously set out to make a record that sounded the opposite of Savage Garden.
I set out to make a record that sounded like the music I buy and the music that I listen
to. I basically had to deliver myself. I listened again to the records of my youth, like
Michael Jackson and Marvin Gaye (who greatly influenced Hayes' singing style). Now I had
to apply that to what I love about today's music - the electronica and R&B. I kinda
combined them all. And that was definitely a very conscious decision.
What was the final selection
criteria?
Choosing the songs was very simple. I burned a CD, put my own songs in the car (all 35 of
them) and then took a drive. I paid attention to the songs I would skip over because I
thought they were boring, therefore they don't belong on the album. I think the album
requires a few cups of coffee and a pretty good attention span. It's like a Steven
Spielberg film - it's big, bright, poppy and fun.
What would you say is the main
difference between Spin and Savage Garden?
Spin Is much funkier. You know, I am interested in electronica and a lot of the album is
completely electronica - drum machines, samples, grooves, a DJ working on discs. It
reflects the music that makes me move. I wanted to make an album - even though there are
ballads there because that's what people would expect from me - that I thought was very
cool.
The Darren Hayes of Savage Garden and
the Darren Hayes now look different. What about the image change?
I'm like anybody. I've got different shades and colours. I think my solo work and the
person you see here today is a lot more complete and a truer representation of myself. I
was 22 years old, my hair was dyed black, my image was beautiful but I couldn't control
myself. When I wanted to change my hair colour back to its natural colour, my record
company would freak out. So, to me at the moment, starting from the way I look, how I
write my music and the way I sing is the way I am. This feels most comfortable. Whether
people like it or not, this to me is who I am.
It will take some time before the
comparisons between you and Savage Garden - whether in sales or music - die off. Is that
something that bothers you?
Being associated with Savage Garden songs will never bother me. I would sing those songs
on stage when I do my solo stuff. That's the way it is with Annie Lennox and Eurythmics,
Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac. I'm not ashamed of it. I'm proud of it. I'm just sort of
moving on.
How do you feel about someone
like Robbie Williams who has successfully made the transition from a group to a solo
artiste? Are you ready to be that kind of celebrity?
I feel like I have always been a little charmed, a little blessed because I sing. So
singing my songs on stage, producing them, I do that in my sleep. It's the celebrity part,
the taking pictures, that's the part I've never really enjoyed. But with a solo album,
people want to make your life personal. They care about what you look like, how you're
dressed, who you're dating. I've just encountered that recently; it's been a shock to me.
I've always been able to hide behind the shelter of Savage Garden. I think I'll be OK. The
music will speak for itself.
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