Go Pop Hit Interview
(March 29)


How different from Savage Garden is "Darren Hayes"?
Sexier, beatier and I think it's more 'up'. This is the kind of music I listen to and this is what I think has been missing. It's more indicative of what I buy.

Will Savage Garden fans get it?
I think the first single is pretty much a bridge. My voice, my lyrics, my melodies, my ideas, they're all there. It's a pop record and I'm a pop freak. The records I listen to shape the things I write and it's Basement Jaxx, it's the new Kylie record, Daft Punk, and Air.

Is it weird to be on your own now?
Doing interviews isn't because I always did them on my own. The last record I promoted totally on my own. It was just something that Daniel really wasn't happy doing, travelling and being a public person. The reason we had such a great chemistry musically was because we didn't hang out. Eventually he realised he probably didn't want to do it anymore.

Was it a surprise to you when he said he didn't want to do Savage Garden anymore?
It was a great surprise when it initially happened. He sat down and just said, 'Look, here's the deal and I'm glad that I've told you'. Then we had a year of concert tours and we were really good friends then and talked very honestly. So by the time the tour was over, I was ready. I'd had a year to think about what I wanted to do and I'd started writing songs with other people.

Did that feel weird after always writing with him?
Yeah, I was like 18 when I met him and there's a certain amount of insecurity that you take with you when you work with someone else. You think, 'How much of it was me? Y'know, am I good?

And how much of it was you?
A lot, which was great! It was very affirming because it made me take responsibility, not just for song writing but also production. I co-produced this record.

If you walk down the street, do you get mobbed?
I could walk down the street and no-one would know who I was, especially right now. The most famous people in the world might have that problem - we're talking Kylie, Madonna, Michael Jackson, but I try and play that stuff down. All I know is that the people in my life really aren't affected because I'm not affected. It's not too hard not to end up in the tabloids. I might go to a movie premiere but in general I've been a really reluctant celebrity and I'm glad of that.

But don't pop stars want to be famous?
It's never really been about the perks. What was the first rock show you ever went to see? Do you remember the feeling just before they came on stage? That feeling is why I do it. I still get excited every time I see a show.

Are you friends with that other famous Aussie, Kylie?
I've got her number but I never call it! I met her when I got off a plane to LA and there was Kylie. She sees me and she runs up and gives me a hug and a kiss. We've just seen each other on television and we're Australian so we hug and kiss while all my friends are standing around. Then we said, 'Bye! I'll call you!' I mean, I didn't even have her number! Then I went to the album launch of Light Years and hung out with her a bit and at the Olympics we exchanged numbers. But I don't feel like I'm in that league...

For more information, check into www.darrenhayes.com