Click on the article pictures to view them in full size
   
Love Soul and...computers?
"I was searching for a challenge, I wanted to make an electronic record, in order to
inject sentiment into computers". and a challenge for a person who they define as a
soul singer, but the soul of white men.
Darren Hayes grew up listening to Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder, artist
who, in the eighties, influenced singers like David Bowie, Hall and Oates and Robert
Palmer.
Was it difficult to manage to give soul to a computer?
I spent a lot of time in Savage Garden, and there I felt restricted, i couldn't explore
the music that I wanted to. With my solo album, i worked with people that I always wanted
and could make the music that i like to hear, so it was really fun. At first, I was scared
because I didn't know if I could do it, but when I saw the result and I realised what I
had managed to do, it all became fun again. Working with computers is something everyone
has done, Madonna has done it, pop music is played with keyboards and computers, but for
someone like me, famous for making ballads and love songs, it was a challenge and
something I enjoyed a lot.
The change in Darren is well known, even, his image, you have seen, has been affected,
"I like to think that I am evolving, to become a person full of love. Once again,
that is the reason why Darren has chosen to make a "record with which people can
dance to, but at the same time, is full of emotions. In order to do this, we've included
some acoustic instruments, an orchestra, but above all, we emphasized the electronic
sounds....I think that music is very lively, and the record deals with that. It's said
that music and melody could be something spiritual, similar to a modern religion. I think
that when you can create, dance or sing, you find a space full of freedom/liberty forever
and it gives you a feeling of happiness.
Now that you mentioned love, this record is full of songs with lyrics of love, a very
human feeling, whilst the music is electronic, totally opposite. Was it difficult to
combine the lyrics with the music?
Not at all, it balanced perfectly. It was really interestiing to have this type of
catharsis, a music totally opposite to my voice, I have a very soft voice. I wanted to
make something very sincere and combine music full of small noises (eh?). It resulted in
something very interesting.
Discovered.
Without saying goodbye to, or being embarrased of his past, the ex-Savage Garden singer
writes his new songs on the basis of his experiences. "'Like it or not' - when i talk
of being a traveller and I feel as if i'm inside a suitcase it's because thats how i feel
when I'm on tour. It's as if you could pack all my life into two suitcases. When this
happens I ask myself 'so it this me?' - two small suitcases is all that my life is.
There is a rumour that says that Daniel (the other member of Savage Garden) found out
about the break up of the group through an article in the newspaper. Is it true?
That was just a rumour, in fact the idea of separating came from Daniel, we had even made
this decision years ago. What happened was that the newspaper brought out the news early.
I think it was the plan of the media to put us as enemys, nothing more. The main reason
for us separating, is that we had grown in different directions.
How do you feel when you sing live now that Daniel is not there?
The first time I sang without Daniel I was very nervous,. it took me 5 minutes to get used
to it, and after I had a feeling that made me want to do this for the rest of my life. In
fact, the first time I was really scared, and the last time it felt as if I had done it
all my life, i think that this is going to be something good. A period to grow, change and
find new challenges.
Underneath the Sea
The last time they interviewed you for the magazine you commented that you have been
*scuba diving* in Mexico, Where do you prefer to scuba dive, in the Aussie water or in
Mexico?
You know, I have never been Scuba Diving in Australia, but as you say I have in Mexico,
and I'm used to doing it in Hawaii. My experience in Mexico was very special because it
was the first time i went scuba diving so Mexico is definitely one of my favourite places.
What do you like most about Scuba Diving?
You feel as if you're flying, as if you were an astronaut who's putting his feet on the
moon, because there, there is no gravity and under there water there is a lot; i feel free
and it gives me the opportunity to think a lot.
What is the most impressive thing you've seen under the sea?
A small shark which scared me and at the same time I was really excited because i was very
close to it and scared a lot, it wasn't a trick it was something fantastic. Seeing your
friends through a visor in a place where the only expression is your eyes is incredible,
you see things that you couldn't in any other way; with your eyes wide and their eyes
wide, these moments under the water are extraordinary.
|