BITE ME! Darren Hayes Interview

Darren Hayes by Nikki Neil

In 1997 an Australian duo known as Savage Garden took the world by storm. The outfit sold over 20 million records and called it quits in 2001. In 2002 the group’s charismatic lead singer Darren Hayes released his first solo debut titled ‘Spin,’ which was followed up by ‘The Tension and the Spark’ (2004). Two years later Darren and his longtime label, Columbia Records, parted ways. The split allowed Darren to explore other creative outlets for his music.

On August 23, 2007 Darren will unleash his third solo effort—a double disc set titled This Delicate Thing We’ve Made—on his own label, Powdered Sugar. The buzz on the album is already hot as fans have been given a sneak peak on Darren’s myspace page and via a few select gigs around the world. For Darren and his fans the release of This Delicate Thing We’ve Made marks the beginning of a new era.

BM: When I first saw the video for “I Want You” I remember saying, “These guys are going to be huge.” Was it difficult adjusting to that kind of success?

D: ONLY in hindsight. At the time I was just grateful that my dreams were coming true. It's funny now to look back and see the statistics of the radio play and the Billboard number 1’s, etc… and say “Wow!” At the time it just happened so fast that I didn't really take it in, which is probably good because today I wouldn't wish that kind of craziness into my life - yet that tremendous success made me able to do what I do today, so it was a necessary evil.

Do you still talk to Daniel? If so, what is he up to?

Oh lord no! Bands are not unlike relationships. When you break up with someone it's usually for the best. I care about him and am grateful for the music we made together, but we're very different people these days. His departure was not the noblest of gestures and for a long time I was angry about the way he went about it. Years later I've let that go, but obviously the same can be said of the relationship.

Over the course of your career you’ve sold millions of records, was it a shock when Columbia decided to let you go?

Well, no because the truth is I wanted to leave first. I really wanted to leave, and I was strongly advised to let them be the first to initiate it because of the horror stories I'd heard about artists kept in limbo for years (i.e. George Michael), so it was sort of a drag to have to wait around for them to decide they didn't want me anymore. But, I'd made my peace with my wanting to leave years beforehand. It's funny because all of the people who used to work on my records and who signed me and eventually dropped me have since been fired, so I get a slight satisfaction out of that.

Is Powdered Sugar your own label?

It is indeed and essentially it couldn't have existed had I not had the success of my earlier career and sold the amount of records I did. I own everything. I pay for everything. I sign off on everything. At the moment we are a tiny team of 4 people, but I'm hoping one day to have more people in the team and possibly put out records for another artist I believe in.

What distribution channels will you be using?

All indie all the way. It's great because the companies I've done deals with all use major label distribution anyway. So, although I'm operating under much smaller budgets I have all the control I ever wanted and still have the ability to get my records into stores.

On your Myspace page the word beautiful is often used to describe your music. Where do you derive your inspiration from?

Gosh, it's so endless. First of all from emotional experiences, and they date back from childhood all the way through to yesterday. I just react really to the world through my eyes and then movements in modern music inspire me…film, art, poetry…I soak it all up and then when I hear a piece of music or play a chord my emotions just pour out and become a song.

Do you have anything special planned for the albums release date.

Everything special. I have been doing some pretty incredible things already. For example, I blogged literally every day during the recording process. I have never allowed anyone in on that process before, but it was really useful having a forum to air my thoughts during the making of a record. Then I decided to simultaneously hire animators to create shorts for 13 of the tracks on the record and they are slowly being revealed online. Eventually, we'll put out a 5.1 surround sound DVD of the record with all the animations. Then there are the tiny club appearances I've been doing around the world including regular shows in London at the Soho Revue Bar. This will all lead up to a massively theatrical presentation live in the UK and Australian tour in the autumn.

Was there a central point of inspiration for This Delicate Thing We’ve Made?

I'd say reflection probably. The front cover of the album depicts a diagram of an origami bird, and for me it's symbolic of the process of living. All our experiences, good and bad, create permanent changes (folds, scars?) in our lives and the result is who we become. The 'delicate thing' is our unique stories.

Is there a feeling or message you want your fans to come away with after listening to the album?

Well yeah, that every moment counts and that you can choose happiness.

As an artist do you feel some responsibility to be a positive role model to your fans?

No, but I feel that I am to be honest. I don't think I could be a true artist if I felt that my actions or expressions were being curbed or modified to make sure I was a setting a good example. However, the way I live my life and the courage I've had to find in my own struggles is something I love sharing with the world. I feel so happy when I get letters of solidarity from people who relate to either my growing up with alcoholism and violence or my struggle to be comfortable being gay.

Did you expect your fans to be so supportive after you came out or was there some fear there that you would lose some of them?

First of all, I have never made a single career move based on financial repercussions, but I certainly was afraid I'd receive negative reactions. As a sensitive person I certainly didn't look forward to criticism. In my worst fears I perhaps imagined a lynch mob mentality from more conservative quarters, but that really hasn't happened. Overwhelmingly, the reaction was positive and so supportive, but I put that down to the fact that I never said I wasn't gay. I never lied to my audience, and I think they respected that. Coming out to your family is hard enough. Imagine having to do that to the whole world! It's a lot of pressure, and I couldn't have asked for a more understanding family or audience.

Is there anyone that you feel is a positive role model for an individual that is struggling with their sexual identity?

Gosh, there are so many: Sir Ian McKellen, the incredible English actor. Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters. I adore Rosie O'Donnell. There seems to be more and more people coming out these days, which helps but when I was growing up it was tough to find inspiration or role models I related to. The media tended to polarize gay people and we were either offered up clichés of ‘over camp’ and ‘over the top’ flamboyant stereotypes or gay people were forced out of the closet because they were dying. Neither option necessarily spoke to me! And, I imagine many young people my age would say the same. What I love about my coming out—and people like Dan Gillepse from the group The Feeling—is that we offer, which is an alternative example to those two dimensional gay personalities that Hollywood and television had given us for years. It's amazing today when I log on to MySpace and I get a message from a 16 year old that has ticked the box 'gay' in their profile. I could never have imagined being so clear in my sexual identity at that age! And, that is just evidence that young people are starting to feel better about who they are.

How did you become involved with the Trevor Project?

I'd been looking for a cause to put my passion into for a while. I had done some work in Australia with an organization called 'Positive Kids' that raised money for camps and counseling for young people with Aids. When I expressed to my team in America that I wanted to find a way to reach out to gay youth they told me about the Trevor hotline and, as I explained above, the idea that you can offer a kind ear to young people who are confused and scared about who they are - it seemed the perfect fit. I want to be able to stand up proud and say, “Look at me! I got the record deal, I had the hits, and I ended up with the gorgeous guy. It's possible to have it all!”

Are you involved with any other organizations?

I always feel so cheesy speaking about this out loud. I support keepachildalive.org as well, which is an organization that provides money for the basic HIV mediation for children in Africa who are living with Aids. It's devastating because the smallest amount of money literally keeps a child alive. I would encourage anyone who can afford loose change to visit their website and understand how the cost of your daily Starbucks latte can pay to keep a whole family alive each week.

In addition to your tour will you be performing at any gay friendly events?

I've been doing a few in the last few years to be honest. I did Mardi Gras in Sydney 2 years ago and Pride in Stockholm last year. I perform regularly at a notoriously gay club called 'The Soho Revue' bar, so I'd say I'm making myself available to my kind! LOL.

Who are some of your favorite fashion designers?

Wow the deep questions. It's so weird to jump from children with Aids to fashion. I don't know. I tend to be quite lazy when it comes to fashion. I adore the incredible skill involved in high fashion, but hate to be a public person who is essentially advertising expensive clothing that they get for free. I pay for all of my designer clothes but will resist advertising them for free. He, he.

What can fans expect to see when they see Darren Hayes now?

Personal connection. I give a piece of myself up live on stage each night. I feel proud to be able to sing, and I don't think of it as something that makes me special. I think of it as luck of the draw freak of nature and almost my duty to use it for good. It exhausts me emotionally more than physically because it's real to me.

Is there anything you would like to say to your fans?

I speak to them all the time on my message board and on MySpace. They know I adore them. I have the most loyal and compassionate audience a performer could wish for and I'm grateful to them every day.

For more on Darren Hayes visit: www.darrenhayes.com or myspace.com/darrenhayes

For more information on the Trevor Project visit: www.thetrevorproject.org

Also check out: keepachildalive.org