Steroboard Speaks To Darren Hayes About New Material, Fans & What To Expect Next (Interview)
Friday, 22 July 2011
Written by V O'Hagan
Earlier this week Australian singer songwriter Darren Hayes announced four live shows in the UK, ahead of the October release of his brand new studio album 'Secret Codes & Battleships'. The shows will be the first full-scale UK performances since Darren’s sold out Royal Albert Hall show in 2007. Stereoboard caught up with Darren for a quick chat about his new material and what's new for the coming year.
Are you excited by releasing new material after four years, or is it a bit daunting?
It's been such a long journey to get to this point I'm relieved more than anything. The music industry is a very uncertain and nervous business these days and it's hard for artists to keep positive being caught up in that kind of pessimism. We really believe in this album and I'm just grateful I've been given the opportunity to put it out.
You once said that your favourite novelist was Anne Rice. Your husband’s name is Richard Cullen. What is it that’s so attractive about vampires?
You know how you have those 'wish I'd never said that' moment in your life? Well multiply that by the magnification of the internet and you'll understand how I feel about my one time Anne Rice infatuation. I did love her first books and the name of my band did come from one of her novels but more out of a desperation to come up with a band name on a deadline. I'm not a vampire lover per se, and I've never watched Twilight - I just loved the description of their world by Anne Rice as a bittersweet Savage Garden. I thought the phrase fit our music perfectly.
You once said that fame was fraudulent, escapist and characterized by self-hatred. Have you overcome those feelings now?
I had about a ten second window at the beginning of my career when all I wanted was to succeed. Like most musicians seeking the love of a crowd I was a bit damaged and I thought that the love and attention of fame would fill something missing in me emotionally. Obviously that didn't happen, but I worked that out very quickly and thankfully found what I was looking for in the art. There's always going to be the fantasy of transformation and escapism in my music because ultimately that's the role that music played in my youth, and the themes have never stopped repeating in my music. But I got over the fame aspect very early on. Looking back I realise my music video for 'Popular' is really taking an axe to the 'celebrity' part of my career. I'm not sure even I understood it at the time but when I look back now I realise what I was saying is : I wanted to be an artist. Today I really feel like I'm allowed to be.
You have some pretty loyal fans out there. Do you think this new record will satisfy all of their rampant Darren Hayes needs?
I think I'm lucky to have a very understanding audience who have let me grow and evolve as an artist. There are times when I make a record that is strange and less commercial and I lose favour with fans of my pop material. The converse happens when I make more commercial choices with the fans of my more angular work. But both camps are very loyal and allow me to make those choices. But this record I think is a real hybrid of those styles. I felt like being melodic and big and accessible but thematically it's still as layered and emotional as my darker work so I think this could be the album that brings about peace talks!
And finally, what’s new for the coming year?
Promo Promo Promo. Tons of TV and press leading up to an October release for the album. I want to tour small venues in the UK and Australia at the end of the year and possibly a handful of U.S dates with my eye on a larger more elaborate tour for 2012.
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You have some pretty loyal fans out there. Do you think this new record will satisfy all of their rampant Darren Hayes needs?
