AOL-Australia Chat With Darren
Friday, April 5, 2002

Pop sensation DARREN HAYES chatted with AOL members about his hit solo album, Spin, and life after Savage Garden.

Live Host: Hi Darren :) Thanks so much for chatting with us tonight.

Darren Hayes: G'day cyberkids! It's your Uncle Darren :)

Live Host: We’ve got literally hundreds of questions for you, so let’s get straight into them.

Question: Hey Darren, I just want to start off by saying that I love your music. How has your solo career differed from life in Savage Garden?
Darren Hayes: I just want to start off by saying that I love you loving me :) My solo career is mostly just busier in the business department. I have to spend more time dealing with accountants and managers and lawyers, schedules, bands. But it's fun.

Question: Hi Darren! I LOVE your music, thanks for sharing so much of your heart & soul with us all. My question is: you have been doing some showcases for 'Spin', which song have you found gets the best audience reaction?? PS. I LOVE the new look too.
Darren Hayes: Well thank you! 'Good Enough' seems to be the song that people love most live. It's a gospel version of the song and it really hits home. But so far a lot of the up-tempo stuff is working really well.

Question: Can you tell us when your next single is going to come out and what it's about?
Darren Hayes: My next single is called 'Strange Relationship' and it's about everyone I've ever had. Tonight I think I'm actually insane, I've decided - but that's OK. I've just shot the video in Sydney, Australia and I have to say that it's the coolest thing I’ve ever done. It's a one-take video – details at 11!

Question: How long did the album Spin take to put together?
Darren Hayes: From writing to finishing the mix it took about one year.

Question: Is songwriting a form of therapy for you?
Darren Hayes: Songwriting definitely is cathartic - it's like free therapy. I'm very dramatic lately with my songwriting, so sometimes it can be very freeing to fantasise with my music and my lyrics, and almost play a character. I've enjoyed that.

Question: Hi Darren. Can I just tell you how much I LOVE your music. It has lifted me when nothing else could, so HUGE hugs to you! My question is: if you could choose just one song that you have written that you could be remembered by, what song would it be & why?
Darren Hayes: If I had to choose one song right now it would have to be 'Good Enough' because it really does convey a lot of the things I believe about life. But I'm really honoured that people relate to my lyrics, because I am a sucker for lyrics myself.

Question: Out of all of the great singers in the world, who would you love most of all to do a duet with?
Darren Hayes: Annie Lennox or Sarah McLachlan.

Question: Have you had any embarrassing moments onstage?
Darren Hayes: All the time. They usually involve me forgetting lyrics, and it's usually 'Any time I need to see your face I just blahblahblah' :)

Question: Are you planning on coming on tour in the US in 2002?
Darren Hayes: Yes. I want to tour everywhere!

Question: Who do you admire the most in the entertainment industry?
Darren Hayes: John Farnham - just kidding! I do like John very much, he's a very funny, friendly man. But probably Bono, because he's always using his celebrity for the greater good of mankind.

Question: Congratulations on your success now and in the past! Do you have any secret or special way in which you cope with the fame and all?
Darren Hayes: The second special way I cope with fame is doing yoga – it relaxes me.

Question: Hi Darren I have been a big fan of yours for a long time. I saw your show last night, I really enjoyed it. I love your solo album. Will you be doing live concerts in the future?
Darren Hayes: There will hopefully be some shows in Australia towards the end of the year and the rest of the world to follow - keep an eye on my website - www.darrenhayes.com or Keyword: Darren Hayes for dates

Question: Will u be releasing a DVD/ video with your songs and music videos later on???
Darren Hayes: I hope to release all the music videos from Spin eventually on DVD, sure.

Question: I think you’re great. Where do you get the inspiration for your songs?
Darren Hayes: I steal ideas from other people :) Just from life, like anyone else would. When I'm writing I keep a journal of ideas and melodies are always flowing around in my head. And my music is pretty much autobiographical; although on Spin I did have a little bit of fun with stepping outside myself.

Question: What was your first job when you were younger?
Darren Hayes: My first job was working for the milkman. I was underage, and if I had been caught I would have been fined. My 2nd job was working in a fruit store. Every time they rang a bell, like Pavlov's dogs, I would have to run out and carry boxes for married women to their cars. My third job was working at Woody's music store. My fourth job was working in a band with Daniel Jones called Rededge. My fifth job was a preschool teacher. And my sixth job was in this band called Savage Garden.

Question: What's the worst thing about being a pop star?
Darren Hayes: Commuting - the drive from the airport to the hotel, although apparently it's only 45 minutes wherever you are. I ask that question every time, thinking that the answer will be different, but it’s always 45 minutes!

Question: What type of music do you like to listen to in your free time?
Darren Hayes: I love music, all kinds of it. I don't know if my musical taste is very cool, because I listen to everything from my old Michael Jackson records to Fleetwood Mac. Lately I've been getting into this band called Basement Jaxx, and there's this band from the UK called Spiritualize that's very cool.

Question: Where in the world do you like performing the most?
Darren Hayes: Where in the world don't I? Probably Brisbane Entertainment Centre. Hopefully not falling off the stage, as I have done at that particular venue. A hometown crowd's always good. But my favourite ever gig was in a little club in Brazil.

Question: What is your favourite childhood memory?
Darren Hayes: My favourite childhood memory is the year that I got all my Star Wars toys for Christmas. We were very poor, living in a caravan park, and we had Big Rooster chicken for Christmas dinner, but my mother had been saving up all year to buy all the figurines from Big W, and I got 24 in one hit, which was a big deal.

Question: If you could choose between the film or music industry, what would you be more likely to choose?
Darren Hayes: I would always choose music first. But I am interested in film. It would have to be something that's very suited to me though. I don't want to be a movie star, but I would love to be in some sort of fantasy film like Lord of the Rings or Moulin Rouge

Question: If you could have any celebrity in your next film clip who would it be???
Darren Hayes: I would choose Cyndi Lauper because she hasn't been around for a while - probably since 1983 - but she's always had cool hair, and she's fun, and she's got a cool voice. Or that plus-sized gentleman with facial hair who always played her father [in her video clips] - I think his name was Lou.

Question: If you could change one thing in your music career, what would it be?
Darren Hayes: My haircut, weekly. Oh! I already do! I really am so happy and so lucky, I have the best job in the world, because I get paid to do what I love to do.

Question: Where are you now????
Darren Hayes: I'm in the Sydney office of AOL, and I love AOL!

Question: What is it like to be famous? Do you get really annoyed with lots of cameras in your face all the time?
Darren Hayes: I don't feel very famous at all, actually, and I wish there were more cameras in my face, I'd feel more like a celebrity. I arrived at an airport once, there were all these paparazzi everywhere. I thought they were all there for me. And I got off the plane and put on my sunglasses, thinking 'Bother!', ready to brave their flashes. And not a single frame was taken of me. They were all there to see some Olympic star. I walked past them feeling all smug thinking 'Ha ha, they're all here for me and they haven't spotted me' and then I realised they weren't. I now know that God strikes down the smug ;)

Question: What’s the weirdest thing a fan has done for you?
Darren Hayes: Someone did once create a lifelike Phantom of the Opera-esque rendition of my face in porcelain that I would sometimes put on my face and stare at its eerie, uncanny resemblance to the other half of me. It was kind of creepy, but kind of cool. Thank you if you're out there!

Question: Do you think that being an Australian has given you an edge when confronting the global market with the way that Aussies are headlining in the US at the moment or do you think it's a hindrance?
Darren Hayes: I think that being an Australian has helped me because it's made me grounded and it's given me a good sense of humour about everything, not to take it too seriously.

Live Host: This'll be our last question tonight:

Question: If you were stuck on a desert island with one item, what would that item be?
Darren Hayes: Sunscreen! :)

Live Host: Thanks so much for joining us at AOL Live, Darren.

Darren Hayes: Thank you so much for hanging out for the AOL chat, and especially the people around the world who had to stay up late. And I love you - I'll see you soon.

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