пятница, июня 18, 2010
MAKING THE ALBUM VOLUME 11.
Originally written on 06 March 2010 for member's of 'Delicacy' Darren's official fan club at www.darrenhayes.com

Saturday, 06 March 2010
MIXING HAS BEGUN!

Monday March 1.

It was the first day of spring today. At least that’s what I thought it was but apparently there’s a bit of a debate in the UK over which date is the official beginning of spring. Some say that it’s the 21st but the Meterological Office agrees with me and apparently so did the weather today. It was spring when I woke up to bright blue skies and shiny happy people in the park.. Such a contrast to the grimy day before where I typed to my sister on instant message ‘I’m so tired of winter. The paraphernalia and layers of clothing. Getting dressed and undressed is SUCH an ordeal!’

And lo and behold for this day at least winter went away.

Which was serendipitous considering today was the day I was meeting Robert Orton to mix the first two songs for my album.

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/mar09/articles/it_0309.htm;

http://web.mac.com/hitmixer/www.HitMixer.c...iscography.html;

For those who didn’t google it or see my links, here’s some info on Robert : he started as an engineer for the legendary producer Trevor Horn. His first big mix was the song ‘All the things she said’ for Tatu. Obviously that song became a monster number one around the world and he began a whole new career as the guy who mixes hit singles whilst still working side by side with Trevor Horn. Most recently he’s mixed 5 of Lady Ga Ga’s U.S number one singles and Robbie Williams’ ‘Reality Killed the Video Star’ album as well as worked with Pet Shop Boys and Keane. He’s a top guy and a true talent.

Tuesday, May 04, 2010

MAKING THE ALBUM VOLUME 10.
Category: Music
Originally written on 03 February 2010 for member's of 'Delicacy' Darren's official fan club at www.darrenhayes.com

OH MY LORDY.. I can' t believe how much time has passed since my last blog. I can only hope that as I am in writing another blog to you all I have been sufficiently forgiven. So much has happened since the last one, most notably my new year's eve show in London (a video blog will address this soon I promise ;) - that I don't really know where to start.

The most notable thing is, I blogged and told the whole world I'd finished recording - and then more songs started coming in. Yikes. How does that happen? Most notably there were more songs with Phil Thornally and Mads Hauge (they've just had 3 number ones with Pixie Lott) and then I put things on hold to prepare for the New Year's Eve show.

понедельник, марта 22, 2010

MAKING THE ALBUM VOLUME 9.
Originally written on Tuesday, 29 September 2009 for member's of 'Delicacy' Darren's official fan club www.darrenhayes.com

Sydney Australia – 11.39 am Tuesday September 29, 2009

I’m in a famous Australian recording studio listening to the refrains of ‘G’ as studio engineer Mike sorts through the hundreds of takes of guitars that we recorded last week. In the other room, Aaron is setting up microphones to record a brass section to be placed on the song ‘W’. Yesterday we recorded a 20 piece orchestra on 3 songs ‘H’ ‘S M’ and ‘G’. It was possibly the most stressful day in the entire recording process!
But back to that later.

MAKING THE ALBUM VOLUME 8.
..Originally written on Monday, 07 September 2009 for member's of 'Delicacy' Darren's official fan club at www.darrenhayes.com

I just got back from seeing ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’ at the cinema. Comparisons to my own interest in time travel aside, it resonated deeply in me the importance of living in the moment. For those who haven’t seen it I won’t spoil it for you – but what I will say is that it reminded me of a subject matter that I’m exploring on my new album : for want of a better phrase ‘the stuff that really matters’.

My new record is about love.

More specifically it’s about the stuff within love. The bits before, between, after, at the feet of, in the service of, in awe of, in resentment of, in the way of, at the risk of, in exchange for, in receipt of, because of. Love.

суббота, февраля 20, 2010
MAKING THE ALBUM VOLUME 7.
Originally written on Monday, 25 August 2009 for member's of 'Delicacy' Darren's official fan club at www.darrenhayes.com

I’m in Stockholm – and if you kept up with my twitter account you’ll know I arrived less than well rested!

I had just signed my new publishing deal the night before and because the president of the U.S company was in town we had a nice meal at Cecconi’s – my favorite restaurant in London. Sounds great, except I had a 7 am flight at Heathrow and had to be in a car at 5 am the next day.

I barely slept and arrived in Sweden feeling completely jet lagged!

The first week was writing two new songs for artists on Syco and Parliphone records. As with all these songs, when I say ‘for’ it is at the request of the label for consideration on the projects. But you never know if they’re going to like or use the song so it’s a bit of a leap of faith really. So anyway, did that the first week, had Saturday off and here I am on the following Tuesday on my second day of working on MY BLOODY ALBUM again which feels great.

среда, февраля 10, 2010

Truly Madly Deeply in Puma Ad
Настроение:oddly touched

Puma have made a clever advert in their 'love equals football' campaign that uses 'Truly Madly Deeply'.
It's the first time Savage Garden has ever granted permission for our songs to be used in such a way. Ironically it almost didn't happen. When the publishing company contacted me initially about using the song I think my exact words were 'Hell to the no!'.

The director was apparently gutted we'd said no and he reached out to me to explain his vision for the idea. He understood that the description of a bunch of drunken football hooligans singing our song to their wives and girlfriends probably didn't read as the most flattering use.
Bear in mind, we've always been aware that the worth of a song is in the memories your audience attach to it, and not in the quick buck you might make by selling it off to flog things.

среда, февраля 03, 2010

MAKING THE ALBUM VOLUME 6.
Originally written on Monday, 17 August 2009 for member's of 'Delicacy' Darren's official fan club at www.darrenhayes.com

Well I noticed in my last update I said Justin and I would get through another 3 songs before he left. We got through one. I'll called it 'W'. It was a huge song and took more effort than we anticipated. Mostly because we got stuck into recording percussion inspired very much by Michael Jackson's 'Off the Wall' album. I have always been fascinated with the sounds in the song 'Working Day and Night'. The original demo of the song had M.J and his siblings playing percussion by tapping on glass bottles. I think the album version obviously has a more polished version of the technique but it still sounds so raw and tribal. Incidentally Pharrell Williams used this vibe to the next level on his productions when he started playing paint cans on his records as drums. So what did I do? I enlisted the help of 1. The coke bottle 2. The breakfast bowl AND 3. The paint tins.
So it's one louder.

January 02, 2010

Set List and D.J set from my NYE show last night
Настроение:Bedazzled

SHOW SET LIST

1. EGO
2. TEARS OF PEARS *Vienna Calling version
3. STRANGE RELATIONSHIP
4. CASEY
5. I MISS YOU *unreleased Dallas Austin version
6. BREAK ME SHAKE ME *Billie Jean version
7. UNLOVABLE
8. CRASH AND BURN

July 28, 2009
MAKING THE ALBUM VOL 1.
Originally written on 28 May 2009 for member's of 'Delicacy' Darren's official fan club at www.darrenhayes.com

I guess I have started working on my album. If you don't want to know any of the details then avoid blogs titled 'making of the album' like this one. And read no further.

It's weird playing cloak and dagger about the details because unlike the last record, where I didn't know I was starting it until suddenly I had a bunch of songs and I set a definite time line and location. This one has been worked on in short sharp bursts at the moment. My plan is that by August I will have a short list of songs that I intend to go on the record - and then I'll make a decision about what extra works needs to be done recording and writing wise, and eventually set a date for mixing.

August deadline is more for business reasons than release ones. There are certain partners that I need to get on board to make sure this record sees the light of day - and I want to be able to present a very good demo version of the album by that stage. I would probably mix it either late this year or earlier next year but I don't imagine it would be released any time sooner than mid or late 2010. But you said you wanted to be in on the process so here it is!

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

'He Gave Us All He Had Been Given'

It's such a sad day for those who appreciated Michael Jackson today.

A day of celebration of a glorious life. But sadness that it was taken so quickly and so soon. And denying children of a father and a family of a beloved brother and son. I was so moved by the poem written by Maya Angelou at the memorial I wanted to post it here. As I cried my heart out today I realized that it was for the greatness we lost and perhaps some shame for what a cruel world did to someone so unique. It was the irony that in spite of what little the world gave him at times, this man gave every atom in his being to the dance of life. And for a handful of years we were lucky enough to bask in the glory of that magnificent light. As someone said to me recently, each of us has a flame inside us that needs igniting. Michael did that for me as a 13 year old boy. And though he is no longer among us, I like to think that my flame burns a little bit brighter because of him and his gift of music, dance and wonderment. I carry it with me and I hope that I can be selfless enough to pass it on to anyone who should need to find their unique spark.