Thursday, February 07, 2008

It's Intense
Category: Music

I've blogging about it over at the fanclub (those blogs will eventually be posted over here) but I wanted to let you know just how much I've loved the Side 2 Tour so far.

To sum up - it's intense.
It's very introspective set list with songs for trainspotters (hey I'm a trainspotter don't take offense!) and it is emotionally quite heavy it spots. Due in part to song choices but also intimate settings and the understanding that this tour will be my last for a while. All the songs take on a sort of duel narrative and I find myself thinking a lot up on stage. Audiences both nights have been superb and as I type this I'm about to run out the door for Manchester.

We're recording Casey live each night on this tour - and there's a bunch of ways folks can get their hands on the song from their show. I'll get admin to paste all the info below but basically UK peeps can text to pre order it (you get a text back day before release date and a code to download from tunetribe.com -
it's just charged to your phone account) Also, because so many people have asked we're also going to make the songs downloadable via our site and tunetribe day of release too.

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

from the road..
Current mood: Northern
Category: Northern Music

'Dirty' tonight in Manchester began with 'Housequake' merged into 'All around me' swayed into 'Me Myself and I' and toyed with 'I want you' before morphing back into the song it began as.

Ah it's a wonder.

More later.

x

Friday, February 01, 2008

DARREN HAYES TO RELEASE NEW SINGLE 'CASEY'
Category: Music

'A song about escaping' is how Hayes describes the epic strings meets vintage synth single 'Casey' - the latest single to be lifted from his double album 'This Delicate Thing We've Made'. A favourite of both fans and critics alike (it was Entertainment Weekly's download recommendation when released in the U.S late 2007) many have singled this track out as the centerpiece of Hayes' new sound.

"Casey, when you go, can you come and find me. I want to be beside you when you leave this town" Hayes croons earnestly atop the Kate Bush influenced string section and 1980's Fairlight drums.

Good news and bad news..
Category: Music

Straight to the point : No more U.S dates.

My sincere apologies to everyone who was hoping we'd be able to make it again. Unfortunately the right combination of available dates and venues just didn't align.

I'm really glad that I've been to America so much in the past 12 months and seen so many of you up close and personal. OF COURSE I'm sad I couldn't come back for one more round of shows for 'Delicate..' but I feel so lucky to have had a year of the best experiences singing my heart out with people I adore.

The good news is, we filmed The Time Machine Tour in glorious high definition and will be releasing the DVD of the show world wide.

Here's a little tease hot off the presses. I know its not as good as being there in person but it's the next best thing! Hopefully it will give those of you who missed out on the tour a sense of the magic we all felt..

Once again, thanks to all of you who expressed such warmth and understanding and just know that none of my dreams would have come true without your constant support.

Big love
xD

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Video For Casey Now On Youtube
Category: Music

Check out the stunning video for fan favorite 'Casey' now on Darren's official youtube page here:



'Casey' will be released on March 3 with 7 different digital singles bundles available. These will include versions of the song with bsides including brand new songs, never before released demos and live renditions of what everyone is calling the centrepiece of Darren's magnificent Opus 'This Delicate Thing We've Made.'

For a higher quality version visit http://www.darrenhayes.com

Friday, January 25, 2008

Um
Current mood: Australian

Happy Australia Day.
Don't watch THIS if swear words offend you!
xD

Monday, January 21, 2008

Busy Boy
Current mood: Busy Bee

Sorry it's been so long since I've written on the space..
Been really busy and I'm only now surfacing to breathe.

Where to start?
Casey - the single.
We're releasing it digitally on March 3 and there are a bunch of versions with bonus tracks. Some will be on iTunes, some on my website and the most exciting thing is that we're also offering a live version recorded each night from the Side 2 dates in the UK. Literally at the end of each show audiences members will be able to text to buy that night's performance of 'Casey' and it will be delivered to them on March 3.

What else?
The video is finished and it's breath taking. It should debut online towards the end of this week. It will also be available to buy in iTunes come release day.

Don't be dissapointed if you don't hear the song on radio - I'm not even trying to get it played to be honest. It's a weird time for music, with record labels slashing staff, dropping artists and everyone clawing for airplay. I wanted to be above all that and just release the song because I adore it.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

U.S dates - last live shows this year
Current mood: accomplished

I'll be announcing news soon about North Amercian dates.
They'll be my last live shows anywhere in the world for 2008.
At this stage, it's just 6 cities.
NEW YORK. TORONOTO. BOSTON. DC. LOS ANGELES. CHICAGO.

*These could change prior to an official announcement, but just wanted to give a heads up.

The proposed start date is March 14.
The proposed last show March 22.

When it's done, I'm off to take a well deserved break and dream about the next thing.

I'm letting you know because lots of people have been asking me about other cities, countries, planets. And whilst I'm very touched and moved by your kind requests, I don't want anyone expecting me to come somehwere I'm not able to.

It's been an incredible time and when the shows conclude I will have played live for 12 months in support of 'This Delicate Thing We've Made'.

I can guarantee you I'll enjoy these shows more than any of you!
And I know, as always, I only have you to thank for making it all possible.

More news (probably next week) when it's official.

Much love
D

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

The Times They Are A Changing
Current mood: Meh
Category: Meh Music

Annie Lennox was dropped by Sony BMG it was announced this week.
But apparently it wasn't true. For I moment I believed it to be fact - as let's face it a similar and equally dysfunctional thing happened to me a while ago. Apparently her deal just expired and she's yet to re-sign. I'm still gasping over the fact that a label that was once so great could lose an artist like Annie Lennox. She's in my opinion the finest voice of our generation. To me, and millions of others she is an essential songwriter/artist/performer/poet/ I could go on and on and on.

But apparently Sony BMG couldn't.

It's a joke isn't it?
How the dying record companies can't see the forest for the trees.
I don't suppose to know the ins and outs of Annie's career or negotiations with Sony.
I suspect, much like all the dinosaurs, Sony are just being cheap.

When I first felt the insulting brush off from a major label my first instinct was to just go and get another deal as quickly as I could.
After all, A RECORD DEAL meant something right?
A TEAM behind me. MONEY. PRESTIGE.

Friday, January 11, 2008

Cuppa Tea
Current mood: jittery anxious come on!!!
Category: jittery anxious come on!!!

I get bored waiting for you.
Well let me clarify.
I don't get bored per se. More frustrated, anxious, excited, ansty you get the picture.
And by waiting for you, I mean, you know, The Side 2 Tour.

I was on my way to the New Years Eve show and I said to my friends in the car "I'm really excited about playing tonight, I've really missed it!". And I realized that it had only been a month since I last played live. And when I finished THAT last performance (albeit an in store acousitc jaunt in the U.S) I was SHATTERED and had run screaming from the microphone into the arms of Chritsmas vacations. Vowing a need to collapse. But there I was a month later DESPERATE to get back on stage.

It's funny how quickly live performance has become a staple in my life and my identity in the last 12 months. I used to be someone who only ever toured when there was a record out. And then I'd be off in my promo hell or 'in between album' hiatus. But this record has given me almost 12 months of solid live dates - from the tiny 200 people shows in Soho to the State Theatres in Australia and now back again into small rooms for 'Side 2'. It's going to make me very sad when it's all over and done.