Q&A: Darren Hayes
He's back –and popped into PinkPaper.com towers for a coffee to prove it.
[перевод интервью]
Peter Lloyd
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20 July 2011

Q) You're back. Where have you been for the past four years?
A) I've spent my time since 2007 writing and recording my new music. The process takes however long it takes. I guess I've always been of the mindset that I have to feel driven and almost driven mad by a compulsion to record new songs before I'm ready to hit the studio. I took such a long time because I was living other parts of my life. As a songwriter, I need to draw from my world - you can't write songs about being a musician. You need to write songs about being human and that's what I do in my time off.

Q) Is writing, recording and performing different now you're out?
A) I can't imagine how it makes any difference. I don't think of myself as any label and I write songs for people. Not stereotypes.

Q) What was the inspiration for this LP?
A) The biggest inspiration was to make an album with songs about human relationships. It's a record about how hard it is to stay together in love when it feels like the whole world is breaking up. I am in a fortunate position that I have an incredible partner in life and I drew on all the things that were happening around me as inspiration for the record. At the same time I would say it's an album about being at a crossroads in your life - for me it was my career - and feeling lost and needing to rely on the people I love to get me through.

Q) The new single is called Talk Talk Talk, which is about a couple fighting. Should we assume that the honeymoon period with your lovely husband is over?
A) Our honeymoon period will never be over. I'm the luckiest guy in the world. I don't like to explain my songs to their DNA but it's certainly not a song about my marriage. I had a friend betray me and abuse my trust recently and a lot of the themes on the record about forgiveness, anger and reconciliation were about me working through those feelings.

Q) You worked with one of Gaga's producers on it. Was that fate or something you specifically asked for?
A) I worked with Robert Orton, the mixer who is responsible for GaGa's The Fame and The Fame Monster records. It was actually a Robbie Williams album he mixed that first got me interested. I loved how 'Bodies' sounded and I tracked him down. He's a lovely fella.

Q) What was the experience like?
A) I was lucky enough to work with many legends on this record. From multiple Grammy Award winner Walter Afanasieff and Steve Robson to legendary Elvis Presley string arranger Larry Muhoburac. I also got to reconnect to old friends like Lee Novak, my first ever bass player in Savage Garden and meet the incredible Swedish producer Carl Falk. I was humbled by their input and I really wanted to take on their constructive criticism. I think the experience made me a better songwriter for sure.

Q) You've performed at Pride events in the past - and, of course, now is Pride season. Have they lost their political edge? And, if so, is that a bad thing?
A) I can't comment on whether Pride events in the western world have lost their edge. I just know that the fact that they exist at all is a privilege when you consider there are some countries in the world who still see homosexuality as a crime. I've had lots of fun anytime I've been invited to perform. it's always a blast.

Q) Bands are re-forming all over the place. Would Savage Garden ever follow suit?
A) I certainly don't have any plans. Loved my time - but it was a long time ago now. Besides, I still perform all of those songs in my own shows so for me it's like we never went anywhere.