A Tribute to Darren Hayes


.:: Biography ::.
In a world of weary uncertainty, singer/songwriter Darren Hayes' Spin is a musical tonic that goes down easy. The 12 track solo debut for the lead singer of Savage Garden offers an antidote to the darker side of humanity, bursting with rhythmic spirit and lyrical heart. "There's always some crisis we face as a species, whether the horrors of war and terrorism or the fact that people are still dying from AIDS," explains the Australian-born Hayes. "On this record, I wanted to acknowledge the power of entertainment. I love the fact that I can engage the masses in some sort of public joy. I wanted to lighten up and bring people with me, to just drop that needle on the record and stop the fighting for the three-and-a-half minutes of a pop song. Maybe there's a message in that." Recorded in San Francisco, Hayes co-produced Spin with Grammy Award winning Walter Afanasieff (Ricky Martin, Mariah Carey, Savage Garden). Hayes spent a year co-writing more than 35 songs for the project. As well as writing with Walter A and Rick Nowels (Madonna, Dido), he also wrote with newcomer Greg Bieck and experimental electronic artist, Robert Conley of Specificus. Spin is Hayes' third project, following the global success of two smash albums with Savage Garden partner Daniel Jones. The duo's 1997 self-titled debut and 1999's Affirmation have sold in excess of 20 million copies worldwide, spawning such hits as: the celebratory love ballad and Billboard No. 1 hit "Truly Madly Deeply"; the whimsical single that launched the band, "I Want You," which went gold in the U.S.; and the modern classic "I Knew I Loved You," which remains on the charts more than two years after its release. Hayes' turn toward the solo frontier follows Savage Garden's split in 2000, which he calls "a natural progression. I am more of a performer, while Daniel prefers to be in the studio behind the scenes. It was a wonderful period in both of our lives, but now it's necessary to get on to the next phase. Daniel is incredibly talented and I wish him the best." Spin weaves its spell with an acute palette of relationship themes--like romantic abandon, sexual desire, and betrayal--as well as Hayes' colorful stances on staying true to personal choices and taking stock in life's bounty. Musically, Hayes was determined to pay homage to the melodic influences of his youth. "This record is true to the music I grew up listening to--whether it be Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson, or Marvin Gaye. When I was first wanting tosing and getting turned on by music, that's what I would jump up and down to." Hayes unapologetically used no live instruments--other than some strings and an occasional guitar--on the album. "It's a challenge to inject soul into machines," he says. "I think that lately, pop and electronic music have gotten a bad name, because they rarely accomplish that." Spin's first single, "Insatiable"--written and produced by Hayes and Afanasieff--harkens the sweet, full-bodied sound that Hayes is best known for, and then turns up the heat with its breathy, falsetto take on the bold passion that goes hand in hand with blossoming love. "This one just flowed through me. It is absolutely one of my favorite songs I have ever written." Hayes, who now resides in San Francisco, will travel the world in support of Spin, which is slated for simultaneous international release in first-quarter 2002. "I feel unleashed," Hayes articulates. "After 10 years in this business, it's like school's out--I'm more confident and a more energetic performer, and this is about me understanding my potential. I'm an old-fashioned entertainer and I want to do this until I simply can't walk anymore." In a world of weary uncertainty, singer/songwriter Darren Hayes' Spin is a musical tonic that goes down easy. The 12 track solo debut for the lead singer of Savage Garden offers an antidote to the darker side of humanity, bursting with rhythmic spirit and lyrical heart. "There's always some crisis we face as a species, whether the horrors of war and terrorism or the fact that people are still dying from AIDS," explains the Australian-born Hayes. "On this record, I wanted to acknowledge the power of entertainment. I love the fact that I can engage the masses in some sort of public joy. I wanted to lighten up and bring people with me, to just drop that needle on the record and stop the fighting for the three-and-a-half minutes of a pop song. Maybe there's a message in that." Recorded in San Francisco, Hayes co-produced Spin with Grammy Award winning Walter Afanasieff (Ricky Martin, Mariah Carey, Savage Garden). Hayes spent a year co-writing more than 35 songs for the project. As well as writing with Walter A and Rick Nowels (Madonna, Dido), he also wrote with newcomer Greg Bieck and experimental electronic artist, Robert Conley of Specificus. Spin is Hayes' third project, following the global success of two smash albums with Savage Garden partner Daniel Jones. The duo's 1997 self-titled debut and 1999's Affirmation have sold in excess of 20 million copies worldwide, spawning such hits as: the celebratory love ballad and Billboard No. 1 hit "Truly Madly Deeply"; the whimsical single that launched the band, "I Want You," which went gold in the U.S.; and the modern classic "I Knew I Loved You," which remains on the charts more than two years after its release. Hayes' turn toward the solo frontier follows Savage Garden's split in 2000, which he calls "a natural progression. I am more of a performer, while Daniel prefers to be in the studio behind the scenes. It was a wonderful period in both of our lives, but now it's necessary to get on to the next phase. Daniel is incredibly talented and I wish him the best." Spin weaves its spell with an acute palette of relationship themes--like romantic abandon, sexual desire, and betrayal--as well as Hayes' colorful stances on staying true to personal choices and taking stock in life's bounty. Musically, Hayes was determined to pay homage to the melodic influences of his youth. "This record is true to the music I grew up listening to--whether it be Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson, or Marvin Gaye. When I was first wanting tosing and getting turned on by music, that's what I would jump up and down to." Hayes unapologetically used no live instruments--other than some strings and an occasional guitar--on the album. "It's a challenge to inject soul into machines," he says. "I think that lately, pop and electronic music have gotten a bad name, because they rarely accomplish that." Spin's first single, "Insatiable"--written and produced by Hayes and Afanasieff--harkens the sweet, full-bodied sound that Hayes is best known for, and then turns up the heat with its breathy, falsetto take on the bold passion that goes hand in hand with blossoming love. "This one just flowed through me. It is absolutely one of my favorite songs I have ever written." Hayes, who now resides in San Francisco, will travel the world in support of Spin, which is slated for simultaneous international release in first-quarter 2002. "I feel unleashed," Hayes articulates. "After 10 years in this business, it's like school's out--I'm more confident and a more energetic performer, and this is about me understanding my potential. I'm an old-fashioned entertainer and I want to do this until I simply can't walk anymore." This Biography was taken from Sony Music Australia. Full Name: Darren Stanley Hayes (the Stanley comes from his Greatgrandfather) Date of Birth: 8 May 1972 Place of Birth: Brisbane, Australia Starsign: Taurus Chinese Animal: Water Rat Siblings: An older brother (Peter) and sister (Tracy) Parents: Robert and Judy Hayes Height: 5' 10" Hair: Currently highlighted naturally dirty blonde (as described by Darren) has also been black (inspired by Bono) Eye Colour: Blue Schools: Mabel Park Infants and High school Current Home: California, USA Favourite Author: Anne Rice First Car: Mazda 808 Favourite Savage Garden Song: I'll Bet He Was Cool What superpower would you have?: Flying Who would you Duet with?: Stevie Nicks, Annie Lennox, Beyonce Knowles (Destiny's Child), Michael Jackson Childhood Nickname: Doze or Dozer (apparently because Darrens dad thought he looked like a bulldozer) Favourite Subject at School: Art or English Weirdest Thing Ever Asked to Sign: A breast Favourite Cartoon Character: Scooby Doo Favourite Charity: Starlight Foundation Piercings or Tattoos: None Favourite Movies: Steel Magnolias, Beaches, Star Wars, Et, Austin Powers Favourite Artists: Prince, The Smiths, Fleetwood Mac, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Duran Duran, Michael Jackson, Madonna, U2, Eurythmics, Annie Lennox, Dido, Sarah Mclachlan Fave Foods: Starbucks Coffee, Skim Milk, Yogurt and Baskin Robbins Peanut Butter and Chocolate Ice cream Favourite Room: The kitchen, its the heart and soul. If you could be an Animal...for just one day...any animal...what would it be?: A Mogwai (n.b from Maggz..if you've seen the movie Gremlins you will know that Gizmo is a Mogwai) What angers you the most?: Lazy waiters. store attendants..rudeness What is one thing you don't have that you want?: Babies
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.:: Biography ::.

In a world of weary uncertainty, singer/songwriter Darren Hayes' Spin is a musical tonic that goes down easy. The 12 track solo debut for the lead singer of Savage Garden offers an antidote to the darker side of humanity, bursting with rhythmic spirit and lyrical heart.

"There's always some crisis we face as a species, whether the horrors of war and terrorism or the fact that people are still dying from AIDS," explains the Australian-born Hayes. "On this record, I wanted to acknowledge the power of entertainment. I love the fact that I can engage the masses in some sort of public joy. I wanted to lighten up and bring people with me, to just drop that needle on the record and stop the fighting for the three-and-a-half minutes of a pop song. Maybe there's a message in that."

Recorded in San Francisco, Hayes co-produced Spin with Grammy Award winning Walter Afanasieff (Ricky Martin, Mariah Carey, Savage Garden). Hayes spent a year co-writing more than 35 songs for the project. As well as writing with Walter A and Rick Nowels (Madonna, Dido), he also wrote with newcomer Greg Bieck and experimental electronic artist, Robert Conley of Specificus.

Spin is Hayes' third project, following the global success of two smash albums with Savage Garden partner Daniel Jones. The duo's 1997 self-titled debut and 1999's Affirmation have sold in excess of 20 million copies worldwide, spawning such hits as: the celebratory love ballad and Billboard No. 1 hit "Truly Madly Deeply"; the whimsical single that launched the band, "I Want You," which went gold in the U.S.; and the modern classic "I Knew I Loved You," which remains on the charts more than two years after its release.

Hayes' turn toward the solo frontier follows Savage Garden's split in 2000, which he calls "a natural progression. I am more of a performer, while Daniel prefers to be in the studio behind the scenes. It was a wonderful period in both of our lives, but now it's necessary to get on to the next phase. Daniel is incredibly talented and I wish him the best."

Spin weaves its spell with an acute palette of relationship themes--like romantic abandon, sexual desire, and betrayal--as well as Hayes' colorful stances on staying true to personal choices and taking stock in life's bounty.

Musically, Hayes was determined to pay homage to the melodic influences of his youth. "This record is true to the music I grew up listening to--whether it be Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson, or Marvin Gaye. When I was first wanting tosing and getting turned on by music, that's what I would jump up and down to." Hayes unapologetically used no live instruments--other than some strings and an occasional guitar--on the album. "It's a challenge to inject soul into machines," he says. "I think that lately, pop and electronic music have gotten a bad name, because they rarely accomplish that."

Spin's first single, "Insatiable"--written and produced by Hayes and Afanasieff--harkens the sweet, full-bodied sound that Hayes is best known for, and then turns up the heat with its breathy, falsetto take on the bold passion that goes hand in hand with blossoming love. "This one just flowed through me. It is absolutely one of my favorite songs I have ever written."

Hayes, who now resides in San Francisco, will travel the world in support of Spin, which is slated for simultaneous international release in first-quarter 2002. "I feel unleashed," Hayes articulates. "After 10 years in this business, it's like school's out--I'm more confident and a more energetic performer, and this is about me understanding my potential. I'm an old-fashioned entertainer and I want to do this until I simply can't walk anymore."
In a world of weary uncertainty, singer/songwriter Darren Hayes' Spin is a musical tonic that goes down easy. The 12 track solo debut for the lead singer of Savage Garden offers an antidote to the darker side of humanity, bursting with rhythmic spirit and lyrical heart.

"There's always some crisis we face as a species, whether the horrors of war and terrorism or the fact that people are still dying from AIDS," explains the Australian-born Hayes. "On this record, I wanted to acknowledge the power of entertainment. I love the fact that I can engage the masses in some sort of public joy. I wanted to lighten up and bring people with me, to just drop that needle on the record and stop the fighting for the three-and-a-half minutes of a pop song. Maybe there's a message in that."

Recorded in San Francisco, Hayes co-produced Spin with Grammy Award winning Walter Afanasieff (Ricky Martin, Mariah Carey, Savage Garden). Hayes spent a year co-writing more than 35 songs for the project. As well as writing with Walter A and Rick Nowels (Madonna, Dido), he also wrote with newcomer Greg Bieck and experimental electronic artist, Robert Conley of Specificus.

Spin is Hayes' third project, following the global success of two smash albums with Savage Garden partner Daniel Jones. The duo's 1997 self-titled debut and 1999's Affirmation have sold in excess of 20 million copies worldwide, spawning such hits as: the celebratory love ballad and Billboard No. 1 hit "Truly Madly Deeply"; the whimsical single that launched the band, "I Want You," which went gold in the U.S.; and the modern classic "I Knew I Loved You," which remains on the charts more than two years after its release.

Hayes' turn toward the solo frontier follows Savage Garden's split in 2000, which he calls "a natural progression. I am more of a performer, while Daniel prefers to be in the studio behind the scenes. It was a wonderful period in both of our lives, but now it's necessary to get on to the next
phase. Daniel is incredibly talented and I wish him the best."

Spin weaves its spell with an acute palette of relationship themes--like romantic abandon, sexual desire, and betrayal--as well as Hayes' colorful stances on staying true to personal choices and taking stock in life's bounty.

Musically, Hayes was determined to pay homage to the melodic influences of his youth. "This record is true to the music I grew up listening to--whether it be Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson, or Marvin Gaye. When I was first wanting tosing and getting turned on by music, that's what I would jump up and down to." Hayes unapologetically used no live instruments--other than some strings and an occasional guitar--on the album. "It's a challenge to inject soul into machines," he says. "I think that lately, pop and electronic music have gotten a bad name, because they rarely accomplish that."

Spin's first single, "Insatiable"--written and produced by Hayes and Afanasieff--harkens the sweet, full-bodied sound that Hayes is best known for, and then turns up the heat with its breathy, falsetto take on the bold passion that goes hand in hand with blossoming love. "This one just flowed through me. It is absolutely one of my favorite songs I have ever written."

Hayes, who now resides in San Francisco, will travel the world in support of Spin, which is slated for simultaneous international release in first-quarter 2002. "I feel unleashed," Hayes articulates. "After 10 years in this business, it's like school's out--I'm more confident and a more energetic performer, and this is about me understanding my potential. I'm an old-fashioned entertainer and I want to do this until I simply can't walk anymore."

This Biography was taken from Sony Music Australia.

Full Name: Darren Stanley Hayes (the Stanley comes from his Greatgrandfather)

Date of Birth: 8 May 1972

Place of Birth: Brisbane, Australia

Starsign: Taurus

Chinese Animal: Water Rat

Siblings: An older brother (Peter) and sister (Tracy)

Parents: Robert and Judy Hayes

Height: 5' 10"

Hair: Currently highlighted naturally dirty blonde (as described by Darren) has also been black (inspired by Bono)

Eye Colour: Blue

Schools: Mabel Park Infants and High school

Current Home: California, USA

Favourite Author: Anne Rice

First Car: Mazda 808

Favourite Savage Garden Song: I'll Bet He Was Cool

What superpower would you have?: Flying

Who would you Duet with?: Stevie Nicks, Annie Lennox, Beyonce Knowles (Destiny's Child), Michael Jackson

Childhood Nickname: Doze or Dozer (apparently because Darrens dad thought he looked like a bulldozer)

Favourite Subject at School: Art or English

Weirdest Thing Ever Asked to Sign: A breast

Favourite Cartoon Character: Scooby Doo

Favourite Charity: Starlight Foundation

Piercings or Tattoos: None

Favourite Movies: Steel Magnolias, Beaches, Star Wars, Et, Austin Powers

Favourite Artists: Prince, The Smiths, Fleetwood Mac, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Duran Duran, Michael Jackson, Madonna, U2, Eurythmics, Annie Lennox, Dido, Sarah Mclachlan

Fave Foods: Starbucks Coffee, Skim Milk, Yogurt and Baskin Robbins Peanut Butter and Chocolate Ice cream

Favourite Room: The kitchen, its the heart and soul.

If you could be an Animal...for just one day...any animal...what would it be?: A Mogwai (n.b from Maggz..if you've seen the movie Gremlins you will know that Gizmo is a Mogwai)

What angers you the most?: Lazy waiters. store attendants..rudeness

What is one thing you don't have that you want?: Babies

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