20th January 2004 - Message from Darren 

This is just a quick note to let you all know how much I love and appreciate your support and
most recently your enthusiasm about my new music. Believe me, I wish I could just put the
album out right now and get out on the road and sing it all for you.. but there are so many
other things to set in place before this baby is ready. Now that the album is done, the
behind the scenes team are busy putting together the plan of exactly how we're going to go
about presenting it to you. Just trust me that I'm so very proud of this record and that your
love and support means the world to me. I know eventually this wait will all be worth it.
So see you soon(ish!)

Big hugs and love always
your biggest fan
Darren Stanley Hayes

21st December 2003 - Holiday Message

I've had the most perfect day.
I'm home in Australia with my family all around me. I spent the day
with my niece and nephew seeing 'Peter Pan' at the movies,
hangin' out at the mall, shopping for Christmas and just being a
regular normal brother/uncle/son.
It's so weird to be happy. It's been so long since I've felt this
way. Let me back track.
I sat in the car with my mother yesterday, driving out to visit my
brother and listening to my new record. As we made the hour long drive
out there we had sat
through the entire record and I realized how hard it must be for a
mother to hear her son cry musically.. to ache or to yearn as some of
the songs on this new record do. And she cried a little and I realized
that I really do use my music as a way to communicate to everyone. And even
though a lot of the songs on the record describe a journey in and out
of darkness I am ultimately a very happy and grateful soul. I found
myself reassuring my mother that I was o.k and telling her that in some
ways I get it all out with the music and then I move forward.
And then there I was watching 'peter pan' about the boy who never
wanted to grow up.
And I'm aware of the cliché's surrounding such a complex.. and yet it
moved me on so many levels because that theme is very central to me.
I always thought that growing up meant losing some of your innocence.
Yet here I am 31 years of age and I am an adult. I'm somewhat cynical.
I'm wiser. But I haven't lost my innocence.
I'm finally taking stock of the last few years that almost killed me
and yet provided such an beautiful catalyst for this new album, and
more importantly.. this incredible perspective I have on my life and
what really matters.
And that's where I am today. I just feel at peace. I'm accepting
that happiness is not mindless joy. It is not some elusive nirvana of
perfection and romantic sunsets. It is flawed.
Beautifully. It is bitter and sweet. And it's such a great time to
express that... here in this holiday season where (regardless of
religion) we find ourselves reconnecting and gathering in this ritual.
For me, it's about returning 'home' and taking time to appreciate my
life and my blessings.
Here are some of them just this week.
Doing yoga with my sister and her children and watching her 6 year old
son meditate with his hands in prayer position.
Reading him 'how the grinch stole Christmas' tonight and having him
tell me why presents weren't important but family was.
Reading through all my fan mail, running into strangers in the street
who still know my name... and just feeling the most incredible
gratitude for your unconditional love.
Watching old Savage Garden footage with the children and thanking God I
had no idea how huge we were when we were on top of the world.. still
in awe of everything that
ever happened.
So that's where my head is at. Happy. That the glass is half full.
And yet half empty. Finally at peace with that.

I wish you all the love in the world.
Peace on Earth!

xxalways
Darren

22nd October 2003 - Message from Darren re Delta Goodrem   


I just wanted to express my admiration and appreciation to Delta Goodrem, Sony Music, Mark Pope and ARIA for the incredible honor of singing for Delta at this years ARIA awards in Sydney Australia. It was everyone's wish to ensure the evening remained a moment for Delta - thus the complete secrecy of my participation and attendence until the moment I appeared on stage. Even my Mother and Father didn't know I was coming home to Australia for the event.. but it was done that way out of respect for Delta and her incredible triumph over her recent illness and of course her amazing musical achievements. My trip home was not one of self promotion but a favor for a fellow Australian and friend. I was humbled and honored to lend my voice to someone who temporarily couldn't find her own.
Here's wishing Delta a speedy recovery and the continued successful musical career she deserves.

Love always
Darren Hayes

2nd July 2003 - Message from Darren!   

I just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who has gone out of their
way to be so kind to me and say hello to me during my stay in London.
It really has been quite overwhelming to see so many happy smiling faces at
the various events I'm attending. I am very lucky to have such a loyal and
loving group of people cheering me on and I want you to know that I'm very
grateful for the love I feel from all of you.
My only way to repay you for your incredible support and loyalty is by
trying to make the best record I know how to make. The recording has been
going incredibly well.
I'm so pleased with the music that is being created and I can't wait to
share it with you.
Until then, just know that you make me feel like the luckiest guy on earth.


nothing fails
no more tears
nothing fails
you washed away my tears
(Madonna, Nothing Fails - American Life)

with love and thanks always
xDarren

DECEMBER 23rd 2002

  Hey there,

  I wanted to take this opportunity to wish everyone happy holidays... I'm having a very quiet Christmas celebration myself. Whatever you're doing, whatever your beliefs, I hope the end of this year leads smoothly and beautifully into a safe a happy 2003. It feels so good to be home and relaxing. I want to say a sincere thank you to everyone for supporting me so much this past year with my album and the tour. It was definitely a trip!

  Here's wishing you all the very best things in life.. peace on earth and all that stuff.

  With love and thanks always

NOVEMBER 2002

     Happy Thanksgiving.
It's taken me a week to finally relax. Here I am watching back to back episodes of Seinfeld, Will and Grace and The Osborne's. I haven't seen regular television for 6 months. I haven't missed much I guess, but it's so good to just chill out, eat pizza and get sick. Yes I said get sick. I don't know about you, but for me, because I always have to avoid getting colds or getting ill, I find my body is kind of on high alert when I'm working. I truly believe my body waits until the coast is clear and then my immune system takes a break. So right now I've got a cold but it's o.k because my body has been so good to me I figure it deserves a break too.

     I saw the movie 'bowling for columbine' the other day. If you're at all interested in what violence, negativity, fear or guns are doing to the world you should see this documentary. It's unbelievable.

     It was very sad saying goodbye to the crew and band in Japan. I really hope we can continue to do more shows next year because I am not ready to say goodbye! Such a great experience!

     That's it from me. Just thought I'd say hey. I'm off to watch more Osborne's.

SEPTEMBER 2002

     Phew.. Just arrived in the U.K for the second leg of the tour. Australia wasincredible regardless of my ill health at the beginning! Thanks so much to all of those who were so understanding and patient. The rescheduled shows rocked. Right now I'm quite spacey as the flight from Brisbane to London is one of the LONGEST you can do. Can someone say JETLAG? Anyway.. I'm very excited to be here.

     Before leaving Australia I completed the music video for I MISS YOU. I worked again with director Grant Marshall (Crush) and alongside Australian actress Rose Byrne (Two Hands, Star Wars Episode II). Like Kirsten Dunst in I KNEW I LOVED YOU it was great to be able to react to an actor. It made singing the song so much more believable and real. She is very talented and very down to earth. Yes I had a crush on her before the day ended!

     I've been busy actually. Putting the finishing touches on the U.S. version of the next single (it may not come out until after Christmas now...we're still deciding).. but I really love the new version. You'll have to trust me until it comes out! I hope Australians enjoyed 'crush on holiday'. It took a long time getting permission from the publishers to use this famous Madonna song to mash up with Crush.. but they finally agreed. At this stage it's just a promo only at radio but we're trying to see if we can put it out as a b-side soon.

     I did a new photo shoot down under as well. In the u.k they're planning to put out a tour/Christmas re-package of the album with new pics and new tracks. Some of which NOBODY has ever heard before. They're acoustic. They're covers. And they're beautiful. That's all I can say. Plus some of the live stuff that was on the Australian tour edition. So it's all happening.

     The Olivia Newton John duet? Yes. It's real. It's happening. ONJ approached me a couple of years ago to write a song with or for her on a 'duets' album that she had in the works. Nothing came of it until recently when we got in contact and she asked if I had any songs to offer to the project. I showed her 'Lift Me Up' and she loved it. We worked with the first Savage Garden producer Charles Fisher and recorded a brand new version as a duet. I can not tell you how wonderful and talented she is. She has the most incredible positive energy and is one of the most gracious and grounded 'famous' people you could ever meet. She made me feel so comfortable and brought food and treats!! What can I say? I love her, love the song and was so honoured to have her sing it with me. At one point during the recording she said to me "you have such a distinctly recognizable voice'... and I was like.. "Hello! You're OLIVIA NEWTON JOHN!!!".

     Anyway..that's it from me now. Off to touring world. We're sending you pictures soon of the tour, and my fave one of me and ONJ!

     Take care

AUGUST 2002

     I Hello .... I'm writing this from my secret location on Brisbane's Gold Coast. I'm staying up way too late thinking about my show and if that girl Avril Levigne is allowed into restaurants that have a dress code with the excuse that she's wearing a tie with her tank top. Anyway I'm getting a head of myself.

     I popped into the fan club. I read a lot of your letters with my own eyeballs instead of having my family explain them over the phone. Some of you are sick. Haha. I'm kidding. Some of you are so sweet!! Thanks so much for taking the time to write. For sending me things. You know you don't have to send me gifts right? It's so beautiful but I'd rather you saved your money for you.. or if you have to spend money on a pop star go ahead and donate a dollar to a worthy charity and tell us you did that. That would make me smile! That having been said I do love the things that I did accidentally have to play with... all day!!!

     So I got on to the computer. I read some of your emails. I'M ON TO YOU!! Now how will you know if Tracey, Tracy or DARREN replied to you? Hmmmm? I guess you never will!! Think yourselves lucky I don't live in Brisbane anymore or the ladies at the fan club wouldn't get any work done. I spent the whole day fascinated with how cool their screensaver was. Erhem!

     O.K. That's it. Just wanted to let you know that the fan club does exist. I saw it. And I can't believe they fit that many people into that tiny post office box in Jimboomba. Oh technology.

     O.K.. I can tell you some cool gossip. I kind of worked with a very famous U.S producer on some music this week. It may or may not involve my next U.S. single. That's all I can tell you. But what I CAN tell you is that there is the COOLEST version of CRUSH coming soon to clubs and radio that isn't on the single. It is a version that involved the permission of a VERY famous artist. Hint hint.. it's a 'mash up'...

     I'm shooting the video for I MISS YOU next week. Wonder what it will be like...? Oh secrets..secrets... What else? I took a shower tonight.
That's about it.
Oh spoke with God and was told the meaning of life blah blah but you probably don't want me to bore you with that so maybe another time.. Take care!

JULY 2002

     I should be telling you about hanging out with celebrities. But nope, Get this.. I'm typing this on the plane from China to Sydney and thrilled about the fact that I'm watching my second documentary in a row on Great White Sharks.

     I don't know if it's public knowledge but I am actually fascinated with Sharks. I have many books and videos on them, and whenever there is something on television about them I am glued to the set. Obviously my interest comes from fear but mostly respect. The fact that they have remained relatively unchanged since prehistoric times is incredible to me. See how obsessed I am?

     I'm sure many of you know, I do scuba dive. I think one day I would love to dive with Sharks. Or at least go on a boat trip in South Africa where you can see them actually breaching. It's terrifying. But it fascinates me.

    Erhem! Anyway. Yes.. I did win best international artist at the mtv awards in China. It was so cool and they were beyond sweet. I did almost get hit on the head by a light that fell out of the ceiling of the auditorium but that's another story. We visited the great wall. Very great indeed. We'll try and include a picture so you can see.

That's it.. just a quick one. Now I'm finishing this in my hotel in
Sydney. It's so good to be HOME! I've just finished a photo shoot and am exhausted. The tour is coming! Whoo hoo...
Erhem! Anyway. Yes.. I did win best international artist at the mtv awards in China. It was so cool and they were beyond sweet. I did almost get hit on the head by a light that fell out of the ceiling of the auditorium but that's another story. We visited the great wall. Very great indeed. We'll try and include a picture so you can see.

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