Originally written on 18 July 2009 for member's of 'Delicacy' Darren's official fan club at www.darrenhayes.com

So much has happened since the last time I blogged I don’t quite know what to fill you in on.  You see I try to be more cryptic with twitter and myspace.  So although I’ve been filling you in on tid bits I haven’t really being entirely honest.  Hehe. Where do I start?  Well, once again, this album is being recorded in a very different manner in which my last one was.  I’d say it’s more like ‘The Tension and The Spark’ in it’s execution in that there really aren’t demos as such as rough versions that continue to be worked on.

Last album, I really wasn’t sure of the sound until I’d written ‘How To Build A Time Machine’ and then I went back on the many songs I had written as demos and transformed them in the studio mostly with Shave.

This time, I’ve been sure of the direction from the start – and have been delegating my time in the studio to either ‘my’ album or ‘others’.  Occasionally a song I have written for someone else ends up becoming ‘mine’ (mwhahahah) probably by a case of self sabotage more than anything else.  I write a song at the request of a label or for the intention of submitting it to an artist but fall in love with it in the process and then cross my fingers hoping it won’t get selected.  A few times that has happened I can look back and see ‘wow – I was really writing that for me!’.

Specifically one of my favorite songs so far in the pile for consideration for my record is one written with the Swedish songwriter.  The minute we wrote it I felt a bit of sadness because I felt I’d stumbled upon the sound of my new direction and yet we had agreed to give it away.  The short story is that it was eventually not chosen to be recorded by the BIG RECORD COMPANY ARTIST and I got my greedy hands back on it.  But either way, that song inspired the sound that would continue on many more songs I’ve ear marked as possibilities for my record.

How am I choosing?  Simply based on the theme and visual landscape I’ve had in my head all along.   I’ve mentioned before I’ve had a working title and a ton of images and writing on my laptop for a year now.   So that helps me zero in on the character of the songs.  Occasionally my two worlds collide but in general I’m able to tell immediately if a song is more ‘me’ than someone else and I work accordingly.

So there’s been more writing with the Swedes.  Nothing I’d put on my record yet.  But I worked with Brian West of Track and Field fame (google it) and wrote a song I’ll code name ‘E’ which was instantly a keeper for me.  We worked in the Sony ATV building in the West End for a few days and it was so fun to pop out into Golden Square and grab a coffee and walk about soaking in the energy of London and then zip back upstairs to a private studio and create some magic.

More recently Robert Conley came back to London for the second trip to my studio to work on songs for the album.
We had a brilliant strike rate this trip.  We wrote a song I’ll code name ‘W’ and it’s a killer.  Big drums and frenetic sound.  Lots of energy and exactly what I think has been missing from the songs.  Then we wrote a heartbreaker if I say so myself.  I’ll code name it ‘L’.  I think it’s ‘that’ song on the record that many people can relate to.   It’s quite sad but universally so and came from a very raw place.  I said to Richard tonight that I was glad I had a home for such emotions because they are heavy to hold on to without support.  Fingers crossed it makes it on the album.

Next week Justin Shave arrives to do 2 weeks here – really just polishing up and transforming some songs I’ve ear marked and hopefully writing some more.

In the mean time, here’s some outside of the studio ramblings.   I’ve been cooking so much this year.  Richard has been quite busy with music videos.  He just did a new one for a little indie band and it was 3 weeks of post.  So I was cooking virtually every night and loving it.  For those who don’t believe I can make my way around a BBQ I took a pic of my skills at a party recently.   Also there’s a shot of my mic stand and vocal set up in the attic studio.  What else is there?  Oh a pic of me staring at the camera in the Sony ATV studio kitchen when I was working with Brian West.  And finally a picture of my biggest fan who was giving me love eyes from the couch hoping I’d take him for a walk.

I’ll write a new blog when Justin is here.  In the meantime join up to U Stream.  I’m thinking of posting some vids of my time with Justin if I can get my shiz together in time.   I just registered an account and it’s http://www.ustream.tv/DarrenHayes
I’ll give plenty of notice when I’m going to jump on.. but thought you should know soon!

Big love
D