Red & Wild contacted Darren Hayes earlier this month to ask him if he could give us an exclusive interview for the Red & Wild magazine. Thankfully, he was more than willing to help out. Now you can read his interview here.

Me, Myself and I: The Interview

Red & Wild: Hi Darren. Thanks for giving us a chance to speak to you about all things Darren Hayes!

Darren Hayes: It's a pleasure.

Red & Wild: Well it's been an exciting year for you so far.  It's been about a year since you married your same sex partner, animator and director Richard Cullen - how has it been?

Darren Hayes: I always say to people that I feel really lucky to live in a country that recognizes my relationship. It's made us feel accepted and strong in our relationship and in many ways has been unexpectedly romantic. There's something beautiful about the idea of standing together through good times and bad.  And that's what our relationship means to me.

Red & Wild: Many people have gone and finally married their partners since the law changed.  Why was it so important to you both to undertake the ceremony?

Darren Hayes: I think it's important to be able to receive the recognition from your peers and from your society. That does tremendous things to the way you feel about yourself as a gay person. You fight so hard to gain respect and legitimacy and the Civil Partnership law has made this a reality.

Red & Wild: What was your special day like?

Darren Hayes: We are a very traditional couple and had a very traditional celebration, albeit an extravagant one. Wonderful intimate ceremony with family and close friends and then a fantastic two day celebration at a hotel in the countryside with everyone.

Red & Wild: Since coming out, you have been a great advocate for the Gay Community, and you recently Headlined the London Gay Pride, what did this mean to you?

Darren Hayes: Well to me performing at Gay Pride was significant this year because I got married and felt that I represented someone who is proud. But in general, I hate to admit it, but I don't see myself as a gay artist per se. I'm a human being who makes music for everyone and I'd like to see a cross section of artists at these events and not just gay ones. The day should be about drawing attention to social injustices. Not segregating.

Red & Wild: You also recently came to the Salford Lowry in September.  Can you tell us why you chose to come to Salford and what you enjoyed about your concert?

Darren Hayes: Well it's a gorgeous venue and part of our stance on this tour was to play stages that were theatrical and would allow for the presentation of the music in a theatrical way. It was an amazing night.

Red & Wild: You are very dedicated to your fans. You recently held an event at The Oxford Art Gallery at the Sydney Club in Australia - can you tell us a little more about that?

Darren Hayes: Very simply, we had to cancel a few shows in towns where our elaborate set didn't fit. To make up for it was organized a club show in 24 hours and did the whole show plus extras for a really cheap ticket price and did our best to give those who couldn't make another show on the tour a chance to at least hear the live stuff.

Red & Wild: Not many people do that! You were born in Australia. Do you still have a home there or have you and your partner made a home for yourselves somewhere else in the world?

Darren Hayes: We live in London. I'm a one home kind of guy. No bling. No boats. No sportscars. Just us.

Red & Wild: That's really nice, but is there anything you miss about your hometown Brisbane?

Darren Hayes: Everything. I miss the simplicty and the wide open spaces of a small town. I miss my childhood friends. I miss it all.

Red & Wild: You set-up your own record label 'Powered Sugar' can you tell us more about that and what inspired the name?

Darren Hayes: The label was necessary in order to maintain artistic control of my output. The name refers to pop music and the hours are way too long and we're understaffed, overworked and underpaid!

Red & Wild: Your new album, This Delicate Thing We've Made came out in August. How has it done? What was your inspiration behind the tracks on the album, the style and the name?

Darren Hayes: It's been a real labor of love. I'd like more airplay!  But it's been worth it to me in the end because the album is about the fragility of life.  And of looking back at the choices you've made, time traveling if you like, and attempting to make peace with the past. It's absolutely the most personal collection of songs I've ever made. That's why it's delicate.

Red & Wild: Fantastic! So, On the Verge of Something Wonderful was the first single released from the new album.  This month, the second single Me, Myself and I is released.  Can you tell us more about this track?

Darren Hayes: It's pure funk and 100% prince inspired.

Red & Wild: In a nutshell then! Let's just tell everyone to go check it out!

Darren Hayes: Yeah.

Red & Wild: Me, Myself and I was co-directed by yourself and your partner Richard Cullen.  What was it like to work together on the set of the video?

Darren Hayes: We work together all the time so we're pretty used to it actually. He has been involved in the visuals for my tours for years so moving on to videos was a no brainer. He's alarmingly talented and devilishly cute. I love working with him.

Red & Wild: (laughs). What plans do you have for World AIDS Day this year?

Darren Hayes: I don't have plans. I don't really campaign on specific days anyway. I talk about issues that affect my life every day.

Red & Wild: How important is World AIDS Day and the global message of support to you?

Darren Hayes: I think it's more important to focus on Aids year round.  Especially in epidemic areas like Africa and the spread of the disease through low income and poverty stricken communities.

Sadly, since Aids doesn't seem to be a death sentence for the western world it has taken a back seat in people's minds and yet in the developing world aids is a threat to the survival of the human race. It's terrifying and that's why I applaud people like Bono and Annie Lennox for always talking about Aids and not just 'on the holidays'.

Red & Wild: What does the future hold for Darren Hayes in 2008?

Darren Hayes: Change. As always. I'm going to tour my ass off next year so that in 2009 I can stop for a good break and re-evaluate my life.

Red & Wild: Well, thank you for the interview. It's been great. Good luck with your forth-coming series of gigs in America. We hope to see you again soon!