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Darius Danesh the Pop Idol
By Ben Hawkes, blueyonder.co.uk
Darius Danesh's unique (and very entertaining) interpretation of Britney Spears' Baby One More Time on Popstras created the first reality TV anti-hero whose desperation for success sadly out shadowed his undeniable musical talent.
A year later he returned without the ponytail, goatee and attitude on Pop Idol. He came across as an affable, amusing and nonchalant contender who, following the withdrawal of Rik Waller due to illness, graciously won third place.
Unlike his contemporaries Darius has gone on to sign a contract that gives him complete creative freedom over his music.
Darius talks Popstars, Pop Idol and the truth behind how he got into the final ten...
We haven't seen you in a while, where have you been?
I've been doing the other half of being a singer-songwriter, writing songs. It has been an amazing four years since my very first audition for Popstars; I have had a number one, a platinum selling album and a sold out tour so the last year has been very much reflecting on everything that has happened. The first half of the year I had writers block and only wrote a few songs. The record company wanted to release them and but they were just not ready, not good enough. I want to release music I am proud of so I pulled them and they didn't even make it onto the album. It is a more mature record.
Where did you write the new album?
In my bedroom in Glasgow. I spent a lot of time just being normal; Darius the son and Darius the big brother. It was really cool to record in Los Angeles though because the only person that knew me out there was J-Kay from Jamiroquai. We were staying at the same hotel; we hung out, became friends and drank one to many beers. We would play each other what we had done in the studio that day. I look up to him as a musician and a songwriter and having him ask me what I thought of his track was a very big privilege. He is a proper pop idol
Were you star-struck?
I have only been star-struck once when I met Seal who. He is the most down to earth, warm and considerate gentleman that I have ever met. Instead of shaking my hand he gave me a big hug. I was really taken aback.
You came across very differently in Popstars and Pop Idol. What happened?
We all make mistakes. I made mine on national TV in front of millions of people. But I realised that we should never regret mistakes because you grow, you learn and you become stronger. Since I picked up a guitar at the age of twelve I have had a very deep drive to be a songwriter.
Did you have any moments when you thought about chucking it all in?
There were moments when it did seem an insurmountable obstacle. Within three weeks of Popstars I was on the front page of four national tabloids; one of them simply said 'Cocky Loser'. As you can imagine, it had serious repercussions; I didn't have a manager or an agent, I was on my own and at that stage people saw me as a figure of fun. I was famous but for all the wrong reasons. The seriousness of that impacted me when I was in a club in London; a guy came up to me, called me a 'ponytail puff' then swung one at me. I bearhugged him so that no one would get hurt. His two mates came in, took one arm each and I got laid into. I was in hospital, nothing was broken, I had a tooth knocked out. I didn't look pretty.
Where your career is now has a lot to do with Rik Waller getting a throat infection during the Pop Idol finals. Did you have anything to do with that?
(laughs) No, I know light has been made of it since but that was serious, he was properly ill. But if you want my opinion of it which is different to what happened; he didn't want to do it. He really believed Gareth would win and he didn't ever want to lose to him. He wanted to go out with a bang and for people to think he was the guy who could've won. I feel grateful for what happened. It must have been a twist of fate because I wrote Colourblind before I did the audition for Pop Idol, so by the time I was eliminated I already had the song I wanted to launch my career from.
Having been introduced to the public through Popstars and Pop Idol. Do you find people are overly friendly.
People sometimes do feel that they know me because I have grown up in the public gaze but it is a great feeling as opposed to something to feel awkward about. Sometimes criticism from tabloid journalism can be difficult but the public have been amazing in their support they really have swept me up in a tide of good will.
Do you have any particular target ages for fans?
Not really but it is nice to know that my songs are appreciated and read into in a different way by older listeners. But saying that there is a purity and innocence in youth that is wonderful. My little brother Cyrus is nine and he loves the new album. I asked him his favourite song and he said Kinda Love 'because people will be singing it in their cars'. The fact that he picked up on that and he is only nine made me realize that I should never underestimate the insight that a young person can bring to music. So I am very appreciative of my fans no matter what age.
Is he your biggest fan?
No I reckon it is the other way round.
The single Kinda Love is out on the 18th October and album Live Twice is out on the 25th October.