Darius World

DARIUS INTERVIEW

dotmusic.com 30 July 2002

Can you really imagine Darius in Hear'Say? The man who dominated not one, but two TV shows - Popstars and Pop Idol - was always destined for a career in music, not least because, when he was seemingly beaten, he always bounced back.

So this week, Darius is hotly tipped to have his first No.1 with his debut single 'Colourblind' - a self-penned slice of summery pop that's possibly the best thing to come out of the programme to date.

dotmusic had a date with Darius last week to find out the truth behind the man who once sported the dodgiest facial hair in the business. The other Pop Idols, pressure, not signing for Simon Cowell and his album are all on the agenda.

On not making Hear'Say:

"I'm over the moon to be signed to the biggest label in the world and I've got Steve Lillywhite, my hero producer, at the helm of my album so if I was to be anywhere else right now I'd be crazy cos I'm living a dream right now."

On pressure:

"I suppose you don't feel it until after the show when you step out of the situation and realise that it's like being in a bubble cos you don't have any idea of the true impact cos you don't have perspective.

"The first show was my first audition and I was completely naive and enthusiastic and through being insecure I came across as very cocky and fearless. On Pop Idol I felt the pressure cos potentially it was the biggest decision of my life - should I put myself up for a slamming and ridicule from the general public? But I pulled through and now I don't think I'll ever look back."

On Pop Idol Vs Popstars:

"I'd say Pop Idol is the formula one, it's the next generation of the Popstars idea and being live was much more immediate. It was an awesome experience and one of the best six months of my life. Coming third was a surreal experience and looking back on both of them seems so long ago. Who would think I'd cover an infamous Britney Spears track and two years later bringing out my debut single on the same day as Britney? Sweet irony."

On life in the final ten:

"Being in the final ten was intensified by the fact we were living together and when we got to the final five we were living in a suite with bedrooms off the main living area so we got to know each other really well. We all became great friends.

"Because we shared the same communal experiences there was no sense of rivalry just camaraderie. Will winning was awesome. I didn't realise that at the time I hoisted him up on my shoulder. I was really proud of him and glad he won. I think he had the prospective cos he was older than us I thought he'd be the ideal one to win cos he won't change as a person should be become the most famous man in the country. Just a sense of encouragement."

On Colourblind:

"Colourblind as a single is different to the sort of song I was singing on Pop Idol. We jumped through hoops (on the show) as we sang covers without the freedom to sing songs that conveyed us as people. For Gareth that wasn't the case cos he was ideally suited to that kind of male solo Westlife style. For me I don't think I got the opportunity to show myself as a songwriter and musician.

"I had a gut feeling that 'Colourblind' would be the first song I'd release. I've been given the freedom to spread my wings without having to adhere to someone else's mould of what I should be. 'Colourblind' is the first song off an album that I hope will entertain the people who supported me during Pop Idol and it's my thanks to them. It's the most honest way I could do it."

On not signing to BMG:

"At the time it seemed like a really silly thing to do. I'd waited 12 months since just missing out on a deal with one of the other major labels and I put my family through so much that I felt a moral obligation to take the first deal that came my way.

"Because of the success of the programme, if I'd released a cover of the back of that I would never know for sure if that song was a success because of me or the programme. When I look back at Hear'Say they had instant success but I questioned whether that would lead to a long term career. Something that was credible rather than shifting units. I wanted to be happy with myself as a person so I won't have been happy to release a cover."

On his forthcoming album:

"I'm working busily writing the album. I'm working with a team of producers in London called the Misfits. I am a lucky boy cos I'm being flown out to LA to work with the Matrix, a world-class team of producers. I'll be releasing a second single at the beginning of end of October and the album in November. I've got a busy few months ahead.

"By deciding not to record any material I'd written before 'Colourblind' I've set myself the challenge of only having writing time between March and September. I work well under pressure and hopefully I'll write an album I'm proud off."

On his career so far:

"I made a big jump between Popstars and Pop Idol but I think I made a bigger jump between Pop Idol and Darius as a solo artist. I'm on a rollercoaster and I don't want to get off."

For the latest on Darius check out his official site

Chris Heath