Darius World

Young, Sexy and Christian

By Lorna Hill, Life and Work June 2004

Darius Danesh found fame through the ITV talent show Pop Idol. He talks to Lorna Hill about the importance of faith and explains why he prays every day.

THERE IS much excitement in the Danesh household. Birthday balloons festoon the hallway and a squad of young boys are running around laughing excitedly. For not only is it nine-year-old Cyrus’s birthday, but his older brother Darius is expected home on a fleeting visit north at any minute.

To his millions of fans, Darius Danesh is the devastatingly handsome pop star who defied all odds to launch a credible and successful music career. However as soon as he arrives at his parents’ home in Bearsden in Glasgow it is obvious that he is simply Darius – a son and brother and, at the risk of sounding quaint, a thoroughly charming, young gentleman. Darius may now be relishing the dizzy heights of fame, but things were not always quite so rosy. Here is a quick refresher: three years ago he was studying English Literature at Edinburgh University and he became something of a national laughing stock when, complete with goatee and ponytail, he made quite an impression on ITV’s talent show, Popstars, with his confident swagger and questionable version of Britney Spears’ Baby One More Time. Then in true determination, and to everyone’s astonishment, he auditioned for a further talent show, Pop Idol, and, after a makeover which saw him lose the facial hair and ponytail and emerge as a sex symbol, he made it to the final three contestants and immediately the tables turned. The nation took Darius to its heart and he is now one of our proudest exports.

Now he is signed to Mercury Records, has had three Top Ten hits including the number one single Colour Blind and his debut album Dive In sold almost one million copies in three months. (He was famously quoted on Popstars as saying that he wanted to have a triple platinum album by the time he was 30. It looks like he’s well on course.) And last year he launched his biography, Sink or Swim.

So with such a stack of achievements, at the tender age of 23, it would be almost understandable if Darius had become slightly swollen headed. Yet Darius is refreshingly grounded and has a maturity which defies his years. This is undoubtedly linked to his upbringing and the values instilled by his parents which he still cherishes today. Darius is obviously passionate about music. However he is clearly devoted to his family who he has remained extremely close to. His parents, Booth and Avril, are both doctors and he has two younger brothers – 20-year-old Aria who is a medical student, and nine-year-old Cyrus. Although his parents clearly miss having him around they are supportive of their son’s career. And Avril, who has a lovely warm and calm manner, seems to take the buzz and excitement in her stride. It is clear that Darius has inherited her temperament and it is quite a privilege to witness the close rapport he has with his mother.

Although Darius is now based in London, and is in a happy relationship with his model girlfriend Jacqui Ainsley, he admits that he would be back in Glasgow every weekend if possible. However, his time is currently largely occupied with writing and recording for his second album which will be released in September. At the moment he is busy jetting between London, Miami and Los Angeles where he is working with top producers whose previous successes include Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias and Avril Lavigne.

Yet despite the glitzy lifestyle which fame can bring, Darius has not forgotten his roots – and his faith, which is obviously central to his being. When asked if he has ever wrestled with the temptations which a pop star lifestyle might bring he replies: “I’m not a regular drinker. I go for six months off, six months on as such. I don’t take drugs. I’m faithful to my girlfriend. I find it easier than some people might believe in regards to the job I have because that’s who I am and that’s how I’ve been brought up. My drinking days were at university and I think I got it out of my system. Now if I go for a drink it’s for the enjoyment of a fine glass of wine or a really good beer.

“I don’t go out to get drunk. I’ve got a job and I’ve got responsibilities now and I hope I’d be a good role model for my little brother. That’s always at the back of my 4 mind because I want him to grow up with the same values and grow up with a strong sense of what is right and what is wrong and a strong sense of faith.”

It was his faith, he says, that got him through those initial difficult Popstars days. “My faith was what got me through. My faith in God, in my family and in myself. It wasn’t easy but it was more difficult for my Mum and Dad now that I look back at it because to see your son who is growing and developing and has ideas and dreams, I supposed it must be like watching a flower that is growing and reaching for the light and is suddenly trampled on. I think my roots were deeper and tougher than people thought at the time and I’m glad those roots have been my family and my faith.”

Darius says he has “romantic” memories of going to church as a child and he smiles as he reminisces. “My first church memory was a church service at Christmas time and I remember the nativity scene. I must have been three or four at the time and I remember the candles and staring in amazement at the scene in front of me. I’ve always felt very peaceful and content in churches. In fact one of my favourite poems is called Churchgoing, by Larkin.”

He pauses and then adds: “I suppose I was shaped as a child through my visits to the South Church in Bearsden. The minister, Mr Harris would come to the school once a fortnight and would see the different classes. I always remember looking forward to him coming as he’s such a fascinating man and I was always interested in what he had to say. I always thought he presented religion in such an interesting and informative and entertaining way. You found that you were learning without really knowing it and that was something I thought was amazing.”

Darius also credits his parents for his spiritual upbringing which, in in a multi-faith household has given him an insight and understanding into other religions. He takes a sip of water and explains: “My Dad, who is from Iran, was born and raised as Muslim and he’s been very embracing of Christianity and very keen for me to be brought up as Christian. I suppose that he’s always aware of Islamic teachings. He would come to Church with us and is aware that in different religions there are many things that are weak and there are some things that are perhaps extreme. He always tells me he’s taken the best things of Islam and applied them to his life and I respect him for his open-mindedness which I think has taught me to be accepting and interested in other religions and embracing of different thoughts of faith.”

He adds: “At school I was bullied as a child. I remember coming home and being distraught and my Mum put me on her lap and consoled me. She always taught me to pray and to ask God for peace and strength and all the things that help you get through whatever the little bumps are along the road. She pointed out different examples of suffering in the world that would then make my bullying seem like such a small thing. The empathy that was taught at Church, mum would overspill into daily life. I think that has stayed with me.”

Describing himself as “a Christian enlightened by the teachings of Islam” Darius admits that although he goes to Church “far less than I’d like to admit”, he prays daily. “That’s what I find important. I find when I don’t pray life is not nearly as happy and problems you would otherwise find a way to overcome become much bigger problems. Mum has always tried to teach me to pray first thing in the morning and any time of the day and at night before your head hits the pillow. I have one prayer in the day where I have my conversation with God and there might be any point in the day, from when I wake up to when I go to sleep, where I have a thought of thanks. Sometimes it’s when I sit down to eat. In fact this is a better example – it’s in the middle of being on tour or in the middle of a radio or press promotional tour and getting up early in the morning and not getting home until midnight and working all day and using any moment I can to eat and before I eat just saying, ‘Thank you God for this food’. With each mouthful feeling appreciative of the food that is nourishing my body and remembering that I’m lucky to have that food which others do not. Sometimes Mum is so good at reminding me to slow down. I do everything in a rush and it’s that thought of saying thanks to God that slows me down. Sometimes it’s hitting the front doorstep and taking a deep breath of air before the day starts and saying thank you God and it charges you up and it’s amazing the strength it gives you.”

Charity work is important to Darius and he is conscious of the fortunate position he is in and appreciates the need to give something back. “I think charity is a wonderful thing which we should all embrace because in a selfish way it reminds us that no matter what problems or stresses or so-called traumas that we go through, these pale into insignificance when you stand next to our fellow men who suffer.” In addition to being a Prince’s Trust Ambassador, he has also supported AIDS charity Crusade and recently backed Leap for Meningitis after being inspired by Olivia Giles, an Edinburgh lawyer who lost her hands and feet to the blood-poisoning form of the disease. The pair met at a charity event last year and he pledged his support to her charity, which will raise funds for victims of the disease and research into a vital vaccine. Meningitis is an issue close to his heart for after speaking to Olivia he realised how lucky his brother Aria, who was struck by viral meningitis as a child, had been.

Darius has a grounded and realistic approach to life and although optimistic is aware that the music industry can be fickle. But he admits his work is not his life and he could cope if it was all taken away from him. “Honestly I think I’d be upset for 24 hours and after having a good moan I’d pray and go to bed and the next morning would be a new day. I’d wake up and thank God for my health and my family. The reality of it is that of course the news of that would upset you and initially smack you in the face but the experiences that I’ve been through so far, have made me really appreciate what is real and what is important. Hopefully because those things are so close to my heart the reality is that you could only take anything away from me if I lost, God forbid, my family. So the studio and the lifestyle and the songs and all that stuff is just a job. It’s not what is important and is not who I am as a person. It’s what I do and I was always most happy when I had my guitar, which is worth about £20 sat on my bed at home writing songs and coming up with melodies and lyrics. I’d always still be able to go back to that.”

He adds: “I feel very blessed to have these opportunities as a songwriter and a singer and to be able to travel and I’m focused on enjoying this growing, creating process.”

Time is short and Darius is looking forward to spending the rest of his brief visit celebrating Cyrus’s birthday, which will involve an evening of roller-blading at the local sports centre, and enjoying the rare occasion when the Danesh family is together.

But before the interview ends he wants to say a bit more. “I think that faith and religion is really important. It’s really important that it’s part of our education and I think it’s sad that in recent times it may appear that it has been pushed aside and is not being embraced in a way that it once was. As the world changes and becomes more commercial and a more media driven place I think it also becomes even more important for us to return to where we came from and to return to ideas and ideals of faith. We should be aware and enjoy the materialistic paraphernalia that we have, and enjoy playing computer games as a kid but equally enjoy going to Sunday School and find a balance so that materialism doesn’t become the goal.

“We live in a such a selfish world now where everyone is trying to get what they can have and I think the idea of compassion and empathy for your neighbour is one that we’re seeing less and less of. That’s why faith and religion are so important because it teaches us to be compassionate and teaches us to be empathetic.”

In a world where image is everything it is refreshing to hear Darius talk so openly and candidly about his faith. Yet he is a remarkably straightforward kind of person without the airs and graces which bestow so many celebrities. He talks proudly and enthusiastically about his Church upbringing and it’s not something he tries to hide. It’s of little wonder that his parents are so proud.

Special thanks to the Rev John Harris and Dr Avril Danesh for their help.