Nina's Darius World

This month the 24-year old releases ‘Live Twice’ the title track of his second album. Not bad for someone who was once the face of public ridicule. You remember the slicked back hair and the greasy goatee? Not to mention his rendition of Britney's ‘Baby One More Time’.

So what is Darius Danesh really like? Jessica Au went to meet the great big Persian Scotsman to chat about his three favourite topics: karaoke, pop idols, and celebrity fight club.

Tell us a bit about your new single (Live Twice).

Sure. My dad was dying of cancer and was given six months to live. At the time my brother and I both took time out of our careers to be with him. I wrote this song for my dad. When I played it to him he said that I had to record it because he didn’t want to see me throw away my dreams.

When I got into the studio I found that the floodgates opened and I just started writing. I always hoped that my dad would live to see this song be released. We got the amazing news in December that the cancer was in remission, and he’s made a miraculous recovery.

I’m really happy to hear it. You mentioned that the floodgates opened as soon as you got into the studio - do you think an artist needs trouble and strife in their life to be creative?

If you look at the Beatles some of the best songs they wrote were the simplest upbeat love songs like ‘I Wanna Hold Your Hand’. But certainly when I look at songs that I admire – George Michael’s ‘Jesus to a Child’ and Seals ‘Kiss from a Rose’ – they were both written with heartache. I spoke to Seal about this when I was recording in L.A. and he likened life to a wave; that we have to appreciate the troughs in order to put the crests into perspective.

Did you get any cool presents for Christmas?

I got a rather cool present. I got a wonderful guitar that I always wanted - a Gibson S335, cherry red, flame finish. Not that that means a thing to you but it meant the world to me!

What would you say has been your biggest fashion error ever? I heard a rumour that you once turned up at a party in a gold lamé suit. Is that true?

No! It wasn’t me! My biggest fashion error was much more public than that. I looked like a cross between a Greek waiter and a Spanish tour operator. I don’t think I need to say anymore…

Imagine you were thrown into a celebrity death match, who would you choose to double up with and who would you like to fight against?

Wow, celebrity death match. Awesome. That’s a really good one. I reckon… (long pause).

Don't feel that you have to be diplomatic or anything…

Actually, it's more like a process of elimination. Let's come back to that one, I need to think about it.

Ok, moving along, when you sing karaoke do you sing your own songs?

That is the unspoken rule of karaoke: thou shall not sing thy own number ones – ever! Break that rule and you get kicked out of a karaoke bar.

What's your favourite Darius Danesh song?

It's a song on the new album called ‘Devil In You', which is a kind of throwback to the whole rat pack era.

Have you ever serenaded a girl? What song did you serenade her with?

I wrote a song for a girl that I fancied at school. I was twelve or thirteen, and I played the guitar to her in our music department at school. At the end she leaned forward and kissed me. The next thing I knew she was going out with my best mate so the song didn't work. I obviously wasn't that great a songwriter back then!

Did you watch the X Factor?

I didn't watch it religiously but I did appreciate it.

Do you reckon you could cut it in G4?

I have to admit that I'm really glad that I was part of the original programme. When I watch it now I appreciate it for being the most entertaining Saturday night TV programme, but it makes me question whether it's just a great marketing tool. Something to fill certain peoples pockets but leaves the public a little short changed when a year down the line the artists disappear.

Who are your pop idols?

Bono and Madonna are probably the only two living pop idols. I don't know if anybody else is really qualified to be an idol. Sure we have many great male and female artists who are at the top of their game, but you need to have real staying power to be an idol. Programs like ‘Pop Idol' have distorted the meaning of the word idol. Was Michelle McManus a pop idol? I don't think so. I suppose Elvis and Sinatra are my only true idols.

Speaking of Michelle McManus, do you think looks are important if you want to make it in pop?

I think there is an emphasis on style over substance, which I find frustrating. Sometimes I hear songs from great bands that don't make it. But then I listen to amazing music from bands like Keane, where their name is known better than their faces, which redefines my faith in pop.

If you were stranded on a desert beach and you could only take one record with you, which one would it be?

Radiohead ‘The Bends'. Or wait! Or a Dean Martin record. Gosh. Actually, maybe a Frank Sinatra record, ‘The Best of Frank'…

Is that your final answer or would you like to phone a friend?

Or Radiohead ‘The Bends'. I'd have to flip a coin on that.

Any thoughts on the death match before we finish up?

Oh, death match! I'd definitely have someone like Sharon Osbourne on my side. On the opposing side it would have to be someone like Tony Blair and George Bush. They'd be a great tag team. I'd love to whup their behinds!

Thanks for joining us Darius!

Thank you.