Switched

The Switched Questionnaire: Darren Hayes

Not a lot of artists have made the switch from old world of music-label-driven marketing and promotion for CDs to the new world of self-released albums, track giveaways, and MySpace pages, but Darren Hayes, the former lead singer of late-'90s dance-pop duo Savage Garden, has entered the world of Music Web 2.0 with flying colors. In the months before the release of his new two-CD album 'This Delicate Thing We've Made,' Hayes got 600,000 people to visit his MySpace Page -- pretty good for a guy who's spend much of the last few years since the breakup of Savage Garden battling depression, getting divorced from his wife, and subsequently marrying a man (becoming one half of the U.K.'s second same-sex marriage after Elton John and David Furnish). Turns out Hayes is quite opinionated about the gadgets he brings around with him on tour, as you'll soon discover when you read his answers to the latest Switched Questionnaire.

What gadgets do you always bring with you to the set (for down-time)?

I love my iPod obviously, but the thing I always bring are my in-ear monitors from Ultimate Ears. I have a pair of [$900] UE 10's for the stage, but I'm telling you they make even TV sound like cinema. They're an amazing indulgence off-stage, but worth it.

What cell phone do you have right now and what do you love or hate about it?

I've the Sony Ericsson 810i and I love and hate it. Love the platform and the text messaging. Hate the ring tones and the fact that you are constantly triggering their awful preloaded tunes, and it's impossible to turn off quickly. Not a huge fan of the 'Walkman' feature. It's a bother and spoils an otherwise gorgeous and simple phone.

Where do you go pretty much every time you get online?

I'm a MySpace kid. So there, first, and then pinkisthenewblog.com -- it's my favorite entertainment blog and a lot of fun.

What annoys you most about your iPod, cell phone, or laptop (or any other gadget)?

The new power cord on the Macbooks is annoying. I know it's designed to pop out to save ruining the connection, it pops out so easily. I [find myself] constantly working without a charge and having the laptop beg me for more AC.

Name one thing you wish your iPod/cellphone/laptop (any gadget) could do that it doesn't do now?

I think, honestly, that they all do too much.I'm into simple. That's kind of why I like the iPod.It's like the shark of the technology world. It shouldn't evolve for a few millennia.

You're stranded on a desert island: What gadget do you bring?

I bring a water purifier. You can find food, but you can't always find fresh water.

Whats the most-played song or artist on your iPod?

It would be Prince and probably 'Sign O the Times'.

Who's the last person you sent a text message to and what was the message about?

I texted my assistant to say I'd arrived at London Heathrow from New York to make sure my dog was home when I arrived. He stays with a neighbor when I'm away.

BlackBerry, Sidekick, or Treo?

None of the above. I don't WANT to be that in contact.I like checking email when I feel like it. Not in a bar!

Related Links:

• The Switched Questionnaire: Eddie Money
• The Switched Questionnaire: 'Hottest State' Songwriter Jesse Harris
• The Switched Questionnaire: Sandra Bernhard