Welcome to whatsurmusic.com and thanks for taking the time to speak to us.
Hey, no worries.
Now I’m calling from Glasgow which is as grey and rainy as ever can I assume you are somewhere far nicer?
Yeah well I’m in New York doing all my interviews at a cafe with my dogs and it is a beautiful day here.
Do you spend a lot of time in New York?
I live here now and it’s awesome.
Do you actually get to spend that much time there or are you always away touring and promoting?
I’ve lived here for a year and a half and to be honest I’ve probably spent two and a half months here because of all the touring. Last night I went to an award ceremony and it it’s the first time I’ve really been sociable in New York.
What was the award ceremony?
It was the LOGO awards. It’s a TV channel here and it was so much fun. It’s a gay channel and gays are my people. It was so awesome and I realised that they are the funest people I know.
Have you ever performed at the G.A.Y in London?
No I’ve never but I think it would be super fun. I’ve been there but never performed there.
What’s been your favourite place to play?
I do love to play New York. I’ve had some of my best shows there. I love to play Paris as well and Portland is always really fun. I’ve got to say though I’ve never had a really bad gig. I’ve been pretty lucky. You can’t really complain when everyone is clapping at you. As long as someone is clapping it’s OK!
Your new DVD “TV Is My Parent”, out now, features some touring footage with your band and the banter always seems really good. Is being with your band and touring your favourite part of being a musician?
No it’s writing. Writing is my absolute favourite thing to do because now I’m 33 and I guess that touring is the dream of the 10 year old. When I was 10 all I wanted to do was be famous and have people clap at me and see the world. I think I thought that it would fill some sort of void and I would be heard. I wouldn’t just be some kid that nobody listened to and obviously what actually happens then is people listen to you but they aren’t really listening to that little desperate voice inside. You know? Nobody can listen to that desperate voice except you or maybe a therapist. Also, the traveling is exhausting after a while. So now I’m realising that the dream for me as a 33 year old is to stay at home and never ever go anywhere!
I think that’s the reason that writing is my favourite because it’s something I can do with my dogs in my lap at home.
Speaking of writing you have just finished working with Christina Aguilera on her new album. How was it to work with her?
Awesome. She is awesome.
Had you met her before you worked with her?
No. I knew that she had come to one of my gigs but I had never met her because she left before we had finished. She was 7 months pregnant at the time and I was obviously crazy flattered that she came to the show and that she had gone out and bought tickets. Most celebrities either try and get on the guest list or have their people call my people, which is fine because they might not want to be bothered and get a section to themselves. That is very standard in Hollywood but she is like the anti-diva and anyone that says she is a diva is clearly incompetent or obviously were not doing their job properly so she probably fired them!
How did it come about?
Well her people called my people.
Is that a good feeling when people call you up to work with them because I know she is not the only one that you have worked with?
Absolutely! When it’s someone of her stature it’s incredibly flattering. She is a huge talent and she is offering me a huge gift by allowing me to work with her because even if you get one song on one of her records, that is a deposit for a house. I don’t even think she realises that and that is what is really beautiful about her or at least if she does realise she is really humble about it.
Is there anyone else you are keen to work with?
I wrote some pieces for Shakira and I would really like her to use them because I really want to work with her. I have heard a little bit of the new record and it sounds amazing, like amazing, like so amazing! It is just really awesome pop music and I’m really excited about it so I would love to be involved with that. I would love to work with all the popstars because I love pop. I have to say though I do love David Bowie. I know it would never happen but I just love him and also Sting. I would like to song write with Sting.
Have you ever been star struck by anyone?
Yeah guess who?? Craig McGloughlin from Neighbours!
No Way! I’m so happy that you brought up Neighbours! I was using all my will power to not ask you a Neighbours related question because normally Australians hate it when British people start talking about it! I’m delighted!
I love Neighbours! I haven’t watched it in about 5 years because we do not get it in America but I was in the UK for 8 years before I came to America and that was one of my guilty pleasures! I love crap television. TV really is my parent! It’s the only time my brain can really relax, most of the time it’s running a marathon.
Speaking about your DVD again you have launched a competition for all your fans to create a Youtube video showing off their creative abilities. Have you watched any of them yet?
Not yet are there many on-line?
There are quite a few.
How fun! I’m going to check them out later on.
Are you picking the winner?
Yeah I’m picking the winner once all the entrants are on-line!
So aside from the DVD do you have anything else coming up this year?
Yeah I’m going to record my next album on July 1st. I have finished writing it so I’m really excited about getting it made. That’s another part I love too, recording.
When do you think it will be released?
Around February. We are planning to release a single in October then the album in February. Then we will be touring and promoting it.
Do you think you will be back to visit Scotland at that time?
Yeah definitely!
Sia’s new DVD “TV is my parent” is out now and if you are a massive Sia fan and would like her to record a personalised video message for you saying anything you like then enter her competition on Youtube! You must upload a video that entertains and educates the internet as creatively as you can and Sia will choose her favourite entrant! For more details go to http://www.youtube.com/tvismyparent
