Maxtv: "Plain Idol or next Bono?"
Dec 11, 2006 13:24:30 GMT 10
Post by dededom on Dec 11, 2006 13:24:30 GMT 10
Damien Leith: Plain Idol or next Bono?
Tue 05 December 2006
maxtv.com.au/Max/Article.aspx?id=580
Australian Idol winner, Damien Leith, used to love Pantera, now he sings operatic pop. He describes for Channel[V] his "edgy" new album, about Casey Donovan winning a cooler car and what he thinks "emo" means ...
Is there a chance that living near Sydney's Newtown, your new album will be infected by the local indie-rock scene?
I definitely hope the album will have something edgy. Not straight up . A bit left of field ...
How do you respond to people who say you sing 'operatic pop'?
It doesn't ring any bells with me. I understand where it's come from singing Nesson Dorma and so on. but I'd put myself more in the singer-songwriter route, acoustic-based melodic music.
If that was an exception, what do you call your effort at singing Celebration?
i got a bagging the week before for doing too many ballads. So they said do disco so i decided to really do disco. Just before i went on i thought am I gunna get annihilated for this?
Casey Donovan got an MX5 convertible. You got a family sedan.
All i can say is they must have known. The psychic must have got in touch with them and said it'll be someone who needs a babyseat. I haven't seen it yet. Our Holden Astra is starting to make noises, and rattles. We're due a new car.
What were you thinking when James and Andrew G kept throwing to commercials and wouldn't finish it?
To be honest the whole night went very quickly. I know for Jess as well, it went in a blink. I heard from the crew on the night it had gone overtime, so they started cutting things, but it didn't work.
How many times did you go to the toilet on finals night?
It was a nerve-wracking night. Probably five or six times.
Who do you think voted for you?
It's interesting. At one point I thought it was a lot of older people. But on my myspace, in the last few weeks, I noticed I was getting a lot of younger people on there. From 16 and up. Not many below that, but 16 and up.
What was the last gig you went to?
Simple Minds.
How do you think you did singing U2 songs?
With Or Without You is a four chord trick, it doesn’t have a clearly defined chorus with bog moments, that’s why I love it. I do build up to big moments and I do worry about them. Nesson Dorma was another extreme. Creep has a big note. You do get worried your voice will break.
Do you relate much to Bono?
I think he’s brilliant. I’m a biog u2 fan, not cos I’m Irish. He has his views, but u2 to me are about the music. They’ve really stuck in there and he’s a great songwriter.
Can you separate their views from their music?
They’ve managed to get their views into the song, but to listen to it you must think I really like that song. They have out in some strong views, like Irish struggles, but the reason it really took off is not cos many people knew about those issues, it was just they are such good pop songs. They managed to make it so commercial.
If you were in a tool shed and you were attacked by a stalker, how would you defend yourself?
Find a nail gun! There’s gotta be a nail gun in there!
What do you wish you had said to Mark Holden when he called you ugly?
For someone to come out with a comment that bad really is a horrible thing, and I always believe in not stooping to that level.
Tue 05 December 2006
maxtv.com.au/Max/Article.aspx?id=580
Australian Idol winner, Damien Leith, used to love Pantera, now he sings operatic pop. He describes for Channel[V] his "edgy" new album, about Casey Donovan winning a cooler car and what he thinks "emo" means ...
Is there a chance that living near Sydney's Newtown, your new album will be infected by the local indie-rock scene?
I definitely hope the album will have something edgy. Not straight up . A bit left of field ...
How do you respond to people who say you sing 'operatic pop'?
It doesn't ring any bells with me. I understand where it's come from singing Nesson Dorma and so on. but I'd put myself more in the singer-songwriter route, acoustic-based melodic music.
If that was an exception, what do you call your effort at singing Celebration?
i got a bagging the week before for doing too many ballads. So they said do disco so i decided to really do disco. Just before i went on i thought am I gunna get annihilated for this?
Casey Donovan got an MX5 convertible. You got a family sedan.
All i can say is they must have known. The psychic must have got in touch with them and said it'll be someone who needs a babyseat. I haven't seen it yet. Our Holden Astra is starting to make noises, and rattles. We're due a new car.
What were you thinking when James and Andrew G kept throwing to commercials and wouldn't finish it?
To be honest the whole night went very quickly. I know for Jess as well, it went in a blink. I heard from the crew on the night it had gone overtime, so they started cutting things, but it didn't work.
How many times did you go to the toilet on finals night?
It was a nerve-wracking night. Probably five or six times.
Who do you think voted for you?
It's interesting. At one point I thought it was a lot of older people. But on my myspace, in the last few weeks, I noticed I was getting a lot of younger people on there. From 16 and up. Not many below that, but 16 and up.
What was the last gig you went to?
Simple Minds.
How do you think you did singing U2 songs?
With Or Without You is a four chord trick, it doesn’t have a clearly defined chorus with bog moments, that’s why I love it. I do build up to big moments and I do worry about them. Nesson Dorma was another extreme. Creep has a big note. You do get worried your voice will break.
Do you relate much to Bono?
I think he’s brilliant. I’m a biog u2 fan, not cos I’m Irish. He has his views, but u2 to me are about the music. They’ve really stuck in there and he’s a great songwriter.
Can you separate their views from their music?
They’ve managed to get their views into the song, but to listen to it you must think I really like that song. They have out in some strong views, like Irish struggles, but the reason it really took off is not cos many people knew about those issues, it was just they are such good pop songs. They managed to make it so commercial.
If you were in a tool shed and you were attacked by a stalker, how would you defend yourself?
Find a nail gun! There’s gotta be a nail gun in there!
What do you wish you had said to Mark Holden when he called you ugly?
For someone to come out with a comment that bad really is a horrible thing, and I always believe in not stooping to that level.
oh gosh!! some of these questions ppl!.
