Lee's Interview with Delta for Tearaway Magazine
Thankyou so much to Lee for sending me this interview he did with Delta for New Zealand's Tearaway Magazine (in 2004). And also thankyou to Lee as well for asking Delta some questions for me! (In case you're curious, the questions with a * next to them are the ones I asked Lee to ask Delta.)
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She started recording at the age of 13 started acting at the age of 15 and now at the age of 20 Delta Goodrem has 2 number one albums. Battling health issues and dealing with the public in her everyday life has become hard but she’s back with a new image and a new approach to life. Her life experiences have influenced her new record immensely. Mistaken Identity was the statement Delta wanted for her new album. She’s kind, humble and a great role model to anyone.
Apparently you are in New Zealand at the moment?
Yes I am in Auckland.
How do you like New Zealand?
It’s Good! I really enjoy New Zealand.
You must be pleased that your album is #1 in Australia at the moment?
It’s good; I’m very happy and very excited. I have been out of work for so long I was worried if people were going to enjoy it.
When you were growing up what were you inspirations and what type of music did you listen to when you were little?
I did listen to a lot of Diva’s like Mariah and Celine and everybody like that and then I started to listen to old school music. Around the house I listened to a lot of Joe Cocker. Then as I got a bit older I started to listen to a lot of bands. Savage Garden was one of my favorite all time bands then I listened to Silverchair and Incubus. Then I really got into Tori Amous and Kate Bush.
Did any of these artists influence you when you were recording ‘Mistaken Identity’?
I didn’t use their styles so much, but I just admire how amazing they are. If I were to do music any other way I would definitely do it their way.
How did you get discovered?
Basically I gave a demo CD to everyone I knew in the world (laughs). No, when I was 12 or 13 I did a demo CD and I sent it to everybody then I got picked up by management and did another CD. Then I was signed when I was 15.
Have you always wanted to a singer from a young age?
Definitely I couldn’t think of doing anything else.
Do you come from a musical background? Or did you have any family members involved in the industry?
No, nothing at all. No music industry background, none of my family or relatives is in the music industry. They are more sports people. I definitely chose that one! My parents think I’m mad.
Was your family always supportive of you making that sort of decision?
Absolutely. They said, “It’s not what we would chose but we will support you all the way Delta and don’t just talk to us about and just go and do it”.
There are many parts of the job like interviews and recording etc. what is your favorite part of the job?
Definitely performing. I love getting up on stage. Doing a live concert I just love the interaction and people singing the songs back oh it’s just so amazing.
Where are you touring next year?
Lots of different places; Australia, New Zealand, UK, Spain.
Do you have any rituals you do before performing and going on stage?
I always have a glass of port, actually a couple of sips because it’s really good for my voice. I basically have a line of drinks I have a big glass of water, a tiny bit of port, tea, some hot water and a Pepsi and a Gatorade it’s my superstition I have a lot of drinks.
I also hear you like to perform on the piano wearing no shoes! Why is this?
I don’t wear shoes generally! I just feel more stable playing the piano with no shoes on and just not have a disconnection with a shoe on and just feel natural with the pedal.
Did you find it hard going from recording at a young age to acting (in Neighbours)?
Well I was doing both at the same time.
Do you miss being on Neighbours?
Of course. I had a complete ball on Neighbors. It was great fun. It was a great time in my life and I really appreciate that for that time in my life.
Do you keep in contact with any of the cast or crew?
I do I saw Jay Bunyan last night who plays Jack. He came to a show I did last night. Yeah I keep in contact with them a lot.
* One thing that was interesting was the hidden track on ‘Mistaken Identity’ titled ‘Nobody Listened’. I was just wondering when it was written because it is a very dark and angry track?
It was definitely early on in the album process (during the beginning period of Delta’s health problem.) I definitely needed to have it on the album. I didn’t want to push it in anyone’s face. So that’s why it’s a hidden track.
* I heard that you had written a track with Train lead singer Pat Monahan. Is the single going to be recorded?
Yes we did the song and we might put it on the American album. Were not sure yet.
Tell me how you got to record a duet with Brian McFadden (Westlife)?
He sent the song to me. The song called ‘Almost Here’ and I loved it and thought it was a beautiful song. I loved it so I called up my manager and said I think we should do the duet. He agreed so we recorded the song.
If you had the choice to do another duet with anyone else in the world - who would that be?
Probably Chris Martin from Coldplay.
What is your favorite song of ‘Mistaken Identity’ and why?
‘Mistaken Identity’ because it’s a little bit mad and it has a lot of key changes. I wrote the whole music to that. I wanted it to be the statement of the album. Because I wrote the song with a friend of mine (billymann).
Did you have fun on the making of ‘Out Of The Blue’ music video clip?
It was a lot of fun. I love the video clip. The video still didn’t turn out how I wanted it to, like it had a lot of other elements to it. But I really enjoyed it I had a ball filming it.
Where was it filmed?
In Malibu in L.A
Where did you record ‘Mistaken Identity’?
In London and New York.
* During the song, "Mistaken Identity" you sing the lyrics "Rewind and Erase that shocked look on your face, just 'cause your Mona Lisa is dead". There's a lot of speculation as to what you mean by "your Mona Lisa is dead." Could you explain the meaning of that line?
It’s so hard to describe to people the meaning of it. I was meaning that when there is a certain iconic piece is taken away not meaning that I am an iconic piece. But it’s like a way that you can never go back. It’s like when you cross a line in a relationship and you can never go back. Like someone always knows something about my health or there is a certain intimacy and you can never go backwards. It’s like the public and I, the relationship, and there was a certain line that had been crossed and I couldn’t go back to that.
Do you wish that the line hadn’t been crossed? Do you wish that the public wasn’t involved so much with your personal life?
People just wanted to be supportive; I was really appreciative of that. I just hope now that everyone can move on together and I felt everyone was on the journey. I would like to been there done that, close the door and move on.
Have you worked out what the next single is going to be?
Yes, I think it is going to be ‘Mistaken Identity’.
Are there any ideas for a music video yet?
Yes, I’ve been frantically trying to write the treatment for the video. I have to be very careful with it. I’m not sure how literally I want to be in it. Any ideas? (Laughs) no, I will think of something. I’ve got some good ideas.
NZ’s music scene has changed so much over the past few years is this the same in Australia?
Yes, but I think at the moment there are a lot of idols. A lot of Australian Idols. There are a lot of cool young fresh acts coming up and I think that is really, really good. It’s really nice to support the homegrown scene and nice to know WE can have superstars in our own country.
Are you a fan of the idols series?
Um, I don’t really get to watch it.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years time? What do you hope that you are doing?
That I am making albums at that time and I am doing a world tour.
Have you ever considered doing feature film acting?
Definitely and there has been some amazing offers and I was very honored by some of the offerings but at the moment I have just finished the album and I just want to concentrate on singing. I’ve been out of singing for song long so I really just want to get my voice feeling happy.
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