 |
|
  |
| NINEMSN
NATIONAL YOUTH WEEK LIVE CHAT- Scandal'us, 8 April 2002 ninemsn chats with Jason Bird and Daniela Scala from Scandal'Us Monday 8 April, 8.45pm-9.45pm They began as five faces and voices in a crowd of thousands, watched by millions of Australians every step of the way as they embarked on their quest to become Popstars. Jason Bird, 21, a born performer from Perth who would entertain his family with his impersonations of his favourite pop stars. The dancer and choreographer worked in Singapore for six months before pursuing his passion for a musical career with his brother Simon in Melbourne. Daniela Scala, 19, was encouraged to study music by her mother, a trained opera singer. The Adelaide singer also grew to love playing the piano and composing and recently completed songs for a new Australian film. Her beautiful voice has taken her to Italy where after a month of gigs, the locals thought she was a well-known Australian pop star. ninemsnLive says: ninemsn in association with National youth Week presents a Live Interview with Jason Bird and Daniela Scala from Scandal'Us. They began as five faces and voices in a crowd of thousands, watched by millions of Australians as they finally became Popstars. Welcome Jason and Daniela thank you for joining us this evening Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: Hello, and thanks for letting us be part of this chat. ninemsnLive says: Jason and Daniela, there are many people here tonight ready to ask you questions so lets get right to some questions from our chatters LilMissCutie7 asks: What is stardom actually like? Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: I think people have different perceptions of what stardom is. I like to reach for goals in performing and in order for me to do that I make sure that I practice and live a health lifestyle and always pursue excellence. I believe that everyone is a star in their own right. I believe everyone can achieve their goal in life. Babydoll™ asks: How many days or hours per week do you guys spend with the rest of the group, working on your music etc? Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: It always varies, if there's a performance there is extensive rehearsal times, it could consist of a few hours at the gym at the dancing rehearsal rooms and vocal coaching which can sometimes go from 9am to 9 at night but it's heaps of fun. In the other times, it could just be meetings or discussions, or interviews or press. Cutechick550 asks: How long have you Daniela and Jason been singing for ? Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: Knowing from both our backgrounds, since we were very little I can't remember the first time I opened my mouth and sing There are a lot of artists from when they're young that love the admiration aspect of it, and want to share the experience with the audience. chickybabe_407 asks: So how does it fell to be one of the popstars choosen to form the group Scandulus? Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: It's quite an honour in a way and I think when I was given the opportunity a step into the music industry, a foot in the door. Steven asks: Whats sets you apart from the rest of the music industry? What do you think makes you unique? Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: I think as we are all pretty well know around Australia from the TV show people know we're approachable and not untouchable. We're hard workers at what we do, and never think that we're higher than anyone else. We were discussing that the other night, we really respect all other artists. Babydoll™ asks: Did you have any of your own ideas for the name of the group? Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: Yeah, I did we started out with about 300, but it came down to the last 15 - about 3 of them were mine. We all had a suggestion but particularly Scandal'Us, we all stood by it. ºDÅMÄGEDº asks: do you ever feel constricted in the way that you have to play the music the record company wants you to? Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: In a way, I love knowing pop is a fun type of music if it brings joy, if it makes people dance and bring a smile it's great to be part of it, it's really infectious. All of the members of the group have different opinions and what we like to add in. FloWer_CooKie asks: Have you always wanted to do something in music? if you didn't get into Scandal'us what would you have done? Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: Scandal'Us is a life so otherwise I'd probably be writing songs, playing the piano being in bands. I always had a job at a theatre restaurant . I think I learn a lot from being up on stage and performing so definitely live-gigging. Babydoll™ asks: Being "real" people, do you find it easier to relate to the public, and give them what they want? Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: That's a good question. I do love when we get fan mail, just knowing we can use our profiles and knowing we're in a position where we can give advice I've always wanted to please people and make them smile if people come up to me in the street I just love knowing I can smile just as much as they can. Babydoll™ asks: What do you consider is the best part of your job? Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: Definitely. I like fundraising like the Starlight Foundation and National Youth Week. It's important to realise everyone has something to bring into this world. Sometimes you hear people complaining, but we're so very fortunate to live in Australia and just have our arms and legs. It's really important to just visit people and meet everyone you can. Scandal_Swaine1 asks: What do your families think about you being catapulted into stardom? Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: Well recently I travelled back to Adelaide for the Easter weekend and their insight on the whole thing is still the same, they are very proud of course, like any parent would be. And they understand that there's difficult times like being away, and besides all the people you meet in the industry your manager and family are always there motivating. DÜñkèÑBܧhmåñ asks: Do u think they way the band was set up on TV has affected your popularity? Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: In a way people always say its manufactured pop but I think the process of getting into Scandal'Us was manufactured, of course, but the friendships made and the bond that each of the members has that keep Scandal'Us together is definitely a dedication which is something that can't be manufactured. The love of our work is what keeps us going. Babydoll™ asks: Scandal'Us' music is suitable for both young and old to listen to, was this something the band aimed for, or just a fluke? Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: I don't know, I think it was probably both it was a fluke in a way where people were affected by it when they fell in love with the members on TV and a part of the followers might not have been pop fans There were many times when we met people in the street, who've watched the program that say "you guys rock, we really admire you, we don't really like the music you play" but they really praise us. The whole Australian way we consider ourselves our battlers and Australia is really sucked in by that even if they don't like pop It's a triumph to get into it. strawbs asks: Do you find it strange that complete strangers seem to know you so well, after your lives were displayed for all to see on television? Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: Yeah, they feel like they're relations, they were watching us the whole way it's good, it's a warm feeling. Babydoll™ asks: Does the band have nicknames for eachother . any chance of letting the cat outta the bag? Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: Yeah we do. We still have the same ones since the beginning of last year Anna's is Giussa, it's a term used for when you've got a really high fringe from the 80's Tamara is "uncle" because we were discussing our nieces and nephews and she said without thinking "I'd love to be an Uncle one day", so we call her "uncle" to fulfil her dreams Simon is "Crash" because someone crashed into the Barina as soon as we got it. She couldn't speak English and looked just like Annie Lenox . Jason's is "Mills", for the treadmills, and mine is "Tetley", like the tea bag. Angels_Charm87 asks: what do you think of fans that bug you and what are some of the worst experiences you have had with a fan? Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: I think some of the disappointing times are when you get fan mail when we cancelled a tour or a cd release and they think its us, instead of the record company etc. My worst experience is when my phone number was put on the internet. Babydoll™ asks: Do fans send you gifts? If so, what cool things have you been sent? Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: Oh lots of toys and Gerbra's . jewellery like bracelets and drawings . the best thing that we've ever been given is a picture drawn of us by an exceptional artist. She gave it to us at Rumba. Mango asks: Has there been any conflict between members of the group over media attention .who gets it the most etc? Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: I think it's pretty obvious who the girls like girls are screaming Jason, Simon, but we're lucky being in a mixed group. We're all individuals with different followers. I think the attention is pretty even is pretty cool. ThisGoose75 asks: The biggest hurdle you've overcome and how you did it? Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: I think touring the UK, when we found out we were going to support their Popstars, it was a big demand thinking are we good enough? 41 nights with 36 concerts we didn't think we'd get through it all but it all went so quick and now we wish we could do it again. DÜñkèÑBܧhmåñ asks: Do u have any plans for your life after Scandel'Us or u not thinking that far ahead yet? Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: There's always room to think about that because it's never a promised thing . I'd love to go travelling and perform . Definitely writing, I want to write my whole life I don't know if I'd get any better though. Disco_babe16 asks: Do u all still have free time or are you constantly getting ready for you outings Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: No, we have free time but when we do, what we decide to do with it is always different. I love going to the movies and sharing my free time with other people . It's always hard doing something with another member because we always get back to work, like when you walk past a shop and see an outfit we could wear. GoLdCoAsTgIrL_15_02 asks: who is the most popular band you have met since you have been together as a group? Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: We've been in U2's nightclub, but we met INXS they shook our hands and said congratulations, you really deserve it. meiks1 asks: who are youre idols? Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: Too many! I like a lot of styles of music, it's hard to pinpoint one I love Janet Jackson and admire Pink I love Alicia Keys! I love rock, like Bon Jovi, I think he's wicked. FloWer_CooKie asks: Are the styles of music you enjoy indvidually anything like the songs you sing? Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: I do love pop, I've been brought up to appreciate all styles of music because my mum's a classical opera singer . but I love R&B. It depends what mood you're in. I love Jazz too when they play it in the shopping centres at Christmas . I listen to whatever style my mood is in. DCF9 asks: Do you guys have time to meet your family and stay at home with them or are there too many schedules to finish? Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: For last year it was particularly hard, it was still all about our album or single, but at the moment we have a lot of time to see our families. Scandal_Swaine1 asks: whats your most embarrasing moment on stage? Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: That was only yesterday there was a piece of paper stuck to the bottom of one of our shoes it was on Jasons foot we were hysterical! Babydoll™ asks: During the auditions you must have formed friendships with other competitors. Do you still keep in contact? Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: Yeah, definitely Selwyn, I think he's a legend and Arnott. DÜñkèÑBܧhmåñ asks: Do u ever fear for your safety while on stage ? Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: There was once when people were shooting pins on stage so we wore our sunglasses, that was the only fearful thing. KrAzY_CrO_cHiCk asks: how do you feel watching what all the other people are going through on popstars? Does it bring back any memories? Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: Yeah, I don't think what's going on in their minds is the same emotion as what I was going through because there's only 1 of them it's "who" are they looking for as opposed to who will fit together. indyheaven asks: Do you have girlfriends/boyfriends outside of the group? Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: In Sydney, I do have a few relations, but we always stick together. Jason_Bright2 asks: What do you think about the New Popstars Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: It's still a nail-biter for me it still sucks me in, I watch it every week and it brings back memories -especially the whole camera in the face thing. chickybabe_407 asks: How does it fell 2 know that you were choosen out of so many people to be a final popstar and form the group Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: For me it was very unexpected, being up against all these other girls without having any lessons, I didn't think I was a polished singer at all. I put a lot of heart into what I'm singing, sharing the singing not just throwing it out. ThisGoose75 asks: Worst and best experiences on Popstars ? Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: Worst is definitely waking up in the morning with the camera in your face my worst experience is giving up lollies and sugar! LilMissCutie7 asks: What can we look forward to from Scandalus in the future? Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: More music more us! ninemsnLive says: Jason and Daniela, do you have tonight's two winners for your cool prize-pack? Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: Yes, the people who asked our nicknames and what our most embarrassing moment was. ninemsnLive says: Congratulations to Baby Doll and Scandal Swaine for excellent questions. ninemsnLive says: Thank you so much Jason and Daniele for joining us this evening and giving us some of your time during National Youth Week Live Chats Jason Bird and Daniela Scala says: It's perfectly fine, I'd love to do it again! Enjoy the rest of the week! ninemsnLive says: This concludes our live chat with Jason Bird and Daniela Scala, 8 April 2002  HNFM- Scandal'us Live Chat, E-Cast Online Music Festival Tuesday February 5th 2002 7pm During the month of February, 2002, thousands of music fans will make their way to HNFM - www.hnfm.cjb.net - for the E-Cast Online Music Festival... one of the biggest music events to hit the world wide web in 2002. The HNFM E-Cast, hosted by Telstra Big Pond Chat and also in association with Urban305.com and Big Hit Magazine, will bring together some of Australia's best talent and music fans from all over Australia and the rest of the world for regular online chats throughout the whole month. Scandal'us kick start the online chats on Tuesday - Chatting Live @ HNFM February 5th @ 7pm (AEST) Interviewer: Today we are talking to Jason from Scandal'us. Hi Jason, how are you and where are you? Jason: I'm excellent, I'm actually at a friend's house at the moment trying to get a stain out of the carpet *laughs* <scandalus_mirelle>: When will your Official Website be launched again? It never seemed to get updated. Jason: It is in the process at the moment where it will be updated with new stuff we are going to release, hopefully. In the next few months it is going to change its look to a whole new look completely. <alysia>: Hi all. I just want to know, did you all ever at one stage in the auditions think "I'm going to make it in this pop group, I just know it!"? Jason: Personally I had always hoped I would, but as soon as I got back into the audition room, I would get a look at the talent and doubt myself. But to be honest, I always had a feeling it would all work out, I just didn't know how. Interviewer: What's the name of the next single being released? Jason: Good question, we have sent 3 singles away to the USA to be remixed and we also have written a lot of songs for the next fourthcoming album and are in the middle of trying to decide if we should release material from this album or the next one. Interviewer: Are there any plans to travel overseas? Jason: Definitely, we have a huge interest in the USA, mainly from the creators of Backstreet Boys and N'SYNC. So at the moment, management is discussing deals with them now, so we are very excited. <chickebabe>: Do you like the hussle and bussle of celebrity life? Jason: Yes I do, I'm from Perth so I'm used to being laid back, so being in Sydney you feel on the go and working hard and being motivated. You have to be in this industry or you fall behind. <jenaya>: What do you think of Bardot, now that ex-member Katie left the group? Jason: LOL. Well I must admit they aren't on my CD player, but I have alot of respect for them because they have come a long way from Popstars. <amy-lou>: What has been the most memorable thing you have done since being a Popstar? Jason: Won an Aria award for sure *Nods* Highest Selling Australian Single. It was thanks to the fans! Thank you! <scandalus_mirelle>: I was reading an article in the Daily Telegraph that you guys were dining out one Saturday night about 3 weeks ago or so at a Campbelltown restaurant and it was stated that a few of you were very big-headed about your star status and demanded a table at once! Is this true or is it a lie? Jason: LOL. That is definitely definitely not true. It's really funny how things get twisted around! The waitress was pretty excited we were there. We told her that we had a gig that started soon and that we needed to eat quickly and be gone. We asked if it was possible to seat us in that short amount of time, she said she would try. And she came back and said she couldn't help us and said that there were other people waiting. And when she said that, we all agreed that it would be fairer that we went somewhere else. It wasn't an unfriendly situation, she was happy to try and help us and we didn't make any special demands. <jenaya>: Since the group isn't doing much, do you still live together and talk to each other much? Jason: Yes, because we work so very hard all the time, we don't have a lot of spare time to go out and meet a lot of people and things like that, so we are very fortunate to get along very well. We do live together (in pairs) except for Tamara who lives with her parents, but we see each other every day! <alysia>: Who are your influences for your music? Jason: Definitely Michael Jasckon and Pop acts like the Backstreet Boys, N'SYNC and R&B influences. You would be able to tell when you hear some of the stuff that will be on our next album because we wrote the songs ourselves. <amy-lou>: Is there a fan club address that we can write to now that you have changed management? Jason: Not yet, you can still write to the same one at 56 Victoria Street, MacMahons Point NSW 2089 and make it C/O:- Scandal'Us. And they will forward it to us, soon it will be on our website which shouldn't be too much longer. <scandalus_mirelle>: Jason, do you surf the web much when you have a second to breathe? Jason: LOL. Yeah I do like surfing onto other music websites, and getting info on what is going on overseas and what new releases are out etc. <amy_lou>: Which two members are you closest to? Jason: Oohhhhhh...... Probably if I had to say two, out of the girls then Daniela but we are all close, like a big bunch of brothers and sisters. <jenaya>: Both of your singles have been remixed...which of the remixes do you like best? I got all your CD's and albums, I still listen to them!!! Jason: I like the R&B version of "Me, Myself and I" and the video clip version of "Make Me Crazy" because I produced the dance break and put it together myself. <jenaya>: Popstars is returning to TV soon will be you watching?? Jason: ooooh yeah, like an addict. I can't wait. LOL Interviewer: Last question thanks everyone. <alysia>: Do you donate any of your money that you make from your job to charities? If so, which one? Jason: Yes we donate quite a bit actually to charity already, not so much money wise, but we volunteer a fair bit as often as we can. We have helped the Starlight Foundation a bit and we volunteer as much as we can at the Exodus Foundation for the homeless. We try to donate and volunteer as much as we can. We always want to help out. Interviewer: Thanks for chatting with us tonight Jason and good luck in 2002. Jason: Thanks very much for having me and Thank you for everyone's support, we really appreciate it. Keep an eye out for Scandal'us. You will be seeing a lot more of us, we will be back in the music stores soon. AOL Live Chat- Scandal'us October 11 2002, 8pm Scandal'us spent three weeks on top of the Australian charts with their debut single, Me, Myself and I. Anna, Daniela, Jason, Simon and Tamara followed up with their platinum debut album, Startin' Somethin', which entered the Australian charts at number two. Chat with the group about Rumba! and their recent UK tour with Hear'Say. Jason Bird of SCANDAL'US joined us in the virtual auditorium to chat about the group's upcoming performances at Rumba! and other projects. RumbaMC: Hi Jason :) Thanks for joining us tonight. Jason Bird: Hellooooo! :) RumbaMC: We've got heaps of questions, so let's get into it. Question: How did you feel being back in London, Jason? Was it the first time you had been back ever since you left? Do you think it has changed much since you left? Jason Bird: It was really good being back in London because I hadn't been back since I left 15 years ago, so just seeing how different everything was and seeing my family again. It was like I was getting flashbacks from when I was a kid. Performing with Hear'say was a really good experience for us, because we learnt everything about touring as a support act before we toured as a main act. And Hear'say are awesome! Question: When will you now be touring? Jason Bird: At this stage our Australian tour has been cancelled, unfortunately, and we're all really upset and devastated about it. It probably won't be till mid next year that we do a tour, but we're all really looking forward to doing an Australian tour. RumbaMC: Don't forget you can see Scandal'us live at Rumba! in Melbourne and Sydney. See Keyword: Rumba for details. Question: How is it being famous? Jason Bird: It's so much fun because we meet a lot of really interesting people, and we get to perform and travel the country and do things like Rumba!, and perform to different sorts of fans, and perform with lots of acts that we respect and love. Question: How long does it take to get the song organised, in other words how long does it take to make the songs? Jason Bird: Depends whether we're writing them or not. Now that we're starting to write songs for our second album it takes a really, really long time. You can take either 5 minutes or 5 months to write a song, and then recording it takes ages and ages because we need to lay the tracks down and the beats and the music. So it takes a long, long time but it's (one of) my favourite parts of the job. Question: What is your favourite song you have performed? Jason Bird: It'd probably be 'That Way', a track off our album, and we actually did the choreography ourselves - we performed it in the UK. We remixed it and people loved it. But as a group it's 'Me Myself and I' because the crowd reaction's always really, really strong and that always helps when you're performing. Question: What did it feel like to go through auditioning 4 Popstars? Jason Bird: It was a lot of fun and really nerve-wracking at the same time. And it was hard for me because I had my brother auditioning with me. It was always I'd get in and then wait to see if my brother got in, and vice versa. So each time it was double the nervousness for me. But I met heaps of really nice people and we're still really good friends with heaps of the people who auditioned. Question: Are people who bought tickets to the tour allowed to keep the tickets to use next year? Jason Bird: You should take your tickets back to the place of purchase and get a refund at this stage, because the tour layout is going to be really different - so there might be allocated seating next time whereas there wasn't this time. And sorrysorrysorrysorrysorry for cancelling the tour!!! Comment: Well u girls are very, very sexy and the guys, well according to my sources, are handsome, so that's a compliment for everyone there. Jason Bird: Thank you - I can say that the girls are absolutely stunning, and they always are - even in the morning! Question: What's it like to be walking on the red carpet? Jason Bird: Oh wow...at first it's really, really daunting and you've got to get used to it, because there's all these cameras flashing at you, and all the photographers are screaming at you. Once you get used to that it's so much fun, because you feel like a star, it's glamorous, and you feel like a celebrity - it's such an amazing feeling I can't even describe it! Question: I love your album and admire u so much. How do u keep going? Don't u ever get tired? Jason Bird: Yeah! We're always tired but we're sort of on a natural high because of all the things that are happening to us. We still pinch ourselves every day to see if this is real. And thank you - I'm glad you enjoy our album. Question: How old are u guys? Jason Bird: Tamara's the youngest, she's 19; Daniela is 19; Anna's 22; I'm 22, and Simon's 23. Question: Have you met any famous people? Jason Bird: Heaps! Some of my favourites were John Travolta, Sugababes, Westlife, Natalie Imbruglia, Tina Arena, and of course the wonderful Bardot! And heaps more. RumbaMC: I guess that's a perk of being famous ;) Question: Jason, what were your career dreams as a child? Jason Bird: I wanted to be in the special services - a GI Joe sort of guy. But at school I fell in love with music, and ever since I can remember it's been music music music music, and my family's sick of it! You kind of know what you want to do. For me it was really clear that this was the right thing for me. I don't know, it's kind of weird… Question: Are you guys ever thinking of debuting in Japan, because I gave your album to my Japanese friends in Kyoto and they all love it! Jason Bird: Wow! That's cool. That's wild! We want to obviously go everywhere in the world. We just released our single and album in Singapore, and without promotion we've heard that it's gone really well - the album's gone gold, and the single was voted in at number one on the Hot 30 in the first week, and I think on the charts at number seven. Asia seems to like us, so we look forward to getting there. So tell your friends to hang on - we'll be there soon! Question: Hi Scandal'us. I'm going to Rumba. Are you gonna release any new songs? Jason Bird: Yes, we are. We're just about to release a new song off our album. We're trying to get some help from some other Australian artists to do some interesting remixes or something like that. We haven't yet decided which song though. RumbaMC: Don't forget to check out the Scandal'us website at www.scandalus.com.au for all the latest Scandal'us news and tour information. You can e-mail the group there to tell them what you think the next single should be! Question: Would you consider you and the group like brothers and sisters? Jason Bird: Absolutely! Definitely. We are family - I don't think there's any other way to describe it. It seems like we're even starting to look like brothers and sisters now, which is scary! Question: Do u guys care that some people don't take u seriously cos u r a "manufactured" group? p.s congratulations on your success. Jason Bird: Thank you very much for your congratulations. Obviously if someone says something enough times it gets you down, but we try not to pay too much attention to it. We have excellent support from fans, and that what keeps us up. People either love you or hate you but we just hope that more people love us than hate us. But being honest, it does get to us sometimes - when people say really nasty things about Scandal'us we don't think it's very fair. Question: Is it weird seeing yourself in magazines, on TV and else where? Jason Bird: I hate seeing myself in magazines! It's really, really weird when you walk past a newsstand and there's your face on the front cover of a magazine. I get really embarrassed and try to walk the other way! Question: Jason how do you feel that everyone thinks you're cute?? Jason Bird: LOL Not everybody thinks I'm cute! The rest of the band members tell me all the time that I'm not, and that keeps my head down. I dunno, it's kind of weird! Comment: I just want to say you guys are the best out of all the other Popstars that made it. Seeing you makes me think someday my dream will come true too. Jason Bird: Wow! That's what Scandal'us is all about. That's what happened to us, and we hope that is what happens to everyone else. There's not enough young Australian pop acts making it these days. We hope we teach people that they can go for their dreams, and if they work really hard they can make it. Question: Who were your role models when you were young? Jason Bird: Michael Jackson, definitely. I love the Backstreet Boys and *Nsync, but when I was young I was obsessed with Michael Jackson. I used to watch him on telly and dance in front of him [on TV] all the time. RumbaMC: I'm afraid that's all we have time for tonight :( Thanks for joining us at AOL Live Jason. Say hi to the rest of Scandal'us for us! Jason Bird: I will! Scandal'us send our love to all our fans - thanks for all your support, you guys rock and we'll see you at Rumba! RumbaMC: Don't forget to check out the Scandal'us website at www.scandalus.com.au for all the latest Scandal'us news and tour information. Copyright 2001 AOL Australia Online Services SCANDAL'US- GIRL.COM.AU THEY began as five unknowns in a crowd, watched by millions of Australians as they embarked on their quest to become the next pop sensations. Following on from last month's interview with Jason Bird, Simon Ditcham from pop band Scandal'us recently dropped us a line as he gears up with fellow members for a massive upcoming UK tour with Britain group Hear'Say. Scandal'us made Australian music history recently by entering the music charts at Number One with their debut single - Me, Myself & I, which held the spot for three weeks. These five popstars are back to do it all over again with their current single and cool video - Make Me Crazy - a Latino inspired pop track. GIRL joined Simon to discuss life on the pop stage and his aspirations for the future. GIRL'S 60 SECOND QUIZ Full Name: SIMON JAMES DITCHAM Nickname(s): Tosser Star Sign: Pisces Fave Food: Armenian Stew Fave Film: Fight Club Fave Artist: Jeff Buckley Describe yourself in 3 words: Crazy, Focused and Relaxed Best Feature: When the lights are off! Worst Feature: I'm sarcastic Height: 178 cm Your Ideal Woman: Someone who is very confident, intelligent and laughs at my jokes. Hobbies/Interests: Drawing, Sport and Playing Guitar First Job: Packing shelves in a Supermarket A talent you wish you had: To be able to speak other languages The best advice given to you: Have you got your clean underwear on? What cartoon character best describes you? Freakazoid GIRL: Congratulations on your debut album Startin' Somethin', which recently went Platinum. Are you happy with the final product? Simon: Yeah I am extremely happy. The production team and everyone involved did such an amazing job in the amount of time we had. GIRL: How long did it take to record? Simon: Recording time was eight weeks and mixing time took two weeks. GIRL: Who decided on the title for the album? Simon: We were going to go with "Think Again", but then Les Gock (our manager) suggested we call the album "Startin' Somethin'" and it made much more sense. GIRL: Now a question you probably get asked all the time, what is life like as a popstar? Simon: Life is amazing at the moment, it is such a wonderful experience and something to definitely tell my grandchildren one day perhaps. I have learnt so much already and have met some great people and I'm in an environment that I'd never thought I'd be in - it's been such a shock to the system. It's pretty full on and we work really hard. GIRL: Have you learnt to cope with all the attention from fans and the public? Simon: Yeah it's pretty comical. People come up and ask us for an autograph, which is kinda cool. Actually I'm pretty lucky in the group, I get recognised the least - I don't have funky hair which is going to make me easily recognisable, which is good (laughs). GIRL: What is the strangest experience you have had to date, concerning a fan? Simon: Well when we're performing in Sydney, there is this one guy who keeps on coming to all our concerts which I just find amazing! But no strange experiences to report of. GIRL: What is the most rewarding aspect about being a popstar? Simon: The most rewarding aspect for me is what I can eventually do with it - I'd like to create some awareness out there for the environment and so on by using the position I'm in as a platform for that. I want to hopefully get on board with Planet Ark and tackle those sorts of issues. GIRL: What is a downside to the industry? Simon: There is a lot of paperwork to the industry like contractual agreements for example. And radio stations can also dictate what music bands release, as opposed to the record companies just wanting to get your music out there. There is a lot of politics in the industry, which can be very confronting and when I first stepped into the industry, perhaps I was a little naïve not to think this was the case. GIRL: How do you deal with people labelling Scandal'us as just another manufactured pop act? Simon: I get the boys onto them! (laughs) No I don't really mind; I just take it in my stride. Everyone has an opinion and for every person that says we are manufactured, there are a thousand people out there, who love us. GIRL: Now Scandal'us recently signed to perform in the UK on the Hear'Say tour. How did you land this gig? Simon: The people from Hear'Say actually called our management and said we want Scandal'us to play on tour with us and that's pretty much the crux of the story. It's unbelievable because no one actually ever gets asked to go on tour, especially in the UK, so it's amazing! I think with the whole Popstar program going on over there, we have been the luckiest in the world really. It's an opportunity we just couldn't pass up. GIRL: Scandal'us copped a bit of slack from the media when you postponed your upcoming Australian tour. What do you say to those people out there? Simon: Well it's a bittersweet situation for us - but I think it will work out more in the favour of the fans here. The tour in England will enable us to refine our performing style and then we can come back to Australia and put on an awesome show. Again if people want to criticise, that's cool, they can do that. GIRL: Who comes up with the ideas for your music clips? Simon: We basically do all the singing and dancing and that's what we're here to do. Our management source out directors. We'll then give them the idea and they'll come back to us with treatments for the clips, then we'll have a look and see which one we like the best. GIRL: How much creative input do Scandal'us have? Simon: We have heaps of input - Jason actually choreographed the dance break in our last clip. I was actually really surprised when I got here, I thought everything would be mapped out for us, but that hasn't been the case. Everything we've done to date has been put to the group first and then we've given our perspective on things. Everyone in the group is very passionate and has strong ideals for what we do. And our management wants us to have as much input as possible because then it becomes less manufactured. They want us to be who we are and I think that's the essence of the group. GIRL: So who is the messiest member of the band? Simon: I think there was a bit of a struggle there between Jason and I for a little while. Our rooms became this bombsite! (laughs) But I think I take honors for being the messiest at the moment. GIRL: Who is the loudest? Simon: When you listen to the girls talking on the phone I reckon it would have to be Dani. She speaks so loudly - it's like a shouting match when she's on the phone! GIRL: And who is the cheekiest? Simon: I'm going to go with me! (laughs) That's only because I'm the least mature. GIRL: How do you feel about the image of the band? Are you comfortable with it all? Simon: I've never been one who is comfortable with any image so I find it funny the whole image thing. It's like playing dress-ups. Pop is a tiny bit surreal - the whole image behind it. GIRL: What does a typical day involve for you? Simon: From now on a typical day will involve waking up and going to the gym, followed by vocal training, then interviews during the day and rehearsing for the tour - so that will basically be our schedule. GIRL: Now that the TV show has finished, are you still living together? Simon: Yeah we love each other too much! (laughs) We had the opportunity to move out and we were like -nah! We moved into two apartments next to each other. GIRL: After your UK tour, what is next on the cards? Simon: After the UK tour we'll come back here and begin rehearsing for the Australian tour. GIRL: Do you see yourself pursuing a solo career in the future? Simon: I think everyone in the group probably has aspirations for that. As far as myself goes, I'd probably take a different path in music and experiment with other musical styles. - Annemarie Failla & Michelle Palmer SCANDAL'US - DOLLY, June/July 2001 It's no secret Scandal'us have hit the top. With their single, Me, Myself And I, debuting at number one, no-one can dispute their success! We got the girls to gush... Did you guys read Dolly when you were younger? Daniela: I always bought the magazine to see what bathers I was going to buy! Anna: And you know in the formal specials there would be a timetable on what you should do? Like "Put on a mask at 4:45pm." I always did that! Which lucky guy did you take to your formal? Daniela: I actually didn't take anyone to my formal. I really didn't want to go with a partner, because he might get embarrassed about what I was wearing! But I had heaps of fun, because usually if you bring someone who you don't really like, you can't be yourself. After Popstars, is it nice to know the cameras aren't always on you anymore? Tamara: We've pretty much become immune to them! Anna: There are days where you just don't feel feel like being filmed at all. There was one day where my eye was really puffy because I had an allergy - it was so shocking, like I had been punched out! I ended up sitting on my side so the camera wouldn't see it. Were you guys expecting a number-one debut on your fist single? All: No! No way! Daniela: We were so nervous! We had been worrying the whole weekend, because we knew how hard we worked and we just really wanted this number one. Tamara: I can't believe it still! Were you nervous that the music wouldn't be as successful as the TV show? Anna: I think that the show is a good indication of how our music will do. We are grateful for it, but, at the end of the day, once the series is over it's all about out music.
|