Down under and back again...
G’day everyone,
Over the last week or so its been trains, planes, automobiles and… oh yeah, a private jet! I’m just travelling to Cardiff for the final date on The Box Live Tour. It has been an amazing week of gigs up and down the UK and of course the British sunshine has made them even more gorgeous! So great to see so many of you in the audience and so many people singing the words. As usual I got up to all sorts of trouble backstage – the Cheeky Girls are just so much fun and I managed to speak to them about their fitness routines! I managed to catch up with the gorgeous Kittens, who were all looking lovely and tanned – time for me to book a little holiday I think! It was also fantastic to see the Mis-Teeq girls too. Alesha even recorded a fab voicemail message for my mobile phone – sounds wicked. Here are some personal shots from backstage just for you.
I returned from Australia just over a week ago now with a suitcase twice as heavy as when I went! It was great to finally make it back home and I had such a great welcome – two gold discs for the singles Put The Needle On It and I Begin To Wonder – cool. Thanks so much to everyone who bought a copy - I was so excited and a very happy girl.
The Logies, which were filmed from the Crown Casino in Melbourne, were sensational and I took loads of pics backstage. When I arrived on the red carpet I wore a Morrissey top and skirt in peacock green – I’m sure many of you saw this outfit in the press. For the actual live performance I wore a Gabriel Scarvelli dress. Both of them were Aussie designers. The stage frock was just so amazing to wear and was completely beaded. The diamonds I wore are from Stefano Canturi.
Backstage before the performance I was nervous of course as this is a big event in Australia, (like the BAFTA’S in the UK) and I had a live orchestra playing with me for the first time ever. The pictures here are of me and Bec - she is on Home And Away and also a Warner artist who was performing on the night. I had another Home And Away moment when I caught up with me old TV teacher – Donald Fisher! In Australia I had a different group of dancers for all my TV and showcase performances. Their names were Daniel, Rohan, Shannon and Sean. I had actually worked with Rohan a few years ago when I did Grease – The Arena Spectular in Australia – so it was nice to see him again, looking very fine!
Some more Aussie news for you. I appeared on the show Rove Live (pic with him below) and it is filmed in the same studio that I worked in for six years filming Young Talent Time (way back in the day!). I even saw some familiar faces in the crew! I used this opportunity to pop into the costume department of Channel 10. The wardrobe lady told me that all the old Young Talent Time costumes where still in there. It was such a blast from the past going through them all. The pink and orange one I remember really well from performing Madonna’s Where’s The Party? – so I took it with me!! The outfit I was wearing for the actual Rove Live show was by one of my favourite Australian designers Sass ‘n’ Bide. The bling-bling diamond cross was by Glenn Bakker.
The store signings in Melbourne and Sydney for the Neon Nights album were awesome – there was such a great reception for me, so thanks to everyone that made it down. It was great to see and chat to so many of you. If you ever want me to sign anything for you please send them to me at London Records – the address is at the bottom of this email. I also took a great boat ride around Sydney Harbour with some competition winners from Nova Radio. I also got to meet Baz Lurhman who invited me for drinks one evening. He was a real joy to be around and such a laugh. We talked about his new movie Alexander The Great.
Back here in the UK I’m just gearing up for the release of Don’t Wanna Lose This Feeling, which is released on Monday June 09th. It was produced by Neimo (Paris) and some additional production has been done by Al Stone. Neimo have also done the bootleg version called Don’t Wanna Lose This Grove – I have been performing this on The Box Live Tour. They have mixed my single with the instrumental of Madonna’s track Into The Grove. It’s so awesome and Madonna loves it and has approved it for release. I guess this is a dream come true for me as she has been an idol of mine since I was about 14 years old – so this is one of my ultimate pop moments. This version will be available on all the formats of the single release.
This Sunday I start my first radio show Neon Nights across The Capital Network from 7pm-8pm (June 08th). It will also be broadcast live on www.capitalfm.co.uk. I am so very excited and can’t wait to get behind the controls. I popped into the studio last week for a production meeting and to test out the studio equipment – I managed to find the volume button! I’ve been really busy making lists of my favourite dance tracks to play and hunting down some new stuff. If you have any requests or messages for me then please email them to me at Capital Radio. The email address is: dannii@studioneonnights.com. I will be doing this for six weeks so you have lots of time to get your emails into me. Don’t forget to tell me your name and where you are from so I can say hi on air!
This next week is turning into one of the busiest yet. I will give you the low-down just in case you maybe able to catch one or two things:
Thursday 05th June
Pre-recording some interviews for Liquid News and CBBC.
Friday 06th June
Live performance and chat on GMTV and recording a performance for T4.
Saturday 07th June
Live performance on CDUK. Special live gig for G.A.Y at the London Astoria.
Sunday 08th June
Power Radio Gig in Portsmouth.
Summer XS Gig in Reading.
First Neon Nights radio show live across The Capital Network.
I am also looking forward to my showcase in NYC on Tuesday June 10th. It is for Warner Records and Missy Elliot (I’m a huge fan) and Jewel will also be performing on the day. Not sure if this may lead to a release later this year – but I will keep you posted on any developments. Thanks for all the support I’m already getting in America. A friend of mine who lives in New York tells me that in Virgin Records I am number four in the import sales chart!
Just before I sign off GMTV came to my hometown of Melbourne while I was in Australia. They took me back to my high school – Camberhall High School. What a blast, I have not been back there since I left at 16 years old! Make sure you tune into GMTV on Wednesday June 04th and Thursday June 05th, as they will be showing the footage in a two-part documentary. I got to catch up with a few of my teachers who are still teaching there. It was great to see them and they spill the beans on my report cards! Some filming was also done on the Rialto building – such great views of the city of beyond.
Gotta get my hair and make-up done now for the last gig on The Box Live Tour so bye for now. A lot of you have been asking me about an actual Dannii tour – keep logging onto www.danniimusic.com as I’d love to organise one for the end of the year.
Big kisses to you all,
Love Dannii xx
PS: Gus Magazine is now out in France and I thought you may like to see some of the pictures. They are fab, I really love them.
PPS: I almost chocked on my dinner whilst I was watching I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! recently. They asked a question referring to my tattoo! The one very low on my back (not really on my bum!) is a Japanese symbol that means woman.
Don't Wanna Lose This Feeling, the brand new single, is released on Monday June 09th 2003 on CD / 12" Vinyl / Cassette Single. CD features bonus track Goodbye Song. 12" Vinyl includes Stella Brown remix and I Begin To Wonder (DJ Bardot Remix). All formats include Don't Wanna Lose This Feeling (Into The Groove Bootleg Mix). CD enhanced with music video.
Neon Nights, the stunning album from Dannii Minogue, is out now. 14 sensational tracks including the Top 10 hits Put The Needle On It, Who Do You Love Now?, I Begin To Wonder and the new single Don't Wanna Lose This Feeling. CD enhanced with music videos and picture gallery.