Santaio Cruz Is Coming To Town...
As the last few doors are clawed off advent calendars, and panic that you won't get everything done before the big day starts to keep you up nights, it's always nice to have a little sit down and take stock of the passing year before it draws fully to a close. Maybe with a hot drink, and a biscuit.
So, with that in mind, I asked Taio Cruz to offer some of his personal highlights of 2009, the year in which he developed a taste for a chart-topping hit, and then gorged on them like a hungry child with his face in a cake.
As you can see, he was only too happy to oblige (eventually)...
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ChartBlog: Hi Taio, is it alright if I talk to you about your year and plans for Christmas and stuff?
Taio: No, it is unacceptable.
ChartBlog: Aw MAN! Well alright then, I'll have to ask you about the history of Death Metal.
Taio: Well, that's really what I wanted to talk about.
ChartBlog: Cool! Who's your favourite Death Metal band?
Taio: Metallica. [thinks] I bet they're not even really a Death Metal band.
ChartBlog: No, they're not. I didn't want to jump in and say it, in case you really do know your Death Metal. I'll let you have it though. The Death Metallers like Metallica, it's fine.
Taio: Let's say Slipknot, it's cooler.
ChartBlog: Would you ever make a video in a mask?
Taio: I would love to do a video in a mask, I think that could work. Maybe not one with nails sticking out of it, though. It might scare my fanbase. They're, like, young, JLS-loving, bright-hoodie-wearing girls, and I don't think they'd really be into the whole nails-coming-out-of-a-mask look.
ChartBlog: It's a crossover market though. You could also get the black-wearing moody emo-type girls that like the Phantom Of The Opera...
Taio: This is true. I have got the odd emo fan. But I'd probably be alienating 90% of my fanbase if I did that.
ChartBlog: Save it for the bit when you are so cocksure that it would definitely work. You'd have to have the song to go with it too. So, NOW can we talk about Christmas?
Taio: NOW we can talk about Christmas.
ChartBlog: This Christmas is going to be different from last Christmas in a very big way, isn't it? Because you're now quite famous...
Taio: [surprised] Yes! I am, aren't I?
ChartBlog: Do you have anything starry planned, to suit your newfound status? Will all the Father Christmasses in your house have your face on them?
Taio: Is that starry or extremely vain?
ChartBlog: Is there a difference?
Taio: Actually, you're quite right there. No, I don't really do stuff which is starry. I only do stuff that's starry when I'm working, so I'm on stage under bright lights and with a DJ and hyping up the fans. But when I'm not I kind of do regular stuff and hang out with my friends.
ChartBlog: So it's gonna be quite a normal Christmas then?
Taio: Yeah, I'm not planning to do anything unduly extravagant. I have bought my girlfriend extremely nice presents. Can't tell you what they are in case she reads this.
ChartBlog: Do not worry, your confidentiality is assured here. What've been your highlights of the '09?
Taio: I suppose No.1 records. Producing and writing the No.1 record for Tinchy and Amelle...also No.1 album for Cheryl Cole...I think JLS had a No.1 album, so that as well.
ChartBlog: Do you in any way feel responsible for the breakup of the Sugababes? Cos that Tinchy and Amelle song was so good, it made people think she could maybe go solo, and I wonder if that altered their fundamental dynamic...
Taio: Oh wow! So it's the Cruz's fault?
ChartBlog: Yeah! You're a BAD MAN.
Taio: I apologise for making a good tune. [laughs]
ChartBlog: So what's the plan for next year?
Taio: The plan is to go on tour. I like to get the fans, and people who aren't fans yet, familiar with the album. To give them a chance to listen to it, and then go on tour when everyone knows the songs and can sing along. I hate going to shows where you don't know the songs or the band is playing songs you've never heard of. So to give them time to get used to the music and then kill 'em with a really cool live show. And then keep writing. I'm doing some stuff with Kylie and Flo Rida, so should have some really cool records out next year.
ChartBlog: What's getting the call from Kylie like? What happens?
Taio: Well sometimes you get the call from the artist, sometimes you get the call from the label. In this case it's the label. Kylie, apparently, has certain people she likes to work with, and everybody else kind of submits songs and then if she likes what she hears then she'll work with you, I think.
ChartBlog: Well, fingers crossed. Now, if anyone's getting the Taio Cruz album for Christmas, where should they be the first time they hear it, and in what position?
Taio: You have to do your preparation properly. If you get my album, before you put the CD in, you need to get the preparation right. You have to move all of your chairs out of the way so that you have a big space in the middle like a dancefloor. And then you put the first song on, and the first song is gonna go [sings] "whooaaah", and you're just gonna dance the whole album through. You'll have the greatest day.
ChartBlog: Can I just say, you serenading me right there> I melted a little bit then.
Taio: Did you?
ChartBlog: Yeah, it's a special moment that we've just shared.
Taio: Did you get a little emotional there?
ChartBlog: I DID! I'm welling up here.
Taio: [laughs for a long, long time]
THE END
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