In the late '80s and early '90s, you'd be hard-pressed to turn on the radio and not hear Taylor Dayne. With massive hits like "Tell It To My Heart" and "Love Will Lead You Back," the Long Island-born performer landed 18 songs in the top 10 of Billboard's charts and sold 75 million records.
After what was perceived as a 10-year hiatus - she didn't release an album in the United States between 1998's "Naked Without You" and 2008's "Satisfied" - Dayne is firmly entrenched in phase two of her career, which has thus far been a success. "Beautiful," the lead single from "Satisfied," hit the top of the Billboard Hot Dance chart, and "Crash," from the same album, was used by ABC in a promotional spot.
Now, Dayne is developing a re-recorded, re-mastered version of her greatest hits for an upcoming release, and today she drops her new single "Dreaming" and the song's accompanying video, which makes its exclusive premiere at HNGN.com.
We chatted with Dayne today about the new song and video, the process of revisiting her biggest songs for the upcoming release and opening for Michael Jackson on his gargantuan "Bad" tour.
HNGN.com: Today's a big day for you, with both the single and video for "Dreaming" coming out. You've obviously been through this before, but how does it feel this time?
Taylor Dane: Oh my god, it's always exciting. You do all your work, the preparation, and it's just so funny because it's gone 360 degrees to where we started - back in the day, we were just releasing singles.
And then the song always goes through the machine and you try to put your best foot forward artistically. Hopefully the fans get it.
HNGN.com: Tell us about the process of creating "Dreaming."
TD: I collaborated with some young guys; they'll send me a track and say, "What do you think?" It wasn't written very recently, it was a couple years ago, but it kind of went a little retro but also allowed me to deliver vocally what I want to do. It's really an end-of-summer, Indian Summer song, and pop, of course. It's retro with a little kick in there from the '70s and Blondie too. It's a fun track, it's sexy.
HNGN.com: What about the process of making the video?
TD: It's back to basics. You're seeing what we did. I took a photographer, a dear friend of mine, Chris Ameruoso, I told him, "I need to do this really guerilla style." I trust him and how we work together. I really feel that I've done very high-end videos and very beauty-oriented videos, but I wanted it to be dream-esque, with a little bit of slow motion. And we captured the song. You're seeing it kind of guerilla style, but at the same time it looks quite beautiful, and I think it really captures the song. It's just me, but you get the essence of the waves and the movement.
HNGN.com: Is the single part of a full album? What else should fans expect from you in the near future?
TD: I've re-recorded my greatest hits, so as they say, I'm building some leverage and platforms out there to get the audience reacquainted with my music so I can make some noise with my greatest hits. I'm not sure whether that's going to turn into duets or different versions. We're having a really good time with it, and there's a lot of people coming out of the woodwork to get involved.
HNGN.com: You took a break for about 10 years to focus on family. How would you describe your time away from the music business?
TD: Nothing stopped on my end, but you did notice that the music industry changed during that period. [The break] wasn't on purpose. I signed with BMG Germany, and then we had a few mergers with BMG and Sony. I had kids unconventionally and I moved - I live in L.A. now. I did release a bunch of singles.
HNGN.com: You opened some shows on Michael Jackson's "Bad" tour, which ran from 1987 through 1989. What do you remember?
TD: Well, I mean you have to remember it was the height of Michael's career. It was the culmination of everything we ever witnessed on stage, which was the ultimate entertainer who took it to the next level. ...
It was complete pandemonium. They would show people passing out at the shows. It was absolutely mayhem, but it was the most exciting thing. It was the greatest show on earth.
HNGN.com: You have a string of shows beginning later this month. What approach do you take to putting together your concert setlists?
TD: When I go out, I'm never that type of artist where I'm just going to do the new record. I haven't put out 17 bodies of work, but it's important to keep your integrity and play new material. I may launch into one or two covers, which is very rare for me, but I did a few on my last record "Satisfied" ["Under The Bridge" by Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Fool To Cry" by The Rolling Stones and "Kissing You" by Des'ree], and I've done "Can't Get Enough of Your Love" [by Barry White]. It's a storytelling process, and you want the audience to feel that there's a beginning, a middle and an end. As an entertainer, you have to make sure you're not taking away from anything.
When people walk out, I want them to think, "I f****** got her." And for me, music, it's all about feeling. I'm considered a very passionate singer. My voice takes that place for me, and it's my tool of expression and people get that.
HNGN.com: What type of venues do you prefer to play: smaller, intimate settings, or massive arena spectacles?
TD: Well, I know the shows I prefer to see, but as far as performing, the bigger the better, baby. It's just creative and that's all it should be. There's nothing like having that audience in your pocket. It's just wonderfully exhilarating getting out there, and there's no bigger high than that.
For more information on Taylor Dayne or to purchase the single "Dreaming," visit her official website.
