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Rain and drizzleMagazine
Warding off the ballads
by Paul R Taylor9/ 2/2007
SHAYNE Ward is about to do a bit of a Kylie. The Clayton
heart-throb's new album will move away from wistful romancing
towards funked up dancing, with sexier tracks written and produced
by some of the music industry's current pop gurus.
Like the Australian songstress in the late 90s, Shayne is taking
his career in a new direction and, finally following Sharon
Osbourne's X Factor advice to "do something a bit more upbeat",
he's saying a partial bye-bye to heartbreak ballads.
He has enlisted the help of producers/writers Rami, Arnthor and
Savan, based at the Maratone studios in Stockholm, Sweden, where he
has recorded the new album, which is untitled as yet and is due out
in Spring.
The hugely successful company has written and produced tracks for
many major artists, including Britney, Janet Jackson, N' Sync,
Jessica Simpson, American X Factor winner Kelly Clarkson, Pink and
Westlife.
But there's still a chance to catch Shayne belting out tracks from
his hit self-titled first album, along with classics such as
Somewhere Over The Rainbow and even a James Bond medley, when he
performs at the MEN Arena this weekend. "This new album is taking
me in a completely different direction," says Shayne, "younger, not
so serious and a lot sexier and funkier. It'll be a lot more up
tempo and just more fun.
"There were a lot of ballads on my first album and I could just
stick to that but now I've had more time I want to do stuff that's
more upbeat. It means I'll get to move about more on stage, it will
be great and I'm looking forward to working on new dance routines.
I can't wait for the dancing.
"But I'm not going to give anyone at all a hint of the tracks on
the new album until nearer to its release. It has been recorded in
Sweden, in Stockholm, where I was working with some great writers
and producers, including Rami and Arnthor who have had huge hits in
the past writing with Max Martin."
Shayne, now 22, went from being a Manchester shoe shop assistant to
one of the UK's biggest selling artists in the space of one year -
2005. He wowed X Factor judges Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne and
Louis Walsh - now his manager - with his audition and went on to
capture the hearts and phone votes of a nation, not least
high-pitched, screaming teenage girls.
He was signed by Sony and his first single, That's My Goal, went
straight to No.1 at Christmas 2005, becoming the most downloaded
track in a day and the fourth-fastest selling single of all time.
That was followed by the platinum-selling album and a world tour,
with huge popularity in the most unexpected places, including
Scandinavia, South Africa and Taiwan.
"To be honest, I'm not really sure why I'm so popular over there,"
says Shayne, "but the response has been phenomenal. It's been great
going all over the world, although I don't get too much of a chance
to have a look around - lots of hotel rooms - but maybe some day I
will."
The current tour began in Ireland, another country where he's as
popular, if not more so, than here. Highlights of the show,
according to fans, are the moves, faves such as That's My Goal and
also a pyrotechnic-happy version of Live And Let Die.
"The first four dates in Dublin were amazing. The reception I get
from fans in Ireland is really special and warm and I'm hoping for
the same when I come home to Manchester. They've supported me all
the way through."
In August last year, it was reported that Shayne had developed
vocal cord nodules - the condition that ended Julie Andrews'
singing career - and he flew out to Los Angeles in September to see
a specialist surgeon.
The decision to have an operation was "massive" as he feared he
might not sing again but now he's back to his best.
"I'm still having the time of my life, performing and travelling,"
says Shayne, who released his autobiography My Story in
November.
"Now I want to prove to people that I'm not just a talent show performer and I'm working hard to make that happen."
Shayne Ward plays the MEN Arena tonight (Friday) and tomorrow. Tickets are £25. Doors open at 6pm with the show expected to finish at 10.15pm. Call the box office on 0870 190 8000 for more information.
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