Colin Hay first became a household name in the early 1980s as the frontman and songwriter of Men At Work. With hits like “Down Under,” “Who Can It Be Now?” and “Overkill” to their credit, Men At Work was internationally-known, but once the band broke up in 1985, very little of their fanbase kept up with Colin’s solo career. In turn, after Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence and star Zach Braff lobbied to feature Colin Hay on their show, an interesting new chapter of Colin’s career began.
In the decade and change since Colin first appeared on Scrubs, demand for him has been steady. Last summer he toured alongside Barenaked Ladies and Violent Femmes. A few years prior to that, he was part of Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band. 2015 has brought forth Colin’s 12th solo album, Next Year People, in addition to a documentary in which he is the subject called Colin Hay: Waiting For My Real Life.
In support of Colin’s upcoming Nov. 19 show at Town Hall, I conducted some quick Q&A with him over e-mail. Fingers remain crossed for an eventual collaboration with his niece Sia.
Photo Beth Herzhaft
Your first on-camera appearance on Scrubs was almost 15 years ago. When you got the offer for the role, did you anticipate that it would be a recurring role of any sort? Or even that it’d introduce a new generation of music fans to Colin Hay?
Colin Hay: Well it wasn’t really a recurring role, but I was aware that both Zach Braff and Bill Lawrence were keen to expose my music to a wider audience. And indeed they did.
How would you describe your latest album, Next Year People, to a fan of yours who hasn’t yet heard it?
C: Well first of all, if they’re a fan of mine, I’d like to know why they haven’t heard it yet. It’s always tricky attempting to describe your own music, but suffice to say, that Next Year People is an album that embraces you in a way that you like to be embraced, not like one of those “awkward hugs” that one sometimes encounters.
You’re known primarily as a musician who dabbles in acting, but not much is known about you beyond your career. Is that by choice? Is there something you wish more people knew about Colin Hay?
C: No.
Sia’s recent appearance on Howard Stern taught a lot of people that you two are related. Given her recent work with [B-52’s vocalist] Kate Pierson, is there any chance of a musical collaboration between you two in the future?
C: I would love to work with Sia at some point. She is achieving stratospheric success, and rightly so. If we were to attempt some collaboration, it would be born of both simply wanting to.
You’re playing Town Hall in New York City in November. What do you remember about your first-ever trip to New York?
C: My first ever trip to New York was under rarified circumstances. We played The Peppermint Lounge. I walked the streets, people knew my name. Strangely, I felt quite at home. I still do, I love New York and its people, and even those unidentifiable smells that hit you, every few blocks.
What do you like most about living in Los Angeles?
C: My friends, and the feeling that anything is possible. Oh, and the food trucks!
Are there plans for a proper international release of your documentary Colin Hay: Waiting For My Real Life anytime soon?
C: Well I hope so, and if there are plans, I’d like to see them.
Finally, Colin, any last words for the kids?
C: Yes, enjoy being kids for as long as you possibly can, as growing up is not for the faint of heart. Then, when facing the inevitable, find something you love to do after breakfast, and get on with it. If you’re good at it, you’ll probably make a living from it. If you’re lucky.
-by Darren Paltrowitz
