16
Interview
PowerList 2008
WAYNE’S
WORLD
He’s a prolific songwriter, with number-one
hits all over the world, but Wayne Hector
remains grounded. He tells Justin Onyeka
why it is so important for him to do so
‘T
here’s something nice about anonymity,’ says Wayne Hec- an effect, a real effect, on somebody’s life.’ Yet he’s quick to
tor, a man who most people have probably never heard of curtail any talk about the extent of his influence.
but whose songs they probably have. London-born Wayne ‘I make a point of not even thinking about myself in the
is one of the UK’s most successful songwriters and has over 30 equation,’ he says. ‘What I’ve seen in my career is that people
number-one hits around the globe under his belt. A former mem- who focus too much on themselves lose sight of what is actually
ber of 90s r&b boy band Rhythm ‘N’ Bass, he co-wrote almost 30 important – the music and the song. I’ve never taken a piece of
of Westlife’s hits contributing to seven number ones, including music and created an entirely new sound, like Stevie Wonder. So
World Of Our Own and Flying Without Wings. The numerous re- I’ve got no business being big-headed.’
cipients of his compositions include stars such as Lionel Richie, Wayne’s perspective has been shaped by his early experience
Michael Bolton, Cher, Fergie, Def Leppard and Atomic Kitten. with Rhythm ‘N’ Bass. The group’s early promise of success,
But it was one Peter Andre who provided Wayne with his first which saw them perform shows with superstar American
number one hit back in 1996. ‘I wasn’t going to get out of bed counterparts Boyz II Men and Jodeci, also led to a lack of humility.
that morning because I was tired,’ Wayne recalls with amusement ‘I had developed an ego,’ he admits. ‘As a young person you’re
at a west London recording studio. ‘But Jackie [Davidson, his always confident that this is your destiny. But the truth of the
matter is that nothing is guaranteed. I’m successful now – but next
year I could not be. It showed me that everything is transitional.’
‘The secret to a hit
With songs recently written for Pussycat Dolls, Il Divo, former
American Idol winner Fantasia and actress Emmy Rosen, Wayne
record is to write a really
is enjoying one of his best periods of creativity, something he
attributes to a more settled family life. After living in Ireland
good song for the right
and LA with his family (wife and two kids), they are now back in
England. He, too, moved around as a child – to Berlin, aged four,
artist that the record
where his dad, a soldier, was posted and three years later to
Surrey before his parents separated. Wayne’s life-long desire to
company believes in’
be a dad has also led him to begin writing two children’s books.
‘One is a book in rhyme with a character called Greedle who
teaches kids moral tales. The other is musical nursery rhymes,
helping parents interact with kids through day-to-day tasks.’ He’s
manager] hounded me and wouldn’t stop phoning me until I got already in talks with keen publishers.
up. I went down to the studio and that [Flava] is what came out Wayne has always had a word to say to kids. I remember
of it. The song changed how everybody perceived me. After that, being in the audience a few years ago when he was honoured
I never missed a recording session again.’ at the Urban Music Seminar at London’s Royal Festival Hall.
So what is the secret to a hit record? ‘I’ve heard people Thousands of teenagers had come to the two-day event for tips
who’ve written hit records that were never hits. The reason on how to make it in the music business. The looks of sheer
they were never hits was because it didn’t hit the right artist or amazement on their faces as Wayne’s long, diverse list of rock
that the record label didn’t believe in it, even if it was with the and pop credits was reeled off was quite something. As the
right artist. The secret to a hit is to write a really good song that casual, unassuming Wayne walked on stage he simply invoked
falls into both those categories. Even then you have to rely on the kids to never to limit their outlook.
radio people to like it. But it does start with a good song and ‘That was because I feel a lot of people just listen to one type
production.’ of music or instantly shoot down another because it’s not what
While the production process of creating a hit song has its they’re about. One of the biggest blessings of my upbringing is
own buzz, Wayne believes nothing matches the sight of strangers that my parents were into all kinds of music – reggae, classical,
at a concert singing and enjoying those words. ‘That or people r&b, country. All have now come to play a part in how I write. If
who tell you how much a song means to them – that it was you want to be a writer, you need to be taking those influences
their wedding song, the song they buried their mum to. That is from everywhere. Eventually those things will seep into how you
probably the best part of the business – to know that you have see things and what songs you write.’
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