Tailing Taylor

Friday, March 22, 2002 | 3:45 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION

When Taylor Dayne performed at Sunset Station's Club Madrid nearly a year ago, the small concert room was packed with thirtysomething fans, including some who have been following the powerhouse dance and pop diva since the late-1980s.

Even twentysomethings, too young to have been around for the days when Dayne's full-throttle voice was a staple at dance clubs, speckled the audience. From the second row a couple boasted to those sitting nearby that they had seen the singer nearly every time she'd performed Las Vegas. They even took a guess at her choice of opening song.

When Dayne finally took the stage that evening, her voice sailed over the crowd in its usual soulful sound, bringing the audience to a purr.

This is typical of Dayne's fans. Though the solo aritist hasn't recorded an album in nearly four years, her voice and presence is merely enough to keep her fans coming back. Dayne will be performing again Saturday at Club Madrid.

Known for songs that crossed into dance, pop, soul and R&B, the Long Island, N.Y., native began her singing career in high school with the rock band Felony. She later sang with the new-wave band The Next, before breaking into a solo career.

Dayne's first single "Tell It To My Heart" climbed the charts in 1988, followed by her debut album of the same and a stream of hits and ballads, such as "I'll Always Love You," the remake of Barry White's "Can't Get Enough of Your Love," "Prove Your Love," "With Every Beat of My Heart" and "Send Me a Lover."

In 1998 Dayne started her own record label which produced "Naked Without You." The recording didn't draw nearly the commercial success she was accustomed to, but was more introspective and, as Dayne put it, taught her things she never knew about herself.

Dayne, who declined to give her age but according to Rolling Stone turned 40 this month, is still recording and still pursuing acting. She appeared in "Love Affair" a 1994 film starring Warren Beatty and Annette Bening. This was followed by "Fools Paradise" (1996) and "Stag" (1997).

Last year Dayne performed on Broadway in Elton John and Time Rice's "Aida," a Disney musical based on the Verdi opera of the same name. Dayne played the Egyptian princess Amneris who was caught in a love triangle with an army captain and the captured Nubian princess Aida.

More recently, Dayne has been playing the role of Mom to her two young children, Astaria and Levi. The twins were born Dec. 30 to a surrogate mother.

Dayne recently took the time to speak with the Las Vegas Sun about motherhood, her singing and acting career:

Las Vegas Sun: How has being a mom changed things for you?

Taylor Dayne: There are full-time people in my face (laughs). They're changing and growing every day. You have a keen sense of time.

Sun: What inspired you to become a mom?

TD: I've waited a long time. I've spent my 20s and my early 30s intensely committed to my career and myself. It got to a point that it's part of my life I didn't want to pass me by. I'm doing this as a single mom. It's an undertaking. It's amazing. It's a positive experience.

Sun: Any special meaning behind the names?

TD: Astaria, I couldn't have thought of it in a million years. She just kind of channeled that out. Levi, I've always liked that.

Sun: And how old are you?

TD: Well, I just had a birthday ... I'll let you do the math.

Sun: How did you like performing as Amneris on Broadway?

TD: It was just a really fun role. She gets to be very campy, sassy and sexy.

Sun: How become you get involved with acting?

TD: For me it was a natural progression. I've been doing television and film for the last six or seven years. I was attached to a series on Showtime called "Rude Awakenings."

Sun: Didn't you grow up in an family that followed the arts?

TD: My parents were really avid theatergoers and they'd drag us with them. Sunday was our family outing, dinner in Chinatown, then to see a play. They were very culturally aware and very involved with exposing us to the arts.

Sun: Your first band, Felony, was a rock band. Was rock your first interest?

TD: It was the first thing I could get my hands on. (As a child) I was singing with the AM radio ... In the '70s you had Karen Carpenter, whose voice was so pure ... to Al Green and his full timbre. Those people moved me.

Sun: How did you move into popular dance music?

TD: It was through The Next.

Sun: Were you surprised by the success of "Tell It To My Heart."

TD: You're always surprised. You dream your entire life and work very hard to find the magic, and it clicks.

Sun: You're working on a new album?

TD: I started last year (before "Aida"). I cut about six tracks.

Sun: Is it the same style music as previous releases?

TD: It's classic Taylor Dayne. Whatever that means.

Sun: You had classical training early on. Are there any other styles of music you'd be interested in pursuing?

TD: I ain't going to do hip-hop record (laughter). Although Ja Rule, (I'd) sing a song behind. I can sing anything. I feel confident singing anything. But I think the song is the song.

Sun: You're used to having your songs on the charts. Were you disappointed by the outcome of "Naked Without You?"

TD: It really hurt. But at the same time, I put every ounce of myself in that record.

Sun: You have a lot of diehard and longtime fans. Do you ever get tired of singing the old hits.

TD: Not really. There's nothing greater than people that are singing with you.

Sun: What kind of music are you listening to today?

TD: Well, in my CD collection I've got a lot of Bob Dylan in there.

Sun: His latest release?

TD: Oh yeah. And "Highway 61." Somewhere, years ago I missed the (Bob Dylan) boat. But I'm back in the boat. Indie.Arie. I've been listening to a lot of pop stuff lately. Nick Drake. That just warms my soul. Al Green all the time. Isley Brothers, Stevie Wonder. Kylie Minogue

Sun: You participated in the Los Angeles recording of "We Are Family" to raise money for the victims of Sept. 11.

TD: Yes. It was just really touching. It was beautiful. I was in New York during the tragedy. I live on 15th Street.

Sun: It was reported that you were planning to head overseas with Clint Black and Julie Brown to entertain the U.S. troops fighting the war on terrorism. Did you go?

TD: I never toured with that. A good friend of mine is Julie Brown. They had assumed I was doing it.

Sun : Are you still pursuing acting?

TD: Yes, nothing concrete now. I just finished a short film that a friend of mine directed ("Joshua Tree"). Hopefully it will do well.

Sun: Any idea of when your next album will be released?

TD: I wish it was yesterday.

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