Photography: Jessica Lloyd
After representing Australia at Eurovision, Voyager frontman Danny Estrin reckons Eurovision, ABBA and disco are not just for the gays.
DNA: Tell us about your Eurovision experience.
Danny Estrin: It was the greatest thing I’ve done in my life, musically and personally. I’ve always loved Eurovision. It was meant to be! People have different experiences of Eurovision but I couldn’t have imagined it turning out any better. Every step of the way we were like, “Really? This is happening?”
Do you have Eurovision contestant mates?
Yeah, the Austrian girls Teya and Salena, fellow Australian Andrew Lambrou who represented Cyprus, the guys from Lord Of The Lost, The Busker from Malta, and Gustaph from Belgium. There’s a sense of community with all these people. It’s pure love and the wonderful thing is that you get to share the post-Eurovision blues.
That’s a thing?
Yes, and it hits hard. Imagine you’re playing in front of 162 million people with media on you constantly, but then there’s nothing. Some Eurovision contestants find that the phone stops ringing and they haven’t done anything since. That’s a huge comedown.
Since competing, does Voyager now have a wider global audience?
Yes, 162 million people viewed our Eurovision performance and while they’re not all going to jump on board, many new fans have discovered us and heavy music. Heavy Metal has a stigma but I think the crowd realised that heavy music can be a positive spectacle. Voyager is not necessarily metal, but heavy music.
How close is Eurovision to the Will Ferrell movie, The Story Of Fire Saga?
I’m in that movie! I went to Eurovision as a fan in 2019 when it was in Tel Aviv and during the dress rehearsal I was thinking, “Is that Will Ferrell? What the hell is he doing here?” He explained he was shooting a movie and wanted crowd involvement. Some of what’s in the Eurovision movie is very true, but a lot is Americans jumping on board the Eurovision experience, and they did a fantastic job! We recently performed at a high school and the organiser gave me a mug inscribed with, “Play Ja Ja Ding Dong!”
ABBA is Eurovision’s most successful act. Are you a fan?
A huge ABBA fan. ABBA is one of those bands I admire on so many levels because they do what we as musicians want to. They have beautiful pop melodies on top with complexity underneath. If you listen to an ABBA song you can bop along or you can listen to the arrangement and think, “Wow!” That’s something we strive for – to have that duality. They have odd time signatures, too, which are satisfying to listen to and even more satisfying to play. ABBA is responsible for my obsession with melody and that’s key, especially for Eurovision songs.
Will Voyager still be performing in their senior years?
One hundred per cent! Even if we stop touring for whatever reason, the process of writing, crafting and releasing music with four of my best friends is something I’d never want to give up. Maybe we’ll do a farewell tour to boost ticket sales and then a reunion tour!
You’re also an immigration lawyer. How do you manage that alongside rockstar?
It becomes more difficult with more success. I love immigration law and the people I work with. I like the vibe, but I also love playing music and when one of those stops being fun, then I’ll give it up.
Do you hang out with gay mates?
Oh, I’ve spent many a night at Connections nightclub in Perth. I have lots of gay friends who are generally Eurovision fans. Interestingly, the gay viewers gravitate more to our bass player Alex than to me, which I’m terribly jealous of! He gets all the DMs about being the hottest one.
Do you like the music played in gay clubs?
I love it! A lot of it is melody-based. Most of the big gay anthems with a cool beat and a big soaring melody are fucking awesome!
What’s your burn-the-disco-down anthem?
Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance With Somebody. Then there’s the Eurovision hits. If Loreen’s Euphoria comes on, I’m out there! I love the German band Modern Talking and I’m surprised they’re not more popular with the gay community because they’re so over the top, camp and so ’80s.
Does the LGBTQIA+ vote influence the Eurovision outcome?
Yes, but the gay vote is fickle! You don’t know if you’re going to get it. I remember being in the bathroom at Pink Flamingo on the Gold Coast when we did Australia Decides. There was a bunch of guys saying how much they loved Voyager’s energy and I thought, “Okay we’ve got something here.” It’s important for heavy/metal to have that crossover because metal, particularly in the ’80s, wasn’t the gay-friendliest of music genres. There was a lot of homophobia even though bands like Motley Crue and Poison dressed as women! Getting the gay vote is super important to me because it shows that metal has been demystified as a macho style of music.
Who is your music diva?
Cesaria Evora. She’s a bit left-of-field and not flamboyant but beautiful in her own way. She was a portly lady from Cape Verde who didn’t care about her appearance and would waddle on stage barefoot, close her eyes and then her magical voice would come out. Her classic was a beautiful song, Besame Mucho.
Who has been your biggest music inspiration?
Peter Steele from the band Type O Negative. He did an issue of Playgirl which was bought by more men than ever because he had a twelve-inch penis. He was an impressive hunk of a man and his music was wonderful. He embodied the fact that you can have this imposing metal stature but also be in touch with emotions which, in the ’90s, we called your ‘feminine side’. Peter died of liver failure from alcoholism. When I first heard his song Love You To Death I thought it was incredibly heavy but also beautifully esoteric.
Briefs, boxers or free balling?
Boxer briefs all the way. I like ones with hilarious designs like koalas or cucumbers!
Who would you turn gay for?
There are so many beautiful men around! Mans Zelmerlow from Eurovision, Bollywood star Aamir Khan, and Thomas Anders from Modern Talking.
Since this interview, Danny has announced his cancer diagnosis. Everyone at DNA wishes him a speedy recovery and we look forward to seeing him rocking the stage again soon. Voyager’s Fearless In Love album is out now. Follow Danny and Voyager on Instagram @danny_voyager and @voyagerau
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