For almost three years, Howie Day has been promoting and performing his debut album almost non stop.

With all the experiences he has faced, Day, 21, says his biggest regret is naming the album “Australia” because he is constantly asked why he chose that as the title when he’s actually from Maine.

“The truth is, there is no answer,” the cheerful Day tells andPOP on a recent stop in Toronto. “It’s just pretty random. I just named it that because I liked the word.”

Don’t let his wittiness fool you. Day has earned the respect he is receiving from concert goers and his press. Before signing a deal with Epic earlier this year, he was succeeding by himself. Without the support of a label behind him, he sold 30,000 copies of his album over independently, over the Internet and at his shows.

“I think you can have a career without having a record deal,” he says. “Right up to the time I signed, it was always a possibility in my mind that I might be one of those artists that just doesn’t sign one, that maybe has a sizable career without going down that road.”

He’s also had his cover of The Beatle’s “Help” included on the “I Am Sam” soundtrack, and he’s won numerous awards including Boston’s 2002 Music Award for Best Male Singer-Songwriter.

After promoting the same album for this long, it is expected that Day would get bored, but he remains in high spirits, with a little help from his imagination. To keep his on his feet, he occasionally tries to trick reporters by giving them false information. He has named phony bands as his musical influences, told a reporter that his real name was Reginald Dwight (Elton John’s real name), and has said he’s from Dublin- and everything has actually gone reported.

He says the album is something he’ll look back on as a memory in his life.

“An album is like a photograph of a moment in time as an artist. Where was I at that point? It’s becoming more and more nostalgic.”

Day has toured with Sting and is currently on a European tour with Tori Amos, but he doesn’t let his opening spot for these top-bill acts change the way he performs.

“You’d think you’d try to cater to someone’s audience, but you really don’t. You just have to go out and do your own thing.”

Even though the album is so old, Day believes it still represents him, “but it best represents me two or three years ago. It’s probably time for another one.”

And that other one is on its way. Day says the album is still in its preliminary stages, and will begin working on it in the new year.

“It’s a pretty big leap from record to record,” he says of the songs that will appear on the second album. “I think there’s a pretty big space in between but I think it’s a good space. Lyrically they’re a little more sensible.”

Day expects the new album to be released in the late summer or early fall of 2003.






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