Exclusive: I use fake name so people don't have trouble saying Taio, says chart star Cruz
Beverley Lyons And Laura Sutherland
TAIO Cruz has come up with an alias so he doesn't have to tell people how to pronounce his name.
The cheeky singer has started calling himself Michael O'Neil as people fail to grasp his proper name.
The rising star, who has just been nominated alongside Dizzee Rascal and Wiley for the Best Male prize at this year's MOBO awards, told The Razz: "It started a few years back when I was working at a telemarketing company.
"It was just a nightmare when I told callers I was called Taio - no one could understand what I was saying. So I came up with the name Michael O'Neil.
"However, when callers phoned the office asking for Michael, no one ever knew who they were talking about. I can't call my next album Michael O'Neil, but I was thinking of calling it Tyo, as that's how people seem to spell my name anyway."
Taio's debut album Departure raced up the UK charts earlier this year and singles Come On Girl, I Can Be and She's Like A Star have seen him become a hit across the world.
But the producer has no plans to solely rely on his singing talents to make a living.
He said: "I think every producer grows up dreaming of being an artist.
"Every time I recorded a demo for someone, people would ask me why I wasn't recording it for myself, so I thought it was worth a try if only to show people what I'm about and see how well it was received.
"I've always admired Timbaland and John Legend, who balance both singing and producing."
As well as working on his new album, Taio is working on new music for Britney Spears, Sugababes, Justin Timberlake and The Pussycat Dolls.
Simon Cowell, has also hired Taio to write and produce tracks for Leona Lewis and Shayne Ward.
"I'm not sure about the Justin and Shayne Ward comparisons. I don't think Shayne will ever move like Justin, but he can really sing.
"We're doing some tracks for him at the moment, which are pretty different from anything he has ever done before."
Taio is appearing at the The Scotcampus Freshers' Festival on October 3 and 4 at Glasgow's George Square, alongside Attic Lights, Isosceles and Grace Emilys. The free event offers advice to students and prospective students.
