by Lawrence Ferber

It took 10 years, but soulful songstress/actress Taylor Dayne has returned to music on her own terms and her own indie label—and she’s feeling pretty Satisfied about it.

Best known for the 1988 international dance/pop hit, “Tell It to My Heart,” Dayne is back with Satisfied (Intention Music), her first studio album since 1998’s Naked Without You. Working with co-writers/producers, including Mike Mangini, Peter Wade and Rick Nowels, Dayne’s vocals are in top form and the pop hooks are irresistible.

Raised on New York’s Long Island, Dayne first made a splash with her double-platinum 1988 album, Tell It To My Heart, while her other hits include “Love Will Lead You Back,” “Don’t Rush Me” and “I’ll Be Your Shelter.” In 2001, she hit the boards in Broadway’s Aida (fun fact: she’d also been part of its original workshop), while other acting credits have included Showtime’s Rude Awakenings series and 1994’s Warren Beatty-fronted Love Affair. Now a Los Angeles-based 45-year-old mother of 5-year-old twins, Astaria and Levi, Dayne sat down to discuss her new album, ’80s hair and singing for gay audiences.

Is there a theme running through Satisfied?

For me, I had to be truthful to who I am now, the experiences I’ve had. I don’t know about the theme, but I know the importance of the melodies I chose, the lyrical content and the cover songs I chose.

There are songs about breaking up and unhappiness, but a lot of love songs as well.

It’s funny, because the title Satisfied … it’s a question, it’s a noun, it’s a verb, it’s an action. I’m satisfied? I don’t know if I’m satisfied. This record is a journey, it’s been [developing] over a few years. “Beautiful” is about love and infatuation. Trust me, I know, I was there. “I’m Over My Head” is about just sitting back and going, “Wow, I can’t believe it.” I know that feeling and it just continues. Love is a very, very complicated state, isn’t it?

You cover the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Under The Bridge,” a love song dedicated to the city of Los Angeles.

I think it’s [about] a lot more than that. Sometimes I feel like I don’t have a partner, you’re driving through hills but there are hills you climb everywhere. When I approach a cover, I have to be very careful. I have to make it believable, I have to make it my own. This one in particular resonated for me lyrically, and I think it’s also a very universal song, and I know a lot of people can relate to it.

What do you like best about living in L.A.?

There’s no denying the weather. The opportunity to get up every day and be at work in five minutes.

Have the twins met any of your gay friends or fans yet?

Indeed. Matter of fact, I did Gay Pride last summer in Los Angeles. I closed the show, so it was a huge crowd, and my kids and a couple of friends were in the media pit and they were watching and my son, in between songs I said, “Do you want to come up?” And he was like, “Yeah!” I did the house version of “Naked Without You,” something really up-tempo, and he started breakdancing. I went, “This is my son,” and 8,000 gay men and women screamed, and he loved it. It was awesome.

When I was reading your discography, I noticed a lot of songs with the word heart in them. You do like that word, don’t you?

Apparently it pops up a lot. [But] ask Celine Dion how many hearts she has. Can you imagine?

If there was a tribunal organized for late ’80s/early ’90s fashion offenses in pop music, would you defend yourself, or would you willingly plead guilty and face the consequences?

I think I created a hair wave. That hair. They called it “bundles.” When I look at the “I’ll Always Love You” video, it made Dolly’s look small.

What is the difference between the Taylor Dayne of then and the Taylor Dayne of 2008?

Extensions! [Laughs] I’ve had a great run. I’ve [lived] through my dreams, I’ve gone for everything. Your hindsight is genius, and you see where all that heartache and desire lands you and where it takes you. Anything I want to go for, I go for and I do it.