Savage Garden

Savage Garden were unexpected global superstars whose light shone brigtly and burnt out just as quickly. While vocalist Darren Hayes enjoyed the spotlight, his collaborate Daniel Jones didn’t enjoy the rollercoaster ride that fame brought. As the duo release a retrospective collection to celebrate their back catalogue, we took Darren on a trip down memory lane.

Hi Darren, Savage Garden must seem like a lifetime ago now. Did you ever dream that international superstardom would be feasible?

Honestly yes, but only because of the wonderful magical naivety of youth. I came from a very troubled home, where my imagination was often the escape and my sanity. Dreaming of becoming a pop star was the thing that got me through tough times, bullying and sadness. Looking back now I obviously realise the odds of succeeding and the sheer crazy combination of circumstances that conspired to make the dream happen were a once in a lifetime opportunity. But back then, we charmingly believed glory was ours to take.

While the hits still have impact today, your time in Savage Garden was actually very brief. What was the biggest high you experienced?

Honestly, it was the connection to a fanbase that accepted me as this androgynous being, who made me feel like I wasn’t alone. I’m so grateful I was given the opportunity to stand on stage and experience that electric exchange. It probably saved my life. The awards, the money, the fame - of course they are exciting, but they don’t satisfy your soul in the way that truly loving yourself and feeling like you are doing something that matters does.

And the lowest low?

Grifters, being taken advantage of financially, the cold indifference of corporate record labels.

At what stage did you realise Savage Garden were going to be huge?

I always thought we were going to be massive, again because of the naive arrogance of youth. But the night at the Australian Recording Industry Awards (Our Brits or Grammys) when we were awarded a record number of statues. I thought ‘Wow, this is kind of huge’.

Looking back, what song resonates with you most today from the Savage Garden years?

I love the album cuts that weren’t singles. ‘Two Beds and a Coffee Machine’ and ‘I Don’t Know You Anymore’. ‘Santa Monica’ is a favorite.

Songs like Affirmation were seen as very forward thinking at the time, were you conscious of the impact it would have during the creative process?

I was very connected to the fact that I was on the precipice of accepting my own sexuality and of the idea of the soul’s journey, yes. I began yoga that year and it’s still a huge part of my life. The line ‘I believe you can’t control or choose your sexuality’ was a very brave thing for a pop star to say in 1999. I’m proud of that.

What do you see as the band's legacy?

Melodies you can hum, lyrics that get stuck in your head, and a time stamp of youth.

Are you on friendly terms with Daniel these days?

We are not in each others lives at all, no.

Would you ever contemplate working with him again in a non-Savage Garden capacity?

No. It’s public knowledge I’ve always been disappointed Daniel never really publicly took responsibility for his decision to leave the band. He did reach out to me a few years after the break up to see if I wanted to work together, but at the time, I was understandably not in the headspace to want to suddenly make music together again. But there was a moment we almost did, and that was in 2005.

The record company asked if I would be interested in writing songs with Daniel for a previous best of ‘Truly Madly Completely’. I had moved on and forgiven and decided it would be a lovely way to put closure on the legacy of a wonderful body of work. I offered to fly to him, or for him to meet me in England or find somewhere neutral and although we exchanged several emails about the possibility he ultimately backed out. For me that was a one time offer and I just moved on. In retrospect I’m grateful because I had to come up with a bonus track on my own and that’s when I wrote the song ‘So Beautiful’ with Robert Conley.
I have no hard feelings, we are not in each other’s lives, and I’ve changed so much musically there’s no reason to work together. It was a perfect run and I’m happy to leave it as is.

On a personal level Savage Garden saw you undergo many changes. Do you think being famous at a time of great change in your personal life was beneficial?

Hugely. I was able to create a barrier, a superhero costume, an alter-ego and that helped my sexuality escape in a way. It allowed me to feel what it was like to put myself out there, to find my tribe in our audience. I was an androgynous wonderful freak and I’m so grateful so many people, especially women, embraced that in me. It allowed me to love myself and come to terms with who I was.

You have been very open about your sexuality, even at a time when it was less open in the industry. Do you feel artists are ever restricted in being true to themselves?

There is a very funny anecdote about my first ever solo video, ‘Insatiable’ where I danced. The record label saw the early footage and freaked out because they felt it was obvious I was clearly gay and demanded we re-shoot it. I wasn’t told this was the reason at the time, but I’ve since learned they also sent an internal memo where they didn’t want me performing on live T.V in case I moved my hips like that. I can laugh about it now, it’s so insane because today sexuality is embraced but back then, it was pre Ricky Martin coming out, and they were petrified I would alienate my female audience. 2016 is a world where Adam Lambert is amazingly proudly out and lovely Sam Smith is straight up adorable. But in 1999 I was very brave to dress the way I did, and sing lyrics such as ‘I believe you can’t control or choose your sexuality’. It was my way of sticking up a finger to the suits and I’m glad I did.

Post Savage Garden you have enjoyed a very successful solo career. Can we expect any new music soon?\

Nothing in the recorded music sense, no. I’ve spent the last 3 years studying comedy improvisation at The Groundlings Theatre and School in Los Angeles. That led to me producing a 52 episode comedy podcast called ‘The He Said He Said Show’ and more recently, teaming up with fellow member of Groundlings to work on an original musical. That’s really my focus at the moment. I do a lot of improv shows on the down low, sometimes to just 20 people, I write and film fun things like this Star Wars spoof https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4uUU4aOyhY and I’m evolving. Kate Bush is my idol if that’s any indication of how long it might take me before I decide to put another album out. But it’s no time soon. This musical is my baby and it might take years but it’s giving my so much joy.