Bangkok Post Student Weekly...FEATURE  / 29 MAY 2000

WHO ARE SAVAGE GARDEN?

Compiled by Helen Jandamit
Source: The Official Savage Garden Fanzine
http://www.savagegarden.com/thefanzine.html

SAVAGE GARDEN was formed in 1993. Daniel Jones was then part of the band "Red Edge". He placed and advertisement in a Brisbane music publication Time Off  for a lead vocalist (singer) for the band. Darren replied and they became friends.  Later they left Red Edge and they began writing music together. They started the group Savage Garden. The name of the band is inspired be Anne Rice's vampire novels. The music of Savage Garden is written by both Darren and Daniel. Today they are very successful around the world.

To the Moon and Back was one of the first songs they wrote together and was inspired by a girl called Ainsle. The song won the ARIA Award for Australian Song of the Year in 1997.

Publishers record companies liked the song and soon Daniel and Darren were sitting in a recording studio, sleeves rolled up and heads to the control board recording an album that would take almost eight months to complete. " It was the biggest learning experience" explains Daniel. "We were still desperately trying to come to terms with he fact that we had begun the journey. We were in the process of actually doing what we had dreamed about all our lives."

Their love of music is easy to see in their albums. The words of their songs are extraordinary and have deep meaning. (You can see an example from their latest hit album here.) Their music is a refreshing and intelligent mix of tradition and technology. "I Want You", the pulsing 80's Euro pop-influenced first single, became the highest selling Australian single in 1996. The follow up second single. "To the Moon & Back", quickly went to number 1, selling more copies than the previous debut single. An international deal with Columbia Records followed. Their latest album is called  "Affirmation" and at the time of writing, it had been in the Top Ten for many weeks.

They make many different kinds of music. This is because the pair's personalities are very different and so are the recording processes.

Of the future, Savage Garden say, " We understand that we have had a couple of hits in our home town and it's only now that we're venturing out into the world. I think we realized from and early stage that this career is not predictable. You never know where you'll be tomorrow and there are no guarantees that we will achieve all the goals that we have set out. We have had some amazing breaks and good fortune. All we can do now is continue to write songs and do what we do best."

You can email Savage Garden at : savage@village.com.au

The Official Savage Garden Fanzine Website is run buy family and friends of Darren and Daniel in their hometown of Brisbane, Australia. They produce a full colour magazine four times a year..

VOCABULARY:

inspire (v): stimulate a person to be creative, active or to express opinions and ideas
sleeve (n): the part of a piece of clothing which covers your arm
extraordinary (adj): very unusual or remarkable
venture (v): risk going somewhere when it could be dangerous
predictable (adj): if the result of something is predictable, you know what it will be before it happens

QUESTIONS

1. Who is the lead singer of Savage Garden?
2. Who inspired the song " To the Moon and Back"?
3. When was Savage Garden formed?
4. What is the name of Savage Garden's latest album?
5. How long would it take for an album to be recorded?

AFFIRMATION

I believe the sun should never set upon an argument
I believe we place our happiness in other people's hands
I believe that junk food tastes so good because it's bad for you
I believe your parents did the best job they knew how to do
I believe that beauty magazines promote low self-esteem
I believe I'm love when I'm completely by myself alone

I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned
I believe you can't appreciate real love till you've been burned
I believe the grass is always greener on the other side
I believe you don’t know what you've got until you say goodbye

I believe you can’t control or choose you sexuality
I believe that trust is more important than monogamy
I believe your most attractive features are your heart and soul
I believe that family is worth more than money or gold
I believe the struggle for financial freedom is unfair
I believe the only ones who disagree are millionaires

I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned
I believe you can't appreciate real love till you've been burned
I believe the grass is always greener on the other side
I believe you don’t know what you've got until you say goodbye

I believe forgiveness is the key to your unhappiness
I believe that wedded bliss negates the need to be undressed
I believe that god does not endorse TV evangelists
I believe in love surviving death until eternity

I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned
I believe you can't appreciate real love till you've been burned
I believe the grass is always greener on the other side
I believe you don’t know what you've got until you say goodbye

 PROFILES

Darren Hayes

Role in Band: Lead and backing vocals, songwriter.
Born: Brisbane Australia, May 8, 1972
Star Sign: Taurus
Hair: Black
Eyes: Blue
Height: 178cm
Shoe size: 8.5-9
Diet: Strictly vegetarian, no alcohol
Siblings: One brother, one sister
Hometown: Logan City
Schooling: Mabel Park Infants, Mabel Park High
Interests: Movies, shopping, surfing the net
Favorite music: U2, Sarah Mclachlan
Music Influences: Prince, The Smiths, Fleetwood Mac, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Duran Duran
Favorite Films: Star Wars, Blade Runner
Favorite songs on the album: "Carry on Dancing", "Santa Monica"
Other: Stayed at school until year 12 Listens to Triple J. Completed degree in teaching (pre-school) and taught for eight months while waiting for the album to be finished.
Married to wife Colby Hayes (Taylor)
 

Daniel Jones

Role in Band: Keyboard, guitars, background vocals, programming, songwriting.
Birthday: July 22, 1973, Essex, England
Star Sign: Cancer
Hair: Blonde
Eyes: Green
Height: 180cm
Shoe size: 9
Diet: Used to be chicken sauté constantly, but now he's varied a bit!
Drives: New model Mazda Astina
Siblings: Two brothers
Hometown: Logan City
Schooling: Shailer Park High
Pastime: Jet-skiing, writing music on his laptop
Favorite music: George Michael, Sheryl Crow
Music Influences: Peter Gabriel, XTC, Tears for Fears
Favorite Actor: Meg Ryan
Favorite songs on Album: "To the Moon and Back", "Truly Madly Deeply"
Other information: Daniel is the one with blonde hair. He is the youngest of three, moving to Brisbane, Australia as a young child. Quotes Daniel; " My brothers picked up musical instruments from the time I was eight. I just followed suit, really." Daniel's contribution is the programming and arrangement behind the music.

26  / Bangkok Post Student Weekly...FEATURE  / 29 MAY 2000
 
 
 
  Return to the Previous Page (Main Magazine Link Page)

Disclaimer: None of the photographs of Darren Hayes or Daniel Jones or the music group Savage Garden on this site belong to this site or site owner and are here for entertainment and informational purposes ONLY. NO claim has been made regarding these photos and no profit is being made from said photos being posted on this web site. No claim is made to this article. It is here on a temporary basis only to inform fans that are not able to buy it. No profit is being made from said article being posted on this web site.
Copyright © 1999-2002 Cindy Greenleaf. All rights reserved.
Only I, as the author and creator of this work, am entitled to reproduce or distribute this material. Nobody may access my web site and copy my layout, text or graphics without my prior written permission, and only in the manner that I approve.