News Articles

Sunday Telegraph - Sunday, 6^th April, 1997.

Savage Garden

Savage Garden are exhausted. Caught up in the buzz of the promotional whirlwind, vocalist Darren Hayes apologies for what may seem a lack of enthusiasm.

"We are incredibly tried," he says. "We had no idea it would be this much hard work, but we’re loving every minute of it."

And so they should be. Riding the tidal wave of mainstream success with three hit singles, the band look set to soar with the release of their self-titled debut album.

"I’m still blown away by the level of our success," Hayes says.

The Brisbane-based pair, whose debut single I Want You was the biggest selling Australian single of last year and this week reached number 10 on the US singles charts, admit they went into the music business enthusiastic, but "blindly ignorant".

"We sat down together and decided we wanted a record deal," Hayes says. "So we sent out 150 tapes and just waited for the phone calls. Thank God they came".

"You have to have a blind, kamikaze belief in yourself to be able to do it."

The band’s self-titled album, featuring their latest single Truly, Madly, Deeply, is out now through Roadshow Music.

Dolly Magazine - May 1997

Who’s Hot

Make room silverchair! This is Australia’s latest pop sensation and we love ‘em. With two hit singles under their belts from their self-titled debut album, the only way is up as far as Daniel Jones (the man behind the great tunes) and Darren Hayes (that totally cool voice) are concerned. I Want You scored an Aria nomination in 1996, To The Moon & Back zoomed up the charts to Number 1 this year, and their next offering Truly, Madly, Deeply is already a Top 10 hit.

Having played in bands since he was 14, Daniel put an ad in a music paper for a singer 5 years ago, but little did he know that choosing Darren would be one the best decision he ever made. After hearing Darren sing, he knew he’d finally found the right formula. As Darren says, "I think we kind of knew it would happen. We just sort of clicked".

They spent 2 years playing covers in pubs and clubs around northern NSW and then started writing and singing their own stuff. And so began the cool tunes that are Savage Garden.

And what about that name? "Originally, we had four names," says Daniel. "Like Dante’s Inferno and Bliss. But every name we chose was already taken - it was really frustrating".

The final choice actually came from an Anne Rice novel (author of the Interview With The Vampire Trilogy). "Anne talks about the world as a savage garden," says Darren. "There are two levels. One is beautiful but in the other, underneath, we’re all savage beasts. We thought that was quite fitting - but we don’t want to sound too poncy. It’s all just pop music!"

Theses two cuties couldn’t be happier with the success of their first album, but say that they’re not surprised.

"Without sounding big-headed, when you go for something like this, you put a lot on the line," says Darren. "We went into this expecting to succeed".

They were right to be confident. Although it’s still early days for Savage Garden, these Brisbane babes feel they have the right stuff to be around for a long while. And we truly, madly, deeply think they do too.

By Kate Jobling