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

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

Honestly yes, but only with the wonderful magical naivety of youth. I originated in a very troubled home, where my imagination was the escape and my sanity. Dreaming of being a pop star was what got me through difficult times, bullying and sadness. Looking back now I obviously realise it can be of succeeding plus the sheer crazy mixture of circumstances that conspired to create the dream happen were a once in an eternity opportunity. But in the past, we charmingly believed glory was ours to consider.

While the hits have impact today, your time and efforts in Savage Garden was very brief. What was the greatest high you experienced?

Honestly, it absolutely was the connection to some fanbase that accepted me because this androgynous being, who forced me to be feel like I wasn’t alone. I’m so grateful I was because of the opportunity to climb onto stage and experience that electric exchange. It probably saved playing. The awards, the funds, the fame – obviously they are exciting, nevertheless they don’t suit your soul the way that truly loving yourself and feeling as if you are doing something matters does.

And the best low?

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

At what stage have you realise Savage Garden were destined to be huge?

I always thought we had been going to be massive, again due to naive arrogance of youth. But the night in the Australian Recording Industry Awards (Our Brits or Grammys) when we had been awarded a list number of statues. I thought ‘Wow, that is kind of huge’.

Looking back, what song resonates to you most today in the Savage Garden years?

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

Songs like Affirmation were viewed as very forward thinking on the time, have you been conscious of the impact it will have over the creative process?

I was very attached to the fact that I was about the precipice of accepting my own, personal sexuality and also the idea of the soul’s journey, yes. I began yoga that year and yes it’s still a large part of gaming. The line ‘I believe you’ll be able to’t control or choose your sexuality’ was an extremely brave thing for the pop star to state in 1999. I’m happy with that.

What would you see because the band’s legacy?

Melodies you’ll be able to hum, lyrics which get stuck in your thoughts, and also a time stamp of youth.

Are your self on friendly terms with Daniel today?

We usually are not in each others lives in any way, no.

Would you ever contemplate using the services of him again inside a non-Savage Garden capacity?

No. It’s public knowledge I’ve for ages been disappointed Daniel never really publicly took responsibility for his decision to exit the band. He did get in touch with me a several years after the split up to see if I wanted to function together, but with the time, I was understandably not inside headspace to wish to suddenly make music together again. But there became a moment we almost did, and this was in 2005.

The record company asked if I could be interested in writing songs with Daniel for any previous best of ‘Truly Madly Completely’. I had progressed and forgiven and decided it can be a lovely strategy to put closure about the legacy of any wonderful body on the job. I wanted to fly to him, and for him in order to meet me in England or find somewhere neutral and although we exchanged several emails regarding the possibility he ultimately backed out. For me that became a one time offer and I just shifted. In retrospect I’m grateful because I had to think of a bonus track on my and that’s when I wrote the song ‘So Beautiful’ with Robert Conley.
I have zero hard feelings, we aren’t in each other’s lives, and I’ve changed a great deal musically there’s no reason to function together. It became a perfect run and I’m happy to go away it out of the box.

On the right level Savage Garden saw you undergo many changes. Do you think being famous during a period of great difference in your personal life was beneficial?

Hugely. I was capable of create a barrier, a superhero costume, an alter-ego understanding that helped my sexuality escape in a very way. It allowed me to feel what it had been like to put myself in existence, to seek out my tribe within our audience. I was an androgynous wonderful freak and I’m so grateful a lot of people, especially women, embraced that inside me. It allowed me to adore myself are available to terms with who I was.

You happen to be very open about your sexuality, even each time when that it was less open inside the industry. Do you feel artists are ever restricted in succeeding as true to themselves?

There is an extremely funny anecdote about my first recorded solo video, ‘Insatiable’ where I danced. The record label saw their early footage and freaked out simply because they felt it had been obvious I was clearly gay and demanded we re-shoot it. I wasn’t told i thought this was the reason on the time, but I’ve since learned in addition, they sent an interior memo where they didn’t want me performing on live T.V in the event I moved my hips this way. I can laugh regarding it now, it’s so insane because today sexuality is embraced but in those days, that it was pre Ricky Martin popping out, plus they were petrified I would alienate my female audience. 2016 is usually a world where Adam Lambert is amazingly proudly out and lovely Sam Smith is perpendicularly adorable. But in 1999 I was very brave to decorate the way I did, and sing lyrics including ‘I believe it is possible to’t control or choose your sexuality’. It was my strategy for sticking up a finger on the suits and I’m glad I did.

Post Savage Garden you might have enjoyed an incredibly successful solo career. Can we expect any creations soon?\

Nothing from the recorded music sense, no. I’ve spent the past 3 years studying comedy improvisation at The Groundlings Theatre and School in Los Angeles. That triggered me making a 52 episode comedy podcast called ‘The He Said He Said Show’ plus more recently, teaming on top of fellow member of Groundlings to operate on an original musical. That’s really my focus on the moment. I do lots of improv shows about the down low, sometimes just to 20 people, I write and film fun items 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 me before I decide to put another album out. But it’s little time soon. This musical is my baby and it could take years but it’s giving my much joy.