Narrator: The countdown of Australia's biggest musical earners finds Savage Garden holding on to the #1 position this year. They have delighted fans from San Francisco to Sydney. But WorldBeat caught up with the boys in Brisbane as the local heroes came home.

(plays a clip of CAB video)

Darren: I think Daniel and I . . . I certainly was a fan of pop music growing up. People like the Jacksons, Madonna, Prince; that kind of thing. So I have this love for melody and, I guess, commerciality, which didn't really fit in Brisbane. And I think that kind of inspired me to really want to succeed.

(plays a clip of the US video for TMD)

Darren: And I think that we were part of the return to melody in some ways. We were kind of the reaction to grunge and heartless techno. You see that music styles were very hybrid.

Narrator: (interviewing D): How important was international success to you in the early days?

Darren: You know, when we first began, I didn't think about being Australian or being contained by a nationality. I was proud of my nationality, but I kind of looked on the world scene as that was my benchmark, and I wanted to make music that, I felt, could be played in Germany or Italy or the UK or the US.

(plays a clip of the 2nd US video for TTMAB)

Narrator: Savage Garden's music was played in all of those countries. The band's debut album has sold upwards of 11 million copies.

Darren: Going in to record the 2nd album, I think if we ever thought about that, it would have really colored the project. It would have *pauses for a moment* it would have tainted it. It wouldn't have been an album about fear, fear of success, and trying to match something. Ultimately, we just went back and made another collection of songs that we wanted to hear.

(plays a clip of TBT live from their Brisbane concert on May 20th)

Darren: Playing in your hometown, it's like eating a bag full of candy all day. It's like a big sugar rush, and there's no experience quite like it. You feel like an Olympic medalist coming home, you know.

(more of TBT live)

Darren: I think when going around the world, there's a bit of posturing involved in being a rock star, but at home, I can't get away with it. *jokingly points at the interviewer* 'Cause they're not going to know you.

(more of TBT live)

Narrator: Fans may think they know Darren, but his songwriting partner, Daniel Jones, keeps a much lower profile. It was up to Darren to tell the Australian press how camera-shy Daniel prepares for a concert. (shows a clip of Darren walking into a press room, meeting the journalists)

Darren: (to the press): Smoking cigarrettes (the journalists laugh) and writing songs. He's got a little portable studio that he sets up in his dressing room, and he sits there very secretively . . . more secret than a Star Wars set . . . (pretends to put on headphones) and he's got headphones on. And you come in (jerks up as if he was surprised) you'll be like "What are you doing, Daniel?" He may be writing the next Savage Garden record as we speak.

(plays a live clip of BMSM)

Narrator: Despite admiration from fans at home, Darren felt the need to move to the US after their 1st album, and his experiences in New York and San Francisco helped to shape their 2nd album, Affirmation.

(more of BMSM live)

Darren: It took me away from my country in good ways and in bad ways. It took me away from fame, which was a good thing. I lived on the same street as Madonna and Mariah Carey, so no one knew who the hell I was. And that was kind of good for my ego because I was struggling, you know. I was just writing records about the human spirit, and I wasn't thinking about fame.

(shows a clip of acts auditioning for the 2 Hour Tour)

Narrator: Fame was certainly on the minds of these young artists, as they auditioned to support Savage Garden at a gig in San Francisco as part of Disney's 2 Hour Tour.

(shows Darren talking to the acts who auditioned)

Darren: (to the artists): . . . but I'm going to give the opportunity to Kelly and Kamille. (Kelly and Kamille hug in surprise and happiness)

(shows a clip of TAS video)

Narrator: The use of dap-tapes (?) and computer downloads means Darren can receive Daniel's musical ideas and flesh them out into global hits.

Darren: I think Australians used to be afraid of success. I think we used to limit ourselves in some ways, but we don't do that anymore. I think that Australian film, Australian fashion, certainly Australian music is in a really healthy period.

(plays another CAB video clip)

Narrator: After becoming the 1st Australian band with 2 #1 singles in the US, Savage Garden kicks off its American tour next week . . . an affirmation of the global success of one Australian export.

(plays the end of the CAB video)

[Return to previous page..Interviews]

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