Light, it flickers. Your light traveling down so deep. Illumination. Light, it blisters. Your light coming down so bright. Transformation. Turn it up, give him some room to grow…
Back in 1993 in beautiful and sunny Brisbane, young musician Daniel Jones and his band were seeking a vocalist. Darren Hayes auditioned, and some musical magic started evolving. Two years later, having become duo Savage Garden in the meantime, they were signed by Roadshow Music/Warner Music. The stage had been set for a massive ride of fame and success. Savage Garden were on the verge of something wonderful!
Sweet like a chic-a-cherry cola their debut “I want you” filled the skies of Australia winning people’s hearts, and international interest in Savage Garden was growing. Their music was flying all the way to the US market being highly applauded over there as well with the famous ballad “Truly madly deeply” ruling the Billboard No.1 spot. Who would have thought it could be amazing? Of course, they also claimed success in other countries worldwide as well. Europe was listening. Asia was listening. Everyone was listening, flying to the moon and back.
Temptation tempted the temptee. Savage Garden concluded their story and history with their second and also last album “Affirmation“. “Truly madly deeply”’s little brother “I knew I loved you” was born and lived a very long life as a single release. It was breaking the record for length of time on the Monitor/Billboard Adult Contemporary Airplay Charts remaining there for 123 weeks.
And then, all of sudden, Savage Garden split up.
While Daniel Jones was concentrating on his new founded record label, Darren’s plans of becoming a solo-artist became more intense, and he started out insatiably. He wanted so much to believe that he wouldn’t disappear in the water, that he wouldn’t always be swimming against the tide. But the heart wants what the heart wants.
Before Darren even released his first record without Daniel, he decided to come out and be honest about his sexuality. Stepping into the light but at the same time stepping aside to gain some distance… Throughout the skyrocketing days of Savage Garden it was already wildly speculated that he was gay. Two years prior his coming out he had separated from his wife, and this event of Darren’s life is very much reflected on “Affirmation”. They were divorced two years later. No regrets or promises, he past is gone, but you can still be free. And all gotta do is choose life.
Darren’s first solo-album “Spin” continued on the same musical path as “Affirmation”. Even though it was a success it could not quite meet the power of Savage Garden. Darren then felt the urge to undergo a change and created an album with more electronic influences. “The tension and the spark” earned Darren the strongest praise of his career, but the majority of his audience had expected another pop album and could not quite adapt to Darren’s new and strong and personal sound.
The plan, however, to make it rich and famous was still out there because fame is so contagious. He wanted to be pop!ular. Play his video. Hear him on the radio. At the same time, Darren parted ways with his record label and gave birth to Powdered Sugar, his own independent label. Another ditch in the road - you keep moving. Another stop sign - you keep moving on.
The long awaited album number three, a double-disc with 25 tracks, was released in Australia and the UK and was titled “This delicate thing we’ve made”. By then the international audience was not as massive anymore. Still, there have been fans worldwide filled with passion for his music and the sound of his voice. A small exclusive tour in the US sold out fast and the gigs were very well received with very positive reviews. There’s a symphony and a melody that plays whenever he's around.
Since he likes the way you’re moving in the dark, since he likes the tension, the tension and the spark, Darren proved he is all about the music when he and Robert Conley, producer of “The tension and the spark”, released “We are smug” and made the record available to the public for free as a download. When the music feels like this, when you lose control you gotta go with it; ten feet high flying above the sky; your problems don’t exist when the music feels like this.
Last year “Secret codes and battleships” hit the market and marked Darren’s return to pop music. Even celebrity blogger Perez Hilton uttered full praise for Darren’s song “Bloodstained heart” saying: Darren Hayes is back with a song closer to his Savage Garden days than anything he's done of late. A beautiful, powerful, emotional, big, sweeping, pop song with meaning!
Darren’s lyrics still are deep, strong, powerful and meaningful, and he follows his heart. He simply cares about creating something so beautiful. And... they can have their universe. We’ll be in the dirt designing stars…
discography - albums:
1997 Savage Garden (with Savage Garden)
1999 Affirmation (with Savage Garden)
2002 Spin
2004 The tension and the spark
2005 Truly madly completely (with Savage Garden)
2007 This delicate thing we've made
2011 Secret codes and battleships
