Tuesday, August 1, 2000
Reflecting pool
Dark days inspiration for Savage Garden's Affirmation
By JANE STEVENSON -- Toronto Sun
Affirmation sounds like a positive title for an album.
Yet Savage Garden frontman Darren Hayes says a lot of the material on the Aussie pop duo's second offering sprang from some of his darkest days.
"A lot of this (new) record is chronicling me getting out of a pretty dark period in my life, when I was at the end of a relationship and I was alone," says Hayes, 27. He's referring to his six-year marriage to his college sweetheart collapsing just as Savage Garden rose to fame, selling 12 million copies worldwide of their 1997 self-titled debut.
"I was married really young, and we're best friends. It's like any situation, it's just one of those things. Who knows why? It's a multitude of reasons, and we're great, great friends. We still speak every couple of days. We share mutual custody of two dogs, and I just live in America now. She lives in Australia and life goes on."
After Savage Garden's staggering success, Hayes briefly relocated to New York City to reflect on his life and future through songwriting. Meanwhile, his band partner -- 26-year-old multi-instrumentalist Daniel Jones -- stayed in Brisbane and sent him music on computer discs.
"It was really tough," says Hayes, during a promotional stop in Toronto prior to Savage Garden's show tonight at the Molson Amphitheatre. "I was really lonely. I think that in some ways, I was seeking that out, because I wanted to write this kind of record. I knew that the subject matter on this record was more reflective, so I wanted to be out of my comfort zone ... And ultimately, I like feeling sorry for myself sometimes. I wanted to make an album that was a bit of a 'Oh, there, there.' "
But despite spending a year in The Big Apple, New York didn't take. San Francisco, on the other hand, did.
Working at the studios of high-profile producer Walter Afanasieff (Ricky Martin, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion) initially brought Hayes to the Californian city, but it was the vibe that made him stay.
"I was like, "Why am I happier? Why am I making more friends here? What is this?" remembers Hayes. "And it was just something about the culture that was familiar to me. Like Australia -- the sunshine and water. And it's the best decision I've ever made in my life!"
Initially though, he wasn't sure about Afanasieff because Hayes was looking for a catalyst for change.
"I really felt that Walter was doing what we do -- which is love songs and schmaltz, and he has that down pat. And I was looking at people like William Orbit or Phil Thornally to spice up our lives a little bit.
"But within about three hours, I knew. He (Afanasieff) just had this eagerness and connection with us."
So far, Affirmation has spawned at least one hit with I Knew I Loved You, whose video starred actress Kirsten Dunst.
The group has also gained a solid reputation for its live shows -- in particular Hayes' energy and campy costumes.
"People like Prince, Madonna, Michael Jackson, George Michael, the upper sort of echelon of '80s superstars. I think they inspired me in terms an old-fashioned kind of showmanship," says Hayes. "I've been threatening this for years and maybe we'll never get there, but the calibre of shows that David Bowie or Peter Gabriel would do, that's where I would be heading."
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