Cute Band Alert: Savage Garden

Do you believe in destiny?  Singer Darren Hayes and multi-instrumentalist Daniel Jones do.

By Shonda Gatling

"It almost was like meeting a soul mate," says Darren of that fateful first encounter.  "We both had the same goals.  I walked out of the audition thinking: 'I'm going to be famous one day'."  They dubbed their duo Savage Garden--and set upon a path to international pop stardom.  The amazing Australians' self-titled debut (Columbia) has already given us the irresistible hit "I Want You."  Despite their shared vision, "you couldn't find more different people," dark-haired doll-boy Darren says.  "I'm a more attention-seeking person--I walk into a room and want to dominate it.  Daniel's the opposite--he achieves respect and power in quiet ways."  
   Opposites they may be, but both are way into their new-found celebrity.  "It's changed my life," says blond boat-floater Daniel.  "You know, you do a TV show and you're all hyped up, and you jump into a plane and try to relax--it's intense, but I like the extremes of emotions."  Adds Darren: "Nobody ever stopped me on the street before and said, ' Boy you're really cute!' and now it happens all the time.  I love it."
   Write to: Savage Garden, c/o Atlas/Third Rail Management,
9169 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90069.