Hi everyone,

Hope you enjoyed the first update...... it has been DIFFICULT for me to focus and make sure you are getting this update regularly. The reason for this is because my entire body clock is out of sync due to the strange hours Darren, Daniel and the rest of the studio keep. They start work late in the day and finish early in the morning. Let me just give you an example of a typical day in the recording life of Savage Garden.... they usually wake up and have breakfast around 11.30am (I can't believe he has given me permission to put it up, but you'll have to check out our early morning photo of Darren).
After a quick swim, Daniel usually saunters casually over to the studio for a game of tennis before the day begins, while Darren either goes to the gym in town to workout with his trainer, or he goes to Walters gym. Actually, it really amazes me that he spends so much time exercising (in fact it is now 12.00am and he has just gone up to use the treadmill!!!).
For my first few days here I wondered when and if they ever did any work!!! I have been assured that they worked "incredibly hard" for the first couple of months and now that the album is almost finished, they.. and it appears..

ALL, the studio staff.. are spending a lot of time having fun. After having a very late lunch, they usually start work. It is not unusual to finish the day at 3.00am... in fact, it's almost the norm.
Actually, you'll be excited to know that Darren is singing the very last song on the record on Monday. In fact, Daniel has finished his part in the making of it and we will be saying goodbye to him on Monday night as he is going home to Australia for a bit of a break before the whole promotional circus starts.

They have already mixed half of the record and it will be completed by the end of July. . It is still all double dutch to me and although I understand what 'mixing' a song is... it's really interesting to witness the transformation a song makes from unmixed to mixed. Darren has decided that he wants to stay in San Rafael until the mixing is completed..... so it looks like I get a couple more weeks of this wonderful haven before I have to leave forever... can't say I'm complaining about that!
The last week has been pretty hectic actually. Daniel and Walter spent a big part of the week in LA recording the live guitars for some of the songs. The musicians that have been used on this album are incredible players and the masters of their fields. While he was in LA, Daniel had a chance to go and see Jamiroquai.... which was apparently an amazing show.

Darren and I stayed behind at Wallyworld and we finally got the chance to have a night out in San Francisco. We had a fantastic night just club hopping and dancing.... Darren blended into the crowd really well, and would not allow me to get us to the front of a queue when we were standing in it for HOURS waiting to get into a club. He was just enjoying making friends and being completely low key. I, on the other hand, was just dying to get inside and I found the whole ordeal INCREDIBLY frustrating! I guess it is really lucky that I'm not the celebrity around here... I'd be extremely painful to be around!

Anyway... it was bound to happen, this little tranquil world has been invaded this week with the media. Darren and Daniel are doing a story with Australian Vogue magazine and the Arts Editor, Kim Langley has been here for two days with the new Roadshow publicist, Rina, and a photographer. For the very first time, the guys have played some of the tracks from the album to some complete strangers. It was great to see the reaction that Kim, as a journalist, had to all of the tracks. You could tell she was completely swept up in the music and her reaction was honest and extremely positive. I can't tell you all of her comments (it's too early to give this away!).. but she did say that the songs were all extremely diverse.
Luckily Kim is a lovely lady who has developed an instant rapport with Darren and Daniel. This is an incredible feat, especially with Daniel.. who is notoriously publicity shy, as you all would know by now. She has had some great conversations with the guys and it will be interesting to see how this translates into a story. The photographer has captured photos of them both in the studio, Darren walking around Fishermans Wharf and on the ferry, and them riding on the motorized scooters (which you have seen on this website).
Actually, I have put on a very insightful mini movie moment that I captured the other day. Daniel was playing the piano, when Darren joined him for an impromptu piano lesson. I was quite impressed with his keyboard skills, and I'm sure you'll all agree with me (ha ha). Let me know if you recognize the song he is learning.
Okay... it's incredibly late now and I need to sleep.

See you next time.

Leonie