Now 25 years, and 25 million-plus album sales later, frontman Darren Hayes re-enters the pop fray as an independent artist, having declined the overtures of the big music machine. His comeback single Let’s Try Being In Love and next week’s fresh track Do You Remember? are released via his own imprint, Powdered Sugar Productions. Maintaining creative control over his new pop sound may have been his motivation to stay indie, but Hayes also remains scarred by the shelving of his debut solo album Spin, released 20 years ago, because of “that kind of homophobia of the music industry back in the early 2000s.” Hayes said after Sony record executives in New York at the time saw the music video for his first single, Insatiable, they dropped their support for the record, even as it became a hit in Australia and the UK. “It came from the top in New York and the message was, ‘He looks gay when he moves, so we have to reshoot that video, and don’t let him dance. We don’t know what to do with this’,” Hayes said. “It was heartbreaking. I was sent off to the UK where the album was huge and that gave me a career in Europe. But my career in Australia was effectively stopped too, that’s my bittersweet memories of that album.” Hayes makes a triumphant homecoming this week to headline the 2022 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras with his new music and some throwbacks. And to unveil his plans to return in early 2023 with the Do You Remember? national tour celebrating the 25th anniversary of Savage Garden’s self-titled debut album and his solo hits. He said after a decade off the concert stage, getting back in front of his fans would be like a “family reunion”.“I want this tour to be a true retrospective, reuniting with that (Savage Garden) music and loving it,” Hayes said.He said after a decade off the concert stage, getting back in front of his fans would be like a “family reunion”.“I want this tour to be a true retrospective, reuniting with that (Savage Garden) music and loving it,” Hayes said.“And I’m also feeling really alive with the new music; performing in front of the camera for the videos for Let’s Try Being In Love and now Do You Remember? made me feel like the ultimate pop star!” Hayes kicks off the 2023 Do You Remember? tour at the RAC Arena in Perth on January 31, then heads to Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne on February 4, Aware Super Theatre, Sydney on February 7, Newcastle Entertainment Centre on February 8, Brisbane Entertainment Centre on February 11 and Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre on February 12. Tickets go on sale March 10 via www.tegdainty.com
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