Fans of Darren Hayes and Savage Garden will be delighted to learn that the singer will be returning to Sydney for the annual Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade which is due to take place on 5 March 2022. The performance at this year’s Mardi Gras will mark the first performance by Hayes in over a decade.
Albert Kruger, CEO of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras says:
This Mardi Gras, an Australian queer icon returns home to join us for a night of celebration and pride. We’re incredibly pleased to have Darren Hayes join us as a headline performer for the 2022 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade. Local fans have been waiting a long time for this, and we know the audience are going to love what he has planned for the night!
But wait, there’s more…
Not only will Hayes be performing in Sydney, but he is set to release new music! HIs new single ‘Let’s Try Being In Love’ marks the first song written, produced, arranged and performed by Hayes himself.
Hayes formed one half of Savage Garden with Daniel Johns. The group had numerous hits during the 90s and sold 30 million records worldwide. The band broke up in 2001.
Hayes, who has been married to partner Richard Cullen for 17 years has been inspired by artists such as Lil Nas X who Hayes feels is able to celebrate his sexuality with pride. Unfortunately for Hayes, this was not the case for him at the time the Savage Garden were at their most famous, he suffered and was ‘deeply sad’ because he felt that he was unable to be true to himself.
He has spoken about how artists such as Patrick Cowley and Shep Pettibone as well as the the movie, ‘Call Me By Your Name’ have inspired him to write new music which has allowed him to reflect on life, love and regret with more openness.
The music video for ‘Let’s Try Being In Love was directed by Andrew Putschogel and stars Scott Evans (brother of actor Chris Evans). It depicts Hayes navigating two aspects of himself. Surprisingly, this is the first music video in which Hayes has appeared as a love interest. Hayes says:
In the music video I’m looking back on that first period of my life where I’m married to a woman. I’m realising that in order to be free I have to destroy something beautiful and innocent. Scott’s character represents the freight train of my future sexuality and that’s gonna emerge no matter what.
‘Let’s Try Being In Love’ is being released via Powdered Sugar Productions on 27 January 2022 and is available to download and stream here.
The Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade takes place on 5 March 2022 and tickets can be obtained here.
Feature Photograph: James Reese
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