Darren Hayes has arrived back home in Australia and has shared the powerful meaning behind his big return to Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
The former Savage Garden frontman is headlining the Parade inside the Sydney Cricket Ground on March 5.
Hayes recently released his first track in a decade, Let’s Try Being In Love, which he’ll perform at the big event in a fortnight.
He explained to the The Project that at one point, he didn’t think he was ever going to return to music.
“I was 13 years old when I really decided to do this for a living. When you have dreams, you plant a seed and I hadn’t planted a seed since I was 13,” he said.
“After I turned 40, I was in the UK and I came off stage. It was 2011 or 2012.
“I fell into my husband’s arms and I was just exhausted. I didn’t know it at the time but there was a whole new process that I had to go through.
“A huge part of it was that I’d never embraced my sexuality in my career.
“At the height of my Savage Garden fame – as much as I appreciate everything that happened to me – I was being celebrated and loved and I think I had impostor syndrome.
“By the time I had hit my 40s and my life was starting to take stock, I realised there was this deep sadness in me. I didn’t know what that was.
“I needed some time away to think about that and work myself out.”
Finally back home in Australia for the first time in three years. I’m grateful for vaccines and face masks and science for making it possible – and I’m SO EXCITED to get into rehearsals for #sydneymardigras – but now… SLEEP! LA to SYD 15 hour flight is ROUGH.
— Darren Hayes (@darrenhayes) February 20, 2022
Darren Hayes returns to Mardi Gras as his ‘full self’
The singer previously headlined the Mardi Gras’ Party event in 2005. But he said this was before he’d come out publicly as gay.
“To have been chosen and been asked to come home and be a part of this is a really big deal for me,” he told The Project.
“Seventeen years ago, I did this and I was not out. I was not in a great place with myself and with my mental health.
“It was maybe five months before I met my husband. We’ve been married for 17 years now.
“The timing of this is really beautiful and serendipitous. I get to come home, see my family and celebrate with all of you.
“I get to stand on a stage as my full self, really proud of myself and that’s going to be really emotional for me.
“I’m so desperate to have some fun.”
The 2022 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is officially underway. There’s events across New South Wales before the Parade at the SCG on March 5.
Joining Hayes on the Parade lineup is Vanessa Amorosi, singer songwriter Mo’Ju and more.
For the latest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) news in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Check out our latest magazines or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
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