Darren Hayes makes out with Scott Evans in video for comeback single ‘Let’s Try Being In Love’
The former Savage Garden frontman is done holding back as he releases his first new music in 10 years.
By Will Stroude
Words: Will Stroude; Image: YouTube, Darren Hayes
Darren Hayes has released his first new music in 10 years with comeback single ‘Let’s Try Being In Love’ – and the former Savage Garden frontman is putting his sexuality front and centre as he makes out with actor Scott Evans in the track’s arrestingly steamy video.
Directed by Andrew Putschoegl and written and art directed by Hayes, the newly-released visual sees the ‘Truly, Madly, Deeply’ singer’s character involved in an illicit tryst with a man played by Evans (the out and proud brother of Captain American star Chris Evans).
‘Let’s Try Being In Love’ marks Hayes first return to music since 2011 album Secret Codes And Battleships, and the Australian chart-topper says the track serves “as a reflection from a man on life, love, regret and realisation”.
“I wanted to show I love the feminine in me, be proud of the gay me”
Hayes, who was married to make-up artist Colby Taylor from 1994 to 2000, explains that the video for ‘Let’s Try Being In Love’ was inspired by his own struggles with his sexuality.
“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,” he reveals.
“I wanted to show I love the feminine in me, be proud of the gay me. There’s a dance scene that is so passionate, everything’s alive and thriving and blooming. That’s how I feel in general about music. And that’s a hugely sharp contrast to how I felt 10 years ago.”
As part of Savage Garden, Hayes, 49, dominated the airwaves and the charts in the late ’90s with hits including ‘I Want You’, ‘To The Moon and Back’ and ‘Truly, Madly, Deeply’.
“A lot of the time I was my most famous, I was deeply sad”
After coming out privately to friends and colleagues in the early 2000s, Hayes launched a solo career in 2002 with his debut album Spin. He later came out publicly in 2006, the day before entering into a civil partnership with British director and screenwriter Richard Cullen.
“I’ve been married to Richard for almost 17 years, I’m in this really comfortable place in my life”, reflects Hayes as he launches this brand new musical chapter.
“But at the same time at mid-life I’m grieving the fact I never got to celebrate who I really was at the period of my life where I was most famous.”
He adds: “I look at this world we live in now where someone like Lil Nas X can push forward his true self, full of pride and self-love and have the chance to be loved for who he truly is. I was realising with great sadness that I didn’t get that experience.
“A lot of the time I was my most famous, I was deeply sad.”
Coinciding with the release of ‘Let’s Try Being in Love’ comes the news that Hayes will headline the 2022 Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday 5 March.
Watch the video for Darren Hayes’ ‘Let’s Try Being In Love’ below: