After a triumph Australian promotional visit, 2023 Australian tour announcement and a headline performance at the 2022 Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade, award-winning songwriter and performer Darren Hayes shares his cheeky throwback video for his current single ‘Do You Remember?’
In the music video, which Darren Hayes co-directed and again wrote (this time with co-director and co-star Madeleine Coghlan) – the fictional 80’s world he has created for this new era continues. It’s laced with comedy high jinks, more choreography and an after credits gag reel that could rival most feature films.
The homage to an era doesn’t stop with the sound. Like the previous music video, almost a short film, Hayes continues to present a version of his past that is clearly a peach tinted re-imagining of his actual life. Timelines blur with the neon and pastel of the 1980’s sitting comfortably next to a Dandy-esque 60’s presentation of the singer portraying himself having a blast.
Written and recorded in Darren’s home base of Los Angeles, ‘Do You Remember?’ is another strong example of his re-energised talents as a solo songwriter, arranger and producer. From the top-down, each element of the track was conceptualised and executed by Darren himself, with mixing and mastering completed by Trevor Yasuda (Dua Lipa, Lana Del Rey) and Mike Bozzi (Childish Gambino, Janet Jackson) respectively.
Clearly inspired by the late 80’s drum-machine, synth-bass heavy R&B pop that influenced his youth, the song is a fascinating re-telling of Hayes’ first gay kiss. Keen Savage Garden fans will know the singer had previously tackled this topic in the 1999 song ‘Chained To You’ from the duo’s second album. “Acting like a mover shaker dancin’ to Madonna then you kissed me”, Hayes sang on the group’s sophmore record. Well, it’s 2022 and the fully out and proud Hayes 2.0 has had a chance to revisit this moment and re-tell it through a much more queer lens.
“I’m really enjoying having no commercial constraints this time ‘round. I know that’s not a smart thing to say at a time when songs are 2 minutes long, but there’s something so liberating about hitting the record button and not looking up until after the 6-minute mark and realizing that I now get to direct these little short films and pick out every single aspect of the way I present myself to the world. After so many years of being placed in a neat and tidy package, it’s nice to remember why I got into this business in the first place: to be an artist. Ok, and to be a pop star!” – DARREN HAYES
‘Watch the video for Do You Remember?’ – BELOW:
Darren Hayes will return to the Australian stages for the first time in over a decade in January/February 2023 with his ‘Do You Remember?’ Tour – 25 Years Of Savage Garden, Solo Hits And More!
DARREN HAYES AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES
Tickets available through www.darrenhayes.com
Tuesday, January 31st 2023 RAC Arena Perth
Monday, February 4th 2023 Sidney Myer Music Bowl Melbourne
Wednesday, February 7th 2023 Aware Super Theatre Sydney
Thursday, February 8th 2023 Entertainment Centre Newcastle
Saturday, February 11th 2023 Entertainment Centre Brisbane
Sunday, February 12th 2023 Convention & Exhibition Centre Gold Coast
‘Do You Remember?’ is out now via Powdered Sugar Productions
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