.
Search

Follow Us

Edit Content
  • News
  • Exclusives
  • New Music
  • Reviews
  • Caught Live
  • Future Pop
  • News
  • Exclusives
  • New Music
  • Reviews
  • Caught Live
  • Future Pop
Facebook Instagram Spotify Tiktok
RPM031 Menu-3
  • NEWS
    • All
    • 1980s
    • 1990s
    • 2000s
    • Pop
    • R&B / Hip-Hop
    • Dance
    • Rock
    • All
    • 1980s
    • 1990s
    • 2000s
    • Pop
    • R&B / Hip-Hop
    • Dance
    • Rock
    Deacon Blue Credit Cameron Brisbane

    Deacon Blue star James Prime dies aged 64

    The musician was rushed to hospital last week, at which time it was confirmed that he would be exiting Deacon Blue’s upcoming tour.

    Mariah Carey Type Dangerous Artwork Credit gamma-4

    Mariah Carey secures landmark 50th Hot 100 single

    Earlier this year, Mariah Carey returned to No. 1 on the Hot 100 with her holiday classic, All I Want For Christmas I You.

    Paul Weller Find El Dorado Press Handout Credit Dean Chalkley-4

    Paul Weller shares cover of Bee Gees classic I Started A Joke

    Due July 25, ‘Find El Dorado’ features 14 reworkings of classic songs and sees Paul Weller make his return to the Parlophone label.

    Pulp More 2025 Press Handout Credit Tom Jackson-4

    Pulp land first UK No. 1 album in 27 years

    The eighth studio album from Pulp becomes their first chart-topper since 1998’s ‘This Is Hardcore’ and is their sixth Top 40 LP overall.

  • EXCLUSIVES
    • All
    • 1980s
    • 1990s
    • 2000s
    • Pop
    • R&B / Hip-Hop
    • Dance
    • Rock
    • All
    • 1980s
    • 1990s
    • 2000s
    • Pop
    • R&B / Hip-Hop
    • Dance
    • Rock
    Cascada Studio 24 Handout-4

    Cascada on her Studio 54-inspired new album and 20 years of global hits [Exclusive]

    As they return with their fifth album, Cascada’s Natalie Horler looks back on 20 years of hits and reacts to her recent interview that went viral online.

    Nicki French Who, What, Where Handout Energise-4

    Nicki French considered Eurovision return with new album track: ‘Would they really go for a 60 year old singer… again?’ [Exclusive]

    As she returns with her new album, Nicki French reveals she almost submitted one track into the running for next year’s Eurovision.

    Pixie Lott Encino Press Handout-4

    Pixie Lott talks new album Encino: ‘When you fall into your authentic self, that’s when the magic happens’ [Exclusive]

    A decade after releasing her self-titled third album, Pixie Lott returns with a body of work that reflects the place she’s at in her life today.

    Betty Boo Rip Up The Rulebook Credit Sandro Hyams-4

    Betty Boo: ‘It’s a philosophy that I have to not let anybody tell you that you can’t be who you want to be!’ [Exclusive]

    As she returns with her epic new album ‘Rip Up The Rulebook’, Betty Boo opens up about creating her most diverse work to date.

  • NEW MUSIC
  • REVIEWS
    • All
    • 1980s
    • 1990s
    • 2000s
    • Pop
    • R&B / Hip-Hop
    • Dance
    • Rock
    • All
    • 1980s
    • 1990s
    • 2000s
    • Pop
    • R&B / Hip-Hop
    • Dance
    • Rock
    Tom Aspaul Cabin Fever Artwork

    Tom Aspaul – Cabin Fever

    Kim Wilde Closer Artwork Cherry Red

    Kim Wilde – Closer

    Gwen Stefani Bouquet

    Gwen Stefani – Bouquet

    Cascada Studio 24

    Cascada – Studio 24

  • CAUGHT LIVE
  • FUTUREPOP
  • RELEASE RADAR
Home News New Music

Darren Hayes pays tribute to Pulse nightclub shooting victims on latest single ‘All You Pretty Things’ 

Connor Gotto by Connor Gotto
September 28, 2022
in New Music, News
Darren Hayes Let's Try Being In Love

Lindsay Adler

18
SHARES
180
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Darren Hayes’ latest single All You Pretty Things is a tribute to the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida. 

On June 12, 2016, 49 people were killed and 53 others wounded in a brutal mass shooting at the LGBTQ+ venue, after a gunman opened fire during a “Latin Night”.

Don't Miss...

Darren Hayes sets 2024 release for debut memoir

Darren Hayes shares poignant Feels Like It’s Over music video

Announcing the release of his new track, lifted from the new album ‘Homosexual’, Darren opened up about its significance in a statement on social media. 

“In 2016, 49 people lost their lives at the Pulse nightclub shooting in Florida,” he penned. “Like all of you I was devastated by the horror of this violent act upon the mostly Latin LGBTQ+ community.  

“‘All You Pretty Things’ is my tribute to those we lost.”

‘Homosexual’ is out October 7 and available to pre-order now. Darren will play live dates across Australia and the UK beginning January 2023.

Darren recently released Poison Blood, his third single since staging a comeback earlier this year, and opened up about his new music in the May 2022 edition of Retro Pop, admitting life as a pop star today is more enjoyable than it was back in the 1990s. .

“The gay experience really hit me and really touched me, because I finally understood that wow, I was 24, 25, 26, at the height of my fame, therefore I was most famous when I was still struggling with my self-identification,” he says.

“I had all this attention thrust at me when I didn’t know who the fuck I was. I had been married to a woman I was divorcing but in private. Most people didn’t even know I had been married to a woman and yet I was coming out and trying to express myself through my fashion, through all my Jean-Paul Gautier outfits, and painting my nails. 

“I was so struggling with my sexuality and trying to find my place in a world before ‘Drag Race’, ‘Will & Grace’, Lil Nas X, Troye Sivan, or Will Young. Those people and pioneers didn’t really exist.”

The increase in representation and an increasingly diverse media landscape marks a welcome change from the climate in which Darren found early success, which he admits was “stifling”.

“My experience of being a pop star in the ‘90s was, ‘You’re fine as long as you’re not gay.’ You had all these boybands and teen heartthrobs but god forbid if you’re gay,” he explains. “It was incredibly suffocating and for me, as someone who was literally buried by a major label the minute I came out, it was incredibly stifling.” 

The hitmaker adds: “There was a huge pressure back then to ‘out’ people and the misconception about me is that I was in the closet, but nothing could have been further from the truth. I was out, I tried to be so much more out because I thought, if I just came out, it would solve all my problems. 

“It took me a long time to have self-love and get rid of the toxic shame in the internalised homophobia that a lot of gay men have to go through to come out on the other side and love themselves. I was very depressed and had suicidal thoughts during that period and, had social media been around that time, I don’t know if I’d be here. It was a really tough time for me. I did as well as I could, I’m proud of the fact that I lived an authentic life and throughout my music, even during the Savage Garden days, I was really desperately trying and asking for help in my songs.”

Now, however, things are different, and it’s a relief for the superstar to return to the stage in 2022 and feel liberated to present his authentic self. 

“It’s much more vibrant and liberating to be an artist today… I never fell out of love with music, I think it was the industry actually,” he believes, adding, “I’m sure a 23-year-old will listen to my story and be surprised there was a time when you couldn’t be gay.”

READ MORE: Darren Hayes: ‘The ‘90s was stifling – it’s much more liberating to be an artist today!’

Tags: Darren Hayes
Connor Gotto

Connor Gotto

Founder and editor of RETROPOP. Self-proclaimed pop aficionado. Usually seen with a wine in hand.

More Like This

Darren Hayes 2022 Press
News

Darren Hayes sets 2024 release for debut memoir

by Connor Gotto
June 27, 2023
Darren Hayes Credit James Reese (2)
News

Darren Hayes shares poignant Feels Like It’s Over music video

by Connor Gotto
May 2, 2023
Darren Hayes Credit Lindsay Adler
New Music

Darren Hayes shares 12” Extended Mix of ‘All You Pretty Things’

by Connor Gotto
October 31, 2022
Darren Hayes Homosexual
Reviews

Darren Hayes – Homosexual

by Connor Gotto
October 6, 2022
Darren Hayes Credit Lindsay Adler Homosexual 2022
News

Darren Hayes announces long-awaited fifth solo album ‘Homosexual’

by Connor Gotto
August 18, 2022

Follow Us

The RETROPOP Edit

Never miss a story - sign up to RETROPOP's Daily Edit newsletter for free!

Please wait...

You're in! Keep an eye on your inbox for all the latest!

The Latest

Deacon Blue Credit Cameron Brisbane

Deacon Blue star James Prime dies aged 64

June 20, 2025
Mariah Carey Type Dangerous Artwork Credit gamma-4

Mariah Carey secures landmark 50th Hot 100 single

June 18, 2025
Amy MacDonald Is This What You've Been Waiting For Press Handout Credit Olivia Rose-4

Amy MacDonald drops new track Can You Hear Me? from forthcoming album

June 18, 2025
RETROPOP No. 31 : Sept '24
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
Change privacy settings
MEDIA KIT

RETROPOP participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.

Copyright © 2025 Irresistible. All rights reserved.

  • Home
    • Home – Layout 1
    • Home – Layout 2
    • Home – Layout 3
  • News
  • Fashion

© 2025 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

CloseMenu

New issue out now

SHOP HERE