DARREN Hayes was known to millions as one half of the internationally successful pop act Savage Garden. The duo sold 22 million copies of their two albums and topped the charts around the world.

With songs like Truly Madly Deeply and To The Moon And Back it seemed like nothing could stop the Australian duo. Then Hayes's partner in rhyme Daniel Jones announced he wanted to quit.

Sitting in a London Hotel Hayes looks relaxed about the prospect of going solo. His familiar black spiky hair has gone and been replaced with flowing blond locks. "It's my natural hair," he says.

Although his first solo album Spin is only released this week he reveals that in reality Savage Garden were coming to an end two years ago.

The 29-year-old pop star says: "Essentially it was Daniel's decision a long time ago to finish the band. We had known each other since we were 18 years old. We had two great albums and it was a real roller coaster ride.

"But in reality Daniel didn't want to be someone in the public spotlight. He felt very miscast in that role. For a lot of the time I felt like I was dragging him along. "At the time I wasn't allowed to talk about what was going on. But Daniel didn't feel happy so I did doing all the press interviews.

"It was a difficult time as we were touring with the album knowing what was going on in the background. For some time I wasn't even sure that I would be able to record as a solo performer after we split up."

While he was more than happy to be Savage Garden's frontman Hayes admits that striking out on his own has been a quick learning curve. "Recording the album was scary. I had never written anything without Daniel. All of a sudden I was thinking How much of the Savage Garden magic is me?'. I doubted myself - for two minutes," he laughs.

"But then I knew I had to move on. In the end I wrote 35 songs. By the time I got round to recording I felt pretty cool about everything. Going solo has made me feel like I did when I was 18 and wanted a record deal more than anything in the world."

The album was recorded in San Francisco which these days also doubles as Hayes's home.

"It's like hippy-ville," he laughs.

It was great. I can go to my yoga studio in the morning and be recording in the afternoon.

"I had spent the previous six years living out of a suitcase. It was great just having time to relax. I got a real craving to spend some time at home. Hayes says he is still reaping the benefits of taking time out.

"At the moment I feel so refreshed. I feel younger, more energetic and positive than I have done in a long time. That is down to the fact that I had denied myself a life for the six years while I was part of Savage Garden."

His debut single Insatiable has just entered the Top 10 and received a favourable reaction from former Savage Garden fans and radio stations. While the album might surprise some people.

"It's still me but, in some ways, I'm a new artist. It's like starting all over again," he said.