Journey into the mind of Daniel Johns
Image: Daniel Johns with Megan Holiday. Image: supplied
By Dale Barrett
Multi award winning ARIA artist, Daniel Johns is launching his most ambitious and career defining project yet, titled Past, Present & FutureNever. The project is a revolutionary art experience and opens in Melbourne from the 26th ofAugust – 9th October 2022. The experience explores Johns’ journey as an artist, navigating his way through the ‘90’s Australian grunge scene to his most recent album, FutureNever.
FutureNever has been praised by both fans and critics and has dominated the 2022 music charts, becoming the longest serving top #2, #3, #5 and #10 Australian album release this year.
Johns is hoping to follow up this album’s success with his exhibition in Melbourne. He describes it as “providing a greater insight into my creative process and personal life than any live concert could hope to achieve”.
This announcement coincides with the launch of Inside The Mind Of Daniel Johns. A three-part docu-series that recounts the artist’s illustrious career. In it, Johns discusses his nervous breakdown, struggles with self-medicating, his time in rehab, and his invitation to former band members from Silverchair to feature on the album FutureNever and his reaction to their rejection.
“I asked them because I wanted to make it clear that I don’t have an issue with them as people – I just didn’t want to play under the banner of Silverchair. Once I’d established myself as an artist outside of Silverchair. I asked them to come again and then when they didn’t want to, I didn’t care,” says Johns.
Despite the massive success of Johns’ latest album, it is in no part due to his involvement with its promotion.
“I haven’t been there at all to promote FutureNever, so for it to become the chart success it has is testament to the people who have been supporting me and I’m eternally grateful for the love.”
“For probably the first time in my life, I’ve sacrificed the art for both my physical and mental health. I had a nervous breakdown, I really f*cked up — I’ve been processing pain and guilt. I’m going on the record now to talk about the dark but also the light.”
Looking towards the future, Johns is collaborating with Australia’s record label BMG and award-winning exhibition creators at Radio Velvet in the hope of delivering an experience that will defy conventions and boundaries.
Through interactive instalments and iconic memorabilia, the Past, Present & FutureNever exhibition hopes to transport visitors into the creative, fascinating and haunting mind of Daniel Johns
Founder and managing director of Radio Velvet Angus Kingsmill rates the Past, Present & FutureNever as the best show they’ve ever presented:
“This exhibition stands alone in terms of detail and storytelling. Our biggest, yet most personal, spectacular and immersive to-date”.
$5 from every ticket sale will go to FutureNeverFund, a charitable fund created by Johns that aims to help build better futures for people and animals in need.
Past, Present & FutureNever
26 August – October 9, 2022
Rialto, Melbourne
radiovelvet.com
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Inside The Mind Of Daniel Johns
www.youtube.com/channel/UCw3HhsB4fKRYa6N-w2WG5Zw
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FutureNever
www.futurenever.art
