In the last couple of years, Australian rocker Darren Hayes has gone solo big time. He got divorced from Colby Taylor, his wife of six years, and, more shocking to fans, he ended a 10-year partnership with Daniel Jones, the other half of his top-selling duo, Savage Garden.

At first, Hayes,29, was nervous. So much so that when Jones first proposed splitting after they recorded their 1999 chart topper, "Affirmation" Hayes pleaded with him to tour and reconsider.

But when that tour was over, it was clear that Savage Garden couldn't be salvaged. A year and a complete album later. Hayes, who now lives in San Francisco, said, "I feel unleashed. It's like school's out".

His album, "Spin" will hit stores on Tuesday.

Post: You were half of one of the popular and respected bands in pop music. What went wrong?
Hayes: If Daniel (Jones) hasn't wanted to get out of savage garden, we would still be making music. It was his choice. There was no animosity. He just realized that he didn't want to a pop star anymore.

Post: So the solution was to kill the band?
Hayes: Yes. On the last tour, we really had to work to convince him to stick with it. I had to seriously think about my future. It was hard, because I couldn't imagine a future outside of Savage Garden. The band was my life.

Post: Did he do you a favor by splitting?
Hayes: I didn't think so then, but when I look back now, I think, yeah. It was a wise decision. We had exhausted our ability for collaboration. I think we were bored with each other.

Post: Are you guys friendly with each other?
Hayes: I haven't spoken to him for a while. It was a decision by him, and I felt like I was getting blamed for the break-up.

Post: What did making this album do for you?
Hayes: It made me realize what my strengths and weakness are.

Post: What's your greatest strength?
Hayes: Probably melody. As a lead signer and the guy who wrote the lyrics, people assumed I'm just into words, but it's melody.

Post: Savage Garden was a pop band. Your new disc has pop elements to it, but it really is very R&B.
Hayes: I know. Somebody recently paid me a great compliment. They said I made a better Michael Jackson album than Michael Jackson.

Post: How does a white kid from Australia do that?
Hayes: I grew up listening to Michael, Steve Wonder and all these Motown records. It wasn't cool to listen to that stuff in my small town. Everybody else was listening to INXS, but Motown shaped the way I sing and write.

Post: Other than when you're making music, when are you most at peace?
Hayes: When I scuba dive. When I learned to scuba dive, and I learned to lose control.

Post: Lose Control?
Hayes: When you're underwater, you have to let go of yourself-lose control. Then you feel the peace. I'm control freak. My mind rarely switches off.

Post: It sounds calming, but very isolating.
Hayes: It isn't. When you go down with someone you love. It's romantic.

Post: Really?
Hayes: Not in a traditional sense, but it is beautiful, because the only way you can communicate is with your eyes. It's interesting for me. I'm a singer and I have to work in a world without my voice.

Post: You're had some rough times. You and your wife were divorced two years ago. Your musical relationship has imploded. Has it made you a more serious person?
Hayes: I'm a goofball, but I'm also a really affectionate person. I don't understand not being happy. When I love something, I love it with all my heart. I'm a Taurus, and that sign is about the sense. Life has to be fun.

Post: How about an example that would describe your personality.
Hayes: The other day, we had a food fight in the hallway of the hotel where we were staying. It was fun, and When it was over, I went out and cleaned it all up. That's the kind of person I am reckless but responsible. I'm a romantic.