New podcast unpacks mystery of Silverchair frontman Daniel Johns

A new podcast unpacks the mystery surrounding former Silverchair frontman Daniel Johns, pulling the listener into the darkness of the reclusive musician.

Album art for Spotify's new podcast Who Is Daniel Johns?. Picture: Supplied

There’s an emerging trend of artists reclaiming identities crushed by the machine of celebrity culture.

The most prominent example is pop star Britney Spears, who has been embraced after being annihilated by the fratboy tabloid sensibilities of the noughties as the world gained a greater understanding of mental health and sexism.

Even Monica Lewinsky has found redemption in a world recalibrated by #MeToo that understands the difference in power and responsibility between an intern and the US president.

Now the reclusive Daniel Johns, former frontman of Australian rock band Silverchair, has emerged from his shell in a new podcast by streaming platform Spotify.

Produced by Kaitlyn Sawrey, Amelia Chappelow and Frank Lopez, Who is Daniel Johns? attempts to unpack the mystery surrounding the musician.

Interviewing Johns, his friends and management, the first two episodes unpack the shock of sudden success in the mid-90s on the teenager when his band became a household name and the backlash he faced in his home city of Newcastle, NSW.

Silverchair bassist Chris Joannou, singer Daniel Johns and Ben Gillies in 1994.

Most teenagers feel misunderstood. Few teenagers tour Europe with a bodyguard carrying grenades.

And while these days, Harry Styles can grace the cover of Vogue wearing a dress, teenage boys in make up 30 years ago were mercilessly bullied. Especially if they were being hailed as the next Kurt Cobain in the US.

The podcast achieves a rare intimacy with Johns, 42, who has a complicated history with the media, taking the listener deep into his teenage darkness after Silverchair catapulted to fame with the release of Frogstomp in 1995.

The listener feels present alongside Johns as he recalls as a teen sheltering in his bedroom, smoking weed and blasting punk music, trying to understand his mind at a time when mental health wasn’t talked about.

At times in the podcast it seems Johns is still trapped there, caught permanently in the headlights of fame and adolescent alienation.

Who is Daniel Johns? describes the musician as an enigma but left Review wondering if the musician was really that hard to understand. The more complicated question is whether we are ready to listen.

Listen to Who is Daniel Johns? on Spotify