Darren Hayes said that music saved his life after coming to terms with his sexuality left him on the "brink of suicide".
The Savage Garden singer who came out in 2001, said he wanted to be his "true authentic self".
The musician, 50, was married to Colby Taylor from 1994 to 2000, but said that he was "containing secrets" and was "deeply unhappy".
The 2001 break down of the band - who are best known for their tracks Truly Madly Deeply and I Want You - led to him being open about being gay.
In an op-ed with People, he said his new album "saved his life".
"I was in a dark place, emotionally, not understanding that just like my sexuality, my creative outlet is a huge part of the person I am and by denying that, I was denying an essential part of me," he said.
Darren said how being out of the spotlight for a decade allowed him to learn more about himself, calling the time a "life line".
"I realised that I had never truly been myself at the height of my fame and commercial success," he admitted.
"It would have been a huge regret of mine to have retired from the public eye without having come back to the world as my true authentic self."
Despite Darren and the band having two Billboard No.1 singles and touring around the world, he told The HuffPost: "Yet no one knew I was deeply unhappy, barely containing secrets that would soon devastate me emotionally and send me to the brink of suicide at the height of my fame."
"Because I have embraced myself fully in my art, I no longer feel the shame and stigma around my sexuality or my mental health," he said.
He added: "I openly speak about both because I believe they are connected, and by speaking about what most embarrasses us, it's my hope that bringing light to sadness drives away the darkness."
During his marriage to Colby, he said that he battled "internalised homophobia" against himself but after working through it, he realised that he was a "strong, beautiful and loving person".
Darren, who is currently working on his solo career, has announced his first UK tour in 10 years.
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The Australian-born singer, who lives in the US, has sold over 30 million albums alongside Daniel Jones.
In his newest track Poison Blood he has poured his heart into the lyrics and tackled the stigmas around mental illness.
He married his husband Richard Cullen in 2013 after saying it was "love at first sight".
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