Daniel Johns – In Conversation: What If The Future Never Happened?

Daniel Johns live In Conversation at Civic Theatre, Newcastle | 07 November 2025

On a warm Newcastle night, fans gathered for something far more intimate than a standard gig, a deep dive into the creative mind of one of Australia’s most enigmatic artists. What If The Future Never Happened wasn’t just a talk show or a film screening; it was an experience, a window into Daniel Johns’ world, told through stories, unreleased music, and cinematic reflection. What unfolded was part confessional, part celebration, and entirely Daniel Johns.

The evening began with Dylan Lewis taking the stage as host. Dylan, known for his work on The Recovery, the hugely popular Australian music TV show from the 1990s, welcomed the audience and gave a quick rundown of what to expect.

He explained that the night would include a live conversation with Daniel Johns, former frontman of Silverchair and now a successful solo artist, followed by the screening of a film towards the end of the event.

When Daniel Johns appeared on stage, he was met with a rousing applause and cheers from the crowd. The atmosphere had a distinctly rock-and-roll energy, fitting for Johns’ legacy and personality. The stage itself was designed to resemble Daniel’s own lounge room, creating an intimate, lived-in setting for the conversation to unfold.

The chat between Daniel and Dylan felt casual and unguarded, like two old friends reminiscing about music, creativity, and the unpredictable turns of life. Later, photographer Luke Eblen joined them on the lounge to talk about documenting different moments of Daniel’s journey. The trio shared stories of living together, creative chaos, and the mutual inspiration that shaped some of Daniel’s most personal work. Eblen’s photographs, projected behind them, revealed a softer, more human side to the artist, one that exists far from the glare of the spotlight.

The night’s true highlights came in the form of unheard material, treasures pulled from Johns’ vault. Fans were treated to “All the Time in the World,” an unreleased track from the Neon Ballroom era, and an early demo of “Emotion Sickness” that offered a rare glimpse into the evolution of one of Silverchair’s most iconic songs. A brand-new demo titled “Hello” hinted at where Johns’ creative compass may be pointing next, atmospheric, introspective, and deeply textured.

A live video performance of “Freak” from the Laneway Festival injected fresh life into the night, reimagining the classic with a new, layered intensity, part heavy rock, part reinvention. It was a bold reminder of how Daniel continues to revisit and reshape his legacy without ever losing its emotional gravity.

Throughout the talk, fans approached the stage with heartfelt gifts — artwork, letters, and messages of gratitude. Johns accepted each one graciously, often addressing the audience as “family.” His affection for his hometown was palpable; his words carried a deep, enduring love for Newcastle, the city he still proudly calls home. That connection, both to place and to people, underscored the entire night, a reminder that no matter how far his music travels, Daniel Johns’ story remains rooted in the soil that raised him.

As the evening drew toward the intermission, director James Medlam joined Johns and Lewis on stage to discuss the making of the film. Medlam described What If The Future Never Happened as a love letter to Newcastle, a tribute to the city’s people, its music, and to the younger selves that shaped who we become. The film, he explained, blurs the lines of past, present, and future, inviting audiences to reflect on their own stories and ask, what would you tell your younger self?

Medlam spoke warmly of the process, calling it one of the most rewarding creative experiences of his career, a collaboration grounded in trust, heart, and shared vision. Together, he and Johns set out to capture something timeless, a cinematic journey that revisits the past but brings back something new and deeply personal.

As the talk portion came to a close, Johns thanked everyone for coming, his voice full of warmth and gratitude. The night had been emotional but relaxed, filled with laughter, stories, and a genuine sense of closeness between artist and audience. Daniel Johns remains one of Australia’s most beloved and enigmatic musicians, a songwriter whose work runs deep through the national psyche. There was no mention of a Silverchair reunion, and perhaps there doesn’t need to be. Any new music from him, in any form, would be a welcome addition to his already diverse and powerful body of work.

After Johns and Lewis left the stage, a brief intermission followed before the lights dimmed once more. It was time for the audience to step inside the cinematic world of What If the Future Never Happened?, a short film that promised to blur the lines between memory, imagination, and melody.

The film itself plays like part sci-fi, part biography, a surreal yet heartfelt glimpse into the genesis of Silverchair and the early creative sparks that shaped Daniel Johns’ musical life. Without revealing too much, it’s a vivid and emotional snapshot of a young artist’s awakening, filtered through the lens of time and introspection.

It’s brief, beautifully shot, and deeply personal, a reminder of where it all began, and how far Johns has come. As the credits rolled, the audience was left with a sense of satisfaction and quiet awe. What If The Future Never Happened wasn’t just a show or a screening; it was an experience, a night that celebrated nostalgia, creativity, and the constant evolution of one of Australia’s most intriguing musical minds.