How Sarah G inspired Darren Espanto to release more original songs

July 29 ------ Following his first runner-up finish in “The Voice Kids Philippines” Season 1 in 2014, when he was 16, the now 24-year-old Darren Espanto has reflected on how much he has grown since then. To mark his 11th year in the entertainment business, he dropped a new album called “Ikaw Pa Rin” under Star Music.

Now entering a new chapter in his music career, he hoped to release and perform more of his original music. “I was 4’11 when I joined ‘The Voice Kids.’ Now I’m six feet tall. Literal growth,” quipped Darren when asked at a presscon how much he’s evolved as an artist.

On a serious note, the “more mature and perfectionist” Darren said he is no longer afraid to experiment in terms of his musicality. “I’m more verbal with what I want with my team. I used to always say yes before sa mga demo na binibigay for my album. But now, I’m more hands-on. “I can say that I’m a perfectionist when it comes to performing and also my music. I guess I’ve also learned to grow with the industry if that makes sense because I made plenty of adjustments, especially from being such an introvert. “As a guy from Canada, now I know how to (navigate things). I’m able to host (‘It’s) Showtime’ now. So lumalabas yung personality ko lalo and that’s some of the things I work on with myself. And that’s part of my growth also.”

The young music artist described this particular moment of his career as a “new beginning and new era,” noting how his discography has likewise changed throughout the years. “And now, I already know the songs that I want to release and produce. And so it’s the start of a new era.”

And like what he said in his previous interviews, his fans called DARRENatics could see his “more mature side” at the present time. “It’s a different Darren. Mas matandang Darren ang maririnig niyo. It’s really true. I feel like I just continue to grow in the music industry and I never stopped learning as well. So I feel in every release, there’s maturity that comes with it. There are more lessons and learnings, and (there’s more) growth in every release that I do.”

As someone who used to be shy about singing his original tracks, Darren has become more appreciative of his own music now. “I used to be someone who didn’t want to sing his original songs,” he recalled. “Whenever I was invited to perform at events or mall shows, I used to sing covers. Because tingin ko parang dito mas mag-e-enjoy yung mga tao and they could relate more, not knowing that as an artist dapat alam mo sa sarili mo na you should be singing your own songs.”

This is also one of the insights that he learned from the Original Pilipino Music key figures, including Jonathan Manalo and Darren’s former coach at “The Voice Kids Philippines” Sarah Geronimo. The latter told him to keep on releasing songs and producing content. “She’s one one of my inspirations in composing songs. Like, ‘Oo nga no?’ As an artist, you should be writing your own songs and producing your own music, content and stuff like that. “Now, I have that in my mind na parang kahit sa mga mall shows or corporate events I try to sing some few original songs and some covers as well even in my concerts.” Keeping that in mind, it’s his goal to stage a concert composed of 80 percent original ditties.

Moreover, Darren’s “Ikaw Pa Rin” was three years in the making. Some of the songs in the album he penned back in 2021. The long play record is made up of Bibitaw Na, Hanggang Kailan, Ilang Beses, Iyo and Paano Kung Tayo Na Lang?, which he co-wrote with Angela Ken, and the “PBB: Celebrity Collab Edition” eviction theme song, Paalam Muna Sandali. Darren collaborated with DJ M.O.D. for the title track, Ikaw Pa Rin and ANNAB. The music video of ANNAB featuring Ashley del Mundo is available on ABS-CBN Star Music YouTube channel. He also worked with Belle Mariano, giving a fresh take on Dati. The other tracks include Duyan, which he performed with Manalo, who also co-wrote the song with Robert Calma, Di Makaramdam and Miss.

Source: philstar.com