Who doesn’t love an OPM artist who can do a bit of everything?
The Voice Kids Philippines alumnus Darren Espanto just dropped his second album “Ikaw Pa Rin”—the first one in eight years—and we can say, it’s truly a testament to the growth of a singer who’s been in the industry for 11 years.
In the album launch last July 4, hosted by MYX’s very own resident VJ Samm, he delivered D’ Total Performances for six out of 13 tracks from “Ikaw Pa Rin,” namely “Bibitaw Na,” Can’t Buy Me Love” teleserye single “Iyo,” “Paano Kung Tayo Nalang,” Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Edition eviction song “Paalam Muna Sandali,” “Di Makaramdam,” and “ANNAB.”
Following the album launch, the official music video for ANNAB—a certified fan favorite—was also released on July 4.
According to Espanto, this new album signifies a new era and a more mature side for him as a musician who has grown with the industry. “I used to be someone who didn’t want to sing his original songs [...] but as an artist you’re supposed to produce your own songs and content—I have that in my mind now,” he opened up.
He also shared that he’s now more hands-on and not afraid to experiment with his music, evidenced by the versatility of themes and genres in “Ikaw Pa Rin”—ranging from pop, ballad, to retro songs.
“I really like the songs on this album kasi ako yung nagsulat nung ibang kanta,” Espanto said.
In working on his latest album, the teen pop sensation mentioned that they did not realize how long had passed since his last album. However, he believed that this unexpected turnout was also a way for the fans to hear the difference in his voice from a 16-year-old to a 24-year-old musician.
As he embarks on his new era as an OPM artist, Espanto dedicates “Ikaw Pa Rin” to the Darrenatics who waited eight years for new music, to everyone who loves music, and to those who just want to listen to something easy to listen to.
In the near future, the young musician hopes to release a song internationally and host a concert where 80 percent of the setlist is composed of his original songs.
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Written by Ana Rufa Padua, a fourth-year Communication student from the Ateneo de Manila University. With a passion for storytelling, she hopes to shed light on the various realities, lives, and phenomena surrounding the communities she covers. In her free time, she indulges herself in watching movies and listening to K-Pop.
Celebrated pop icon Darren Espanto has officially released his new single “Tama Na," on MCA Music Inc. Now ready to embark on a new phase in his career, the multi-awarded young artist distills pop, hip-hop, and R&B into a modern bop that radio wouldn’t mind spinning at the top of the hour. His latest track is a rhythmically charged tune that approaches the verses with edginess and the chorus with suave.
On top of a smooth, urban-leaning production and trap beats, Darren sings about giving up on the person that used to occupy a special place in his heart. “Ayokong masaktan ulit / Ayoko nang lumuha pa't maging biktima,” the 20-year-old pop sensation drops the bomb on the chorus, finally making sense of the situation that left him hanging for a long time.
“Tama Na” (Stop) is a song about unrequited love and finally finding the courage to walk away from a tedious, one-way relationship, which has done nothing but hurt your feelings. The song’s pitched-up samples, hard-hitting electronic beats, and hip-hop-informed sensibilities propel Darren’s soulful delivery to exciting new places. This gives Darren an extra push to showcase his versatility in terms of tone and appeal, turning his youthful fervor into something that resonates with the general public.
“Tama Na” is the latest collaboration between Darren Espanto and fellow hitmaker Zack Tabudlo, who wrote, produced, and mixed the track. According Darren, it has always been their plan to work together on a project, as he admits being a fan of Tabudlo’s music style and talent. “Last year, Zack told me how he became part of the MCA family and we thought that finally, this would be our chance to work together. In just a couple days, Zack created ‘Tama Na’ and I really liked the song instantly. It’s a sound that people haven’t heard from me before and it’s also a genre I’ve always wanted to try.”
A few months later, Zack and Darren went on a Zoom call to guide the latter throughout the entire recording process. Darren recalls, “It was honestly such a chill session, mostly because a lot of it was us just talking about random things that aren’t even related to the song.”
The song will be out in music video format really soon, and is slated to be part of Darren’s new album. With its aim to chart Darren’s evolution as both an artist and a performer, the upcoming record will be a major shift toward a more contemporary-leaning sound with dance and R&B music influences. It will also serve as his more artistically involved release so far, harnessing his songwriting skills and more.
At the moment, Darren Espanto is gearing up for his virtual concert on June 19—to be streamed live via KTX, get tickets here.
He also made headlines a few days ago when a new set of photos showing his new hunky physique went viral on Instagram. Darren’s new look sheds his teenybopper persona and taps into a more ‘grown’ vibe, marking the celebration of his 20th birthday with newfound adventurousness in style.
ABOUT DARREN ESPANTO:
In less than a decade, Filipino-Canadian artist Darren Espanto has made an impressive mark in the Philippine music industry with multiplatinum albums, sold-out concerts, acclaimed performances and No. 1 singles under his belt. Darren is considered as one of the most successful Filipino male pop/R&B artists of the last decade, having amassed more than a hundred million streams on Spotify, and more than a hundred million views on YouTube alone.
Known for his incredible vocal chops, stellar stage presence and fresh-faced appeal, he has achieved success not only as a recording star, but also as one of the country’s most sought-after brand ambassadors. He was recently appointed as the first celebrity Youth Advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and has been actively involved in programs related to climate change, biodiversity conservation, and youth empowerment.
In recent years, Darren Espanto has developed his passion for songwriting and producing, and has been technically hands on in several of his new releases. From one song to another, Darren is relentless in pushing the envelope of pop craftmanship by exploring other music genres, from electronic pop to modern R&B, and everything else in between. He has grown before our eyes from being a youthful crooner with outstanding pipes to finding his own voice and style. In a very competitive pop music landscape, Darren stands out as a refreshing and endearing personality whose music speaks to you on an intimate, personal level.
