DARREN EMBARKS ON A CAREER-TURNING NEW PHASE WITH THE RELEASE OF “TAMA NA”

LISTEN NOW: DarrenEspanto.lnk.to/TamaNa

Celebrated pop icon Darren Espanto has officially released his new single "Tama Na"—out today 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" 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 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.

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.

Darren is on the cover of Spotify’s New Music Friday Philippines

Follow Darren to get the latest updates:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube

Follow MCA Music for more updates:

Facebook  |  Instagram  |  Twitter  |  YouTube  |  Tiktok

Iconic Filipino singer-songwriters to take the virtual stage for ‘ALPAS’ concert

Acclaimed and award-winning solo artists Ebe Dancel, Johnoy Danao, Bullet Dumas, Barbie Almalbis, Aia de Leon, and Kitchie Nadal are coming together for a virtual concert that offers an exciting music experience at the comforts of every music fan’s home.

Literally defined as "breaking free," ALPAS is a digital show produced by kumu, an online community platform for livestreamers, and GNN Entertainment, a Manila-based music events and PR agency. The event is a flagship effort between the two producers to keep the live music scene alive while public life is on lockdown.

With new security and health protocols in place, the virtual showcase will be shot in advance somewhere in a 'familiar' music venue that serves as second home to a lot of progressive-leaning acts and independent bands, and in Spain, where one of its artists, Kitchie Nadal is currently based. Expect the iconic singer-songwriters to perform their biggest hits and rarities in a stripped-down format, and collaborate for a special 'medley' number arranged by renowned musical director, Ronaldo Tomas.

"Music feels more essential than usual in the time of pandemic," - kumu Live Events Manager Lorraine Alelis

"It’s quite challenging to find a sustainable workaround to help artists connect with their fans and implement welcoming developments in the virtual concert space. ALPAS is our way to support the live music scene as we transition into the new normal.

Thanks to GNN, we’re given an opportunity to push boundaries, build a system around it, and help more people in the concert industry who have lost jobs."

ALPAS marks the first time that the six top-notch performers will be equally headlining a show after having performed as solo acts or part of a collective. Through the years, the singer-songwriter trio (Ebe Dancel, Johnoy Danao and Bullet Dumas) have staged three-peat sold-out concerts at the Music Museum (2x) and Kia Theatre (1x) in 2015, 2016 and 2018 respectively, while the queens of alternative rock (Aia de Leon, Barbie Almalbis and Kitchie Nadal) have performed as a group in two sold-out concerts at the Music Museum in 2016 and 2017, and a benefit virtual concert in 2020 to raise funds for the employees of indie music venues in Metro Manila. All these shows were organized and produced by GNN Entertainment.

The online show is slated to premiere on June 5, 2021 from 6pm onwards. Tickets for ALPAS are now available for purchase via kumu, with a price of P499 for general admission.

For details on how to buy tickets, go to this site: www.kumu.live

Coffee That's Really Good For You: Glorious, Isn't It?

For decades, coffee had received a bad reputation. Besides allegedly triggering high blood pressure, insomnia, and hyperacidity, the Filipino habit of adding lots of sugar and cream to one’s cup has been said to aggravate diabetes.

While there’s no denying the Pinoy coffee fan his morning cup, there is concern over the amount of sugar present in commercial 3-in-1 coffee mixes. The leading brand has 14.6 grams of sugar in one 20-gram sachet alone. Imagine how much sugar you’re taking in if you drink an average of three cups of coffee a day.

What About Sugar-Free Coffee?

For health-conscious individuals, especially diabetics, turning to sugar-free coffee mixes seems to be the only option. This meant enduring tasteless cups of coffee just to satisfy their caffeine fix —until Stevia came along.

Stevia is the low calorie, zero sugar sweetener that tastes so much better than artificial sweeteners. 

Stevia is a herb with a sweet-tasting extract that comes from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant. It has been enjoyed since pre-Columbian South America where indigenous people used the herb to sweeten their tea and other drinks.

The plant's taste stems from steviol glycosides, molecules which are 250–300 times sweeter than regular sugar.  

It became popular among health-conscious individuals because stevia has a very low caloric content. This makes it perfect for dieters and people who are trying to lose weight.

Moreover, Stevia makes coffee and tea taste so much better without adding any calories. 

Aside from beverages, Stevia is also used as an alternative sweetener when cooking or baking.

The Health Advantages of Stevia

Stevia is a safe, healthy sugar substitute that can sweeten up food without the negative health effects of refined sugar. It’s also associated with several impressive benefits such as reduced calorie intake, managed blood sugar levels, and minimized risk of cavities.

Additionally, while other sugar substitutes like Aspartame have been linked with cancer, there's no evidence linking stevia to cancer since it is a natural ingredient.

This means you can add stevia to dishes and drinks without fear that you’re taking too much sugar, or that you’ll get sick a few years down the road.

For coffee lovers, it’s also good to note that locally-made Glorious Blend coffees and instant beverages have Stevia as its natural sweetener. The blend of natural and healthful ingredients make the drink not only refreshing and safe, but also good for one’s overall health.

The Glorious Blend boasts a full line of healthy drinks, including a 7-in-1 healthy coffee mix. This special blend is made with proven medicinal ingredients like Malunggay, Mangosteen, Calcium, Gotu Kola, and sweetened with Sweet & Fit Stevia. What’s even better is that the Glorious Blend 7in1 Coffee is non-acidic and promotes regular bowel movement.

The Glorious line-up also includes the 3-in-1 coffee mix with Stevia; 7-in-1 choco mix; 4-in-1 coffee with Malunggay; 5-in-1 coffee mix with Brown Rice; and the MaxiTrim coffee.

All Glorious Blend beverages use Stevia which has no calories, no carbohydrates, and zero glycemic index. All of their instant drinks will keep you alert and energized throughout the day.

Also, Glorious Blend products are locally sourced and manufactured. Their company supports local farmers, stevia growers, and other agricultural communities.

So if you’ve been cutting back on drinking coffee because of health problems like diabetes or hyper acidity, Glorious Blend coffee mixes are here to help. You can enjoy all the aroma and flavor of freshly made coffee all day —without the guilt!

Now, you can drink coffee for better health! Glorious, isn’t it?

For more information about Glorious Blend coffee mixes, check out https://www.facebook.com/gloriousblend.