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

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Darren Espanto wants us to "Believe In Christmas"

The isolating nature of the pandemic has left us yearning for human connection, disrupting our daily lives on an unprecedented scale and forever changing the way we interact with one another. Its uncertainty has not only instilled fear and anxiety, but also forced us to participate in a game of risk roulette, where everyone tries to survive a global health crisis that knows no end or time, and outwit an invisible enemy through strategic measures that align with the new normal.

But Darren Espanto wants us to believe that love will always be our guiding light even in the most difficult of times. The accomplished recording star is optimistic about using his voice as a catalyst to spark hope and inspire others to make a positive difference—all in the spirit of Christmas. He wants to keep the Holiday tradition alive by spreading kindness and joy this festive season, but also wants to see it with a renewed perspective: that the cherished holiday traditions are more than just about sumptuous feasts. It’s also about a celebration of new beginnings and unwavering hope of much better days ahead, an opportunity to encourage everyone to be there for one another even when the going gets tough. 

"This year, there’s no other way to celebrate Christmas but to be grateful for the simple things that life has to offer amid trying, challenging times." - Darren Espanto

"More than ever, this gives us a chance to strengthen our faith and love for one another, and protect the family and loved ones whose lives matter more than anything else in this world. This Christmas is different from what we’ve been accustomed to for sure, but I’m positive that we’ll emerge stronger, better individuals after this crisis unfolds. For as long as we have each other, no grueling situation can hold us down."

Our capacity to bounce back from an adverse event is something that Filipinos have always expertly done after a recession, personal catastrophe or a storm, and this is something that Darren Espanto expertly tackles on his new single “Believe in Christmas” as he sings an anthem of hope amidst brokenness and frailty.

"Believe in Christmas" isn’t just your typical Holiday anthem wrapped in high spirits and effervescent glow. Written by industry respected songwriter, Tiny Corpuz, the song’s message aims to spark the light of hope in a world full of dimly lit spirits especially going into the Christmas season.

It acknowledges the current time and situation that we live in, but as the lyrics put it, "When love shines through, there’s always something more: a new season, a new reason, a spark of hope and joy to believe in."

For his part, Darren interprets the material with utmost care and sensitivity, singing like his life depends on it, and fleshing out the song’s nuances with every fiber and being. The Canadian-Filipino recording sensation has always been known for his incredible technique and soulful singing, but on “Believe in Christmas,” he has also developed a deeper understanding of the narrative, perhaps because it feels closer to home, and it doesn’t feel removed from what’s happening in the real world.

This time, he’s also more involved in the recording process as a vocal producer, ensuring that he’s in top shape to get the best vocal performance possible. "Believe In Christmas" composer and overall producer Tiny Corpuz attests to Darren’s potential as a multi-faceteted artist with so much talent in his hand. “Darren is a total performer, he sings, dances, even acts, and now exploring on songwriting and production. A true artist knows what he wants. We’ve witnessed him grow. He’ll definitely go places with that kind of determination and passion.”

Listen to Darren Espanto’s message in “Believe in Christmas”: https://DarrenEspanto.lnk.to/BelieveinChristmas

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