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 shares in a statement.
“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
(Link goes live November 13,
midnight)
About Darren Espanto
Darren Espanto is a
Canadian-Filipino singer, songwriter, television personality and actor who first
became known to Filipino audiences as a con-testant in the 1st season of The
Voice Kids Philippines in 2014. The 13-year old Darren may not have won the
competition, taking the runner-up position, but his outstanding talent was not
to be denied.
Now with 6 years in
the Philippine entertainment industry under his belt, 19-year-old Darren boasts
of career highlights that older, more seasoned artists can only aspire for:
double-platinum albums, over a hundred million streams of his songs on music
streaming sites, and Youtube videos of his performances that have earned well
over 250 million views. He has received close to 70 music awards and recognitions
from various award-giving bodies in the Philippines.
Touted as The Total
Performer, Darren has done close to 20 major concerts in the Phil-ippines, USA,
Canada, Middle East, and Australia, showing off his versatility by singing in
different genres as well as demonstrating his vocal power and stamina with
exciting song and dance numbers.
As the youngest
member of the main cast of the Philippines’ top weekly musical variety show, ASAP Natin ‘To,
Darren is ranked alongside the country’s veteran and well-established
performers.
Darren holds the
record for being the youngest artist, at age 14, to stage a sold-out solo
concert at the MOA Arena, one of Manila’s biggest and premier performance
venues. He sang for Pope Francis and millions of Filipinos during the 2015
Papal Visit, he per-formed for presidents and dignitaries during the APEC and
ASEAN Summits, and he has headlined a gala night in Carnegie Hall — all before
his 18th birthday.
Darren was appointed
by UNDP Philippines in April 2020 as its first and youngest ce-lebrity advocate
for the Sustainable Development Goals. Recognizing young people’s potential as agents of
change, UNDP has enlisted the voluntary services and support of Darren to
promote its youth-focused development programs primarily through his
influential social media presence.
Darren shares UNDP’s
commitment to making the planet a better place for humanity. With his influence
among his audiences, particularly his staunch and faithful fandom known as the
Darrenatics, he realizes and understands that he can use his fame and ce-lebrity
to raise awareness and mobilize support to help realize the Sustainable Development Goals in the
Philippines.
In the six months
since he was appointed UNDP Youth Advocate, he has already taken on numerous
projects that have seen exemplary results in terms of social media en-gagement.
As a result, Darren has already been tapped twice by UNDP Headquarters in New
York to lend his voice to their Mission1.5/Climate Action program.
For updates follow
Darren on:
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
Follow MCA Music on:
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
0 Comments