ALL GROWN UP: Darren Espanto Speaks On Career Changes, Maturity

Turning 20 has made Filipino-Canadian popstar Darren Espanto older, wiser and better. He is now more willing to step out of his comfort zone and ready to embrace further changes in his life and career as a performing artist.

Seven years after his runner-up finish in the inaugural season of “The Voice Kids: Philippines” back in 2014, Espanto has emerged as one of the most admired young talents of his generation.

Espanto held his digital concert titled “Home Run” last June 19 and 20, where he showcased his transformation as a performer, shedding off his boyish charm and style for an edgier vibe. The virtual event was his biggest concert yet.

Aside from his jaw-dropping vocal range and hip moves, Espanto performed his latest single “Tama Na.” The new song speaks about unrequited love and having the courage to withdraw from that kind of one-sided relationship.

Thoughts on turning a year older

Espanto celebrated his 20th birthday last May 24. He said hitting the 20s made him more open to other possibilities for his career, like exploring different genres of music, and styles of singing and dancing.

He considered it as a “sign of maturity” and he elaborated on this matter when he spoke to this writer as well as other members of the press last June 8. According to Espanto, allowing himself to grow both as an individual and an artist made him more confident to perform in public.

“I guess that’s another sign of maturity, not [getting] stuck or [keeping] yourself boxed in. Kasi (Because), for the longest time, sobrang mahiyain po ako (I was very shy) until now… Pero sa stage, mas confident na po ako (But on stage, I am now more confident),” Espanto said.

On a personal level, Espanto believes maturity made him more tolerant of other people’s opinions. He admits he could be bullheaded at times when expressing his thoughts, but now he is more inclined to listen to what others have to say, especially the people around him.

“For example, if my opinion is different from my team’s or my parents’, I really have a lot to say. And now I learned to take their opinions first, and think about it, saka ko po ibibigay ‘yong opinion ko (only then will I give my own opinion) in a calm manner,” he explained.

The young singer also noticed he has become independent in some ways. “Mahirap din na lagi kang naka-depend on someone, ‘yung parati kang naka-rely sa ibang tao (It is difficult to get used to depending on someone, when you rely on other people all the time),” he noted.  

“Isa ‘yon sa nawala sa akin (It’s one of the things that was I able to shed), especially during pandemic [when] I flew to Canada. Ako lang talaga nag-pro-produce ng vocals ko, nag-se-set-up ng lights, ng studio sa bahay. Siyempre, wala namang RM (road manager) or team na tutulong (I was producing vocals on my own and setting up the lights in my studio at home because there was no road manager or team around to help me out),” Espanto recalled.

Changing image and vocal range

Lately, fans also noticed that Espanto bulked up when he posted some of his latest photos on his Instagram account. He said changing the way he looked was deliberate on his part, now that he’s all grown up, but the cute side of him remains.

Adulthood also forced him to make some adjustments to his vocal range. Espanto rose to fame in the music industry and show business by belting out high notes in some of the power ballads he covered.

“[It is] definitely a different Darren now in terms of sound compared [to the] Darren before in ‘The Voice Kids.’ I am happy that my voice did not change too drastically. I am still able to sing  the songs that I used to sing before,” Espanto said.

“If ever na kailangan talaga (it is necessary), I can always change the key, pwede namang babaan (I can make it deep) with the same impact,” he added, noting that puberty hit him hard when he lost his falsetto.

Despite some differences in his voice, Espanto said they did not affect his ability to connect to his audience through the songs he is singing. The adjustments even made him sound more clear and whole.

“My voice came back na mas buo (more whole). ‘Yung Darren kasi before medyo matinis, basta medyo mataas, ngayon mas whole na siya pakinggan (Because the Darren before sounded a bit shrill, a little high-pitched, now my voice sounds more whole),” he added.

His colleagues in “ASAP Natin ‘To” commended the way Espanto changed his range and vocal placement. Seasoned performers like Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano even told him to sing songs in lower register because it now fits his voice.

Venturing into hosting

Meanwhile, aside from singing, Espanto is busy honing his hosting skills, too. He joins actress Adrianna So as hosts of the “TNT Pop Show,” a weekly youth-oriented online series sponsored by mobile telecommunications brand TNT.

It is a digital program showcasing funny videos, exciting games, and engagement with surprise content creators and special guests. The show also features inspiring stories from the Filipino youth as they chase their big dreams.

“TNT Pop Show” can be streamed exclusively on the TNT official website (www.tntph.com/popinoy) and its official Facebook page and YouTube channel every Saturday at 5:00 p.m.