Maraming magagandang leksiyon ang natutunan ni "Asia’s Pop Heartthrob" Darren Espanto mula sa Pinoy music icons na kanyang nakasama sa loob ng sampung taon niya sa music industry.
Nagsimula si Darren sa The Voice Kids Philippines Season 1 noong 2014, kung saan naging runner-up siya ng winner na si Lyca Gairanod.
Read: Darren Espanto reminisces about The Voice Kids; celebrates fifth year in showbiz
Sa presscon ng D10, ang pamagat ng 10th anniversary concert ng singer-actor na gaganapin sa Araneta Coliseum sa June 1, 2024, nagkuwento ito ng mga natutunan niya mula sa music veterans na kanyang nakasama at itinuturing na idolo.
SARAH GERONIMO
Malaking bagay para kay Darren ang mga natutunan niya mula sa kanyang The Voice Kids coach na si Sarah Geronimo.
Kuwento niya, "Early on in my career, siyempre siya po yung naging coach po sa The Voice Kids.
"She always told me to sing from the heart.
"And it might sound simple po talaga, e.
"Pero nung bata ako, kanta lang ako nang kanta, medyo walang emosyon masyado.
"Kasi wala pa rin ako mga personal experiences and I didn't really know how to deliver that kind of emotion.
"But when I learned to sing from the heart when I got older, it really made such a big difference in my performances.
"Tsaka napapansin din po ng ibang tao. So, that's one of the tips that I've gotten from Ate Sarah—sing from the heart.
"It can be such a simple song with such a simple message. Pero as long as galing sa puso yung pagkanta mo, sabi niya, 'Tatagos rin sa mga tao.'
"So, yan po isa sa mga tips na natutunan ko from one of my friends in showbiz."
Read: Sarah Geronimo, Elmo Magalona, JK Labajo, and Darren Espanto lead 2016 Independence Day concert
ERIK SANTOS
Si Erik Santos naman ang sunod na binigyang papuri ni Darren.
Aniya, "Another one would be from Kuya Erik also.
"Kasi sa ASAP Natin 'To, lalo na nung pandemic, kami-kami lang talaga yung magkakasama.
"There were no glam teams, bawas yung tao sa production.
"So, kaming artists, may time po kami magkausap-usap since we started doing taping cycles.
"And then si Kuya Erik, sabi niya, 'Mag-release ka lang nang mag-release ng mga kanta. Kasi that's what we're here for. It's something that you also dreamt of doing, now that you have the opportunity. Ngayon mo pa ba, alam mo yun, babawasan yung ginagawa mong mga kanta?'
"And ako po, parang siyempre yung mindset ko minsan, sana mag-hit, sana mag-hit.
"And later on, I realized na it's not about, you know, always having a hit single.
"It's about what you release, the quality of the single that you're offering to the people.
"And malay mo, isa sa mga singles na yun, mag-hit, e."
Patuloy ni Darren, "Kaya I'm really inspired by my coach Ate Sarah, sina Kuya Erik.
"They just keep on releasing singles.
"Like this year, ang dami na nilang na-release, which is something inspiring to myself and the younger generation as well.
"Just keep on writing songs, keep on releasing songs as well."
REGINE VELASQUEZ
Hindi rin matatawaran ang mga natutunang leksiyon ni Darren mula kay Asia's Songbird Regine Velasquez.
Aniya, "And then, another tip from Mama Regs naman, was to just keep on singing.
"Parang weird siya pakinggan, just keep on singing.
"Pero totoo, yung parang minsan kasi, tinatanong niya, 'Bakit hindi ka mag-concert?' Bakit hindi ka mag-show dito sa ganito, ganyan?'
"Yung parang, 'Isa ka sa mga artistang dapat laging nagku-concert.'
"'Mama Regs, parang nakaka-pressure naman kung lagi akong nagku-concert.'
"Sabi niya, 'Hindi. Napi-pressure ka ba dahil gusto mong mapuno lagi yung mga venue? Kailangan mong mapuno lagi?'
"Sabi niya, 'Ako nga, pumupunta ako sa mga bars. Like, nagba-bar tour ako. I do smaller shows, kasi gusto ko lang kumanta.'
"Sabi niya, 'And that's also a way to market yourself. Not just to those who wanna watch shows in big venues, but also to people who are just chilling in bars.
"'You know, that's also a way to reach that kind of audience.'
"So that's another tip that I learned from Mama Regs.
"Ang dami ko talagang natutunan sa ASAP cycles during the pandemic."
MARTIN NIEVERA
Malaki rin ang pagsaludo ni Darren sa haligi ng ASAP Natin 'To na si Martin Nievera.
Kuwento ni Darren, "And then also from Tito Martin Nievera.
"Ang dami nila talaga, promise. Yung si Tito Martin naman, he gave me tips on longevity.
"Kasi may times na parang we would open. My mom and I would be able to talk with him.
"Kasi si Mommy, sumasama sa akin sa mga tours abroad.
"So minsan, kapag ASAP, nakakausap namin si Tito Martin pag abroad.
"And then there are times where we open up na parang, 'I don't know how long I'm gonna be able to last. And in this industry, I wonder where this will take me.'
"And sabi niya, 'No, just keep on doing what you do as long as it's your passion. At the end of the day and you follow what your parents say, which is to always stay humble. Malayo ang mararating mo.'
"And parang isa po yun sa mga tumatak sa akin.
"Kasi, I keep on putting this certain pressure on myself to be able to live up to people's expectations.
"That was me before.
"And then, yun nga, sabi ni Tito Martin, 'Just keep doing what you love. Hayaan mo kung anong iisipin nila.
"'Like, don't care about what other people say as long as you're enjoying what you're doing now and wala kang tinatapakang mga tao.'
"Yun yung sabi ni Tito Martin. So, ayun. That's one of the things that's also stuck with me."
GARY VALENCIANO
Music production naman daw ang natutunan ni Darren kay Mr. Pure Energy Gary Valenciano.
Photo/s: Courtesy: InstagramSabi ni Darren, "And then, with Tito Gary Valenciano, ang dami kong natutunan kay Tito Gary in terms of music, personal life.
"But also, since parang puro personal life na yung mga iba, ito naman si Tito Gary, he taught me so much in terms of music production.
"Like, when I visit him at his house, kasi medyo magkalapit lang po bahay namin. We're kind of neighbors.
"So, I get the chance to see him in his studio, in his element talaga.
"Sobra siyang hands-on sa lahat ng ginagawa niya, in terms of music production.
"Grabe siya mag-produce ng sarili niyang vocals. He mixes his own vocals.
"He creates his own music. Nakaka-inspire. Sobra talagang hands-down.
"And then, I can't give certain tips on that. Parang, he just teaches me. And then I observe.
"So, I'm grateful, kasi not everyone has the opportunity to be mentored by all of these icons po talaga.
"So, lima yan sa mga tips na nakuha ko from my friends in the industry."
Kabilang sa special guests ni Darren sa D10 sina Gary Valenciano, Ogie Alcasid, Sarah Geronimo, Erik Santos, Lyca Gairanod, at Vice Ganda.
Mabibili ang tickets para sa D10 concert sa Ticketnet outlets at ticketnet.com.ph sa halagang P8,004 (Platinum), P6,404 (VIP), P4,269 (Patron A), P2,668 (Patron B), P2,135 (Lower Box), P1,068 (Upper Box), at P427 (General Admission).
Read: Darren Espanto promises spectacular D10 concert