Darren Espanto Shares His Routines and Rituals as He Rehearses for His Comeback Concert: “Home Run”

Virtual Concert is Available to Audiences Worldwide via iWantTFC

In a one-on-one interview with Asia’s Pop Heartthrob, Darren Espanto, he reveals that doing jumping jacks is one of the secrets to his vocal stamina.

“I try to train my voice so that its endurance is there by the time of the concert,” Darren shares. He claims that “it also helps to do jumping jacks or to do jump rope while vocalizing just for the stamina while dancing.”

He also owns to taking care of his overall health and says, “I try not to get sick, so I take vitamins daily.” Darren also adds that “My mom also makes me take salabat (ginger tea),” even if he was not a big fan of the spicy health drink but has gotten used to it after he discovered that “it really helps to loosen up the vocal cords.”

Darren also admits that no matter how many times he has performed onstage, he still gets the jitters. “It's just something that has always been there before every show big or small,” and he tries to get rid of it by praying. “Prayer always helps. It calms me down,” says the singer.

In a fun “Express Q&A,” Darren also reveals more personal sentiments and shares some of his “D” favorites. Read on to find out more. 

What makes Darren smile?

“Hands down, it’s food. “I don’t know where the food goes, but I love eating. Kahit kakakain ko lang, kakain po ulit ako talaga. (I would still eat, even if I have just finished eating.) Food really makes me smile. It makes me happy.”

What is Darren’s biggest fear?

“My biggest fear are the crawlers, cockroaches, and spiders. But it is weird because I'm okay with the reptiles like iguanas and snakes.  Like if I were to be able to have a pet snake, I would go for it.”

“With regards to personal fears, I am really scared of the unknown, what the future holds. But it's also something that I'm excited for.”

What is Darren’s favorite food and comfort food?

“I love any type of adobo and giniling (ground meat) and sisig.  I would say all three are at the same level.  Of course, adobo will slightly be a bit higher.”

“Comfort food? Even though I should not be eating it, I love ice cream. Of course, I make sure to drink a lot of water after eating ice cream.

What is Darren’s workout regimen?

“A lot of protein and weights. When I was in Canada I had the time to start working out and kind of go on different diets. My go-to for protein is chicken breast. My dad has a gym in the basement. So, I was able to use that in Canada. And then when I got here (in the Philippines), the first thing I, I bought was the adjustable weights.”

Who is the celebrity you would want to switch bodies with?

“I'd love to switch bodies with either Bill Gates or Elon Musk. Because they are both very influential people. With the kind of influence they have, I would love to be able to spread a bit more awareness to stuff that is important to me like climate action. 

Darren’s “D” Picks

Darren’s “D” choice for a Philippine-based destination to visit is Davao because “the food and the views are amazing.” Davao has always been part of his Philippine tours and he misses performing there. Darren also misses the people, especially Team Davao Darrenatics.

Dubai is the international “D” place to travel to for Darren who admits that when he goes to Dubai for a show, he does not get the chance to go around much since days are spent rehearsing. Darren would want to spend time in the sand dunes, go up the Burj Khalifa, and go to Ferrari World outside of Dubai.

Also, besides Dubai, Darren wants to visit Denmark because he has seen a lot of shows that have taken place in Denmark and would want to experience the culture there.

Driving and diving are the two “D” activities that Darren would like to do during his free time.

He reveals that he loves driving because “when you are in showbiz, it’s something that you don’t get to do as often anymore, and driving makes me feel a lot more human.” Darren adds, “Especially back in Canada, I love driving and seeing the views of the mountains. It’s very calming and relaxing.”

Diving is the other activity he would want to do. “Honestly, I've never tried cliff diving and it's a big thing in the Philippines, especially in Palawan, so I want to try that when we're able to travel again,” Darren shares.

And for the “D” food items that Daren craves or would want to try, topping his list are donuts, dumplings, and durian.

“D” adjectives Darren would use to describe himself are driven, determined, disciplined, and daring. He qualifies, “Daring, not in terms of looks, but in musicality,” as he is now more open to different types of genres.

Darren Showcases a Mature Sound in His Comeback Concert

Audiences around the world will witness a daring Darren at the much-anticipated “Darren Home Run: The Comeback Concert,” happening live on June 19 (Saturday) with a re-run on June 20 (Sunday) via KTX.ph, iWantTFC, and TFC IPTV.

In Home Run, Darren showcases his transformation as a singer-performer, shedding off his teenage persona for an edgier repertoire and vibe.

“Darren Home Run: The Comeback Concert” is a collaboration between ABS-CBN Events and MCA Music.

The first major solo virtual concert of Darren—who just turned 20 last May 24—is directed by Paolo Valenciano, with TV direction by Jon Moll and musical direction by Soc Mina. Performances on the show is choreographed by D Grind.

Along with his jaw-dropping vocal prowess and hip moves, Darren promises never-before-seen song numbers that will make him soar to greater heights, which includes his performance of his latest single Tama Na.

Darren shares that “My new single Tama Na was written by a good friend of mine, Zack Tabudlo. And we recorded this last year during the pandemic.” He adds that “it's a very different sound from me. It is a very different Darren and it really matches the new era of mine because the sound is a lot more mature.”

Tickets for “Darren Home Run: The Comeback Concert” are still available for purchase via iWantTFC for 14.99 USD for the live event on June 19 (Saturday) at 8:00 P.M. (Philippines)/ 8:00 A.M. (Eastern)/ 5:00 A.M. (Pacific)  with a re-run the next day (June 20) at 10 A.M. (Philippines) / June 19 at 10:00 P.M. (Eastern) / 7:00 P.M. (Pacific)  via KTX.ph, iWantTFC, and TFC IPTV

Listen to his latest single “Tama Na” on various digital music streaming services.

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