INTERVIEW: DARIN
Darin recently celebrated his 34th birthday, having accomplished a litany of feats most could only dream of as musicians. Being bilingually proficient is a skill in itself, but to exercise those languages through eclectic music is what makes Darin truly special.
The Swedish native has channelled the introspection gained over his years in the spotlight to reshape his career. His latest release ‘Can’t Stay Away’ is a genuine example of that growth. In our 1 on 1 interview, we discussed his journey so far.
Interview by MATHEW SIEBUHR
You made your arrival on the big stage with your audition for the inaugural season of Swedish ‘Idol’. What was it like having that type of exposure at 16years old?
It was amazing and hard to cope at the same time. I didn’t expect things to get so crazy and my life really changed overnight, waking up with people camping outside your house at that age can be a bit overwhelming. I’m glad to have had good people around me. It’s easy to lose yourself when you’re that young and experience something that intense.
Momentum started to build behind your career as an up and coming artist, how do you view the early stages of your career in hindsight?
Looking back, I had a very good start and I’m glad I made the decisions I did back then. Dealing with photo shoots can sound glamorous but when you’re 17 and wearing braces, it grounds you pretty quickly hehe! The music I do now is quite different and that’s what’s so exciting about it. It keeps changing, both the music and style have matured. I’m also really happy with where it’s going at the moment. It definitely feels like it continues to reflect me better day by day.
What has been the biggest obstacle in terms of releasing music in different languages?
It hasn’t really been an obstacle. My music in Swedish primarily serves the Nordic market, and I do notice that my sound changes a lot when I write in English. It’s actually enjoyable adapting creatively to the different languages. Being fluent in both languages definitely helps.
Within the past few years, you’ve released music that has maintained a continued sense of personal sentiment, in regards to who you are. Explain the emotions that come with bringing personal topics to the forefront of your music.
The truth. I always try to express the truth. I think it’s what resonates with people best. Beyond that, I like to inspire and uplift, and make my audience feel the same sentiment which drives me to write the songs.
“why limit myself? I love experimenting and now I feel even more free to do that without any fear.”
— Darin, on self expression.
After recently making your sexual orientation publicly known via a number of platforms, what have been the biggest lessons for yourself and as an artist?
To just keep expressing myself in an authentic way. Whether it’s in interviews, the way I dress or dance, why limit myself? I love experimenting and now I feel even more free to do that without any fear.
What’s remained a constant through all the changes within your journey so far?
I follow my gut feeling and do what feels best for me in the moment. It doesn’t always work out – you might end up dating the wrong person or releasing the wrong single. All the same, I’ve always been quite focussed and hardworking and that’s always helped me pull through.
How progressive do you think the industry is now, in comparison to when you first started making music as an artist?
It’s incredible. There are so many distribution platforms for people to get their music out. You can have your own record label and reach huge audiences. There will always be challenges but listeners can enjoy so much more variety, and it’s so much more inspiring.
Where do you aspire to take your next project at this stage of your career?
I am excited about sharing my music in the UK. I’ve been a huge fan of artists from all over Britain since I was a child. I feel my sound has matured and is far more suited to be released in the UK now so this is definitely one of the big projects I have going on at the moment.
New music brings exciting opportunities on the horizon for Darin. His focus on predominantly English music will no doubt set the entertainment world on notice. To keep up with everything in store for the future, hit the links below.
FOLLOW DARIN