“Ascension” by Dario

Ascension:

as·cen·sion

noun

1. The act of rising to an important position or a higher level.

Dario makes his triumphant return to pop radio with “Don’t Let Me Go,” an anthemic rock power ballad he wrote about his experience being trapped in a toxic relationship. “Our minds often play games with us, convincing us we want to keep a relationship going even though we’re not getting what we want or deserve,” he reflects. “We tell ourselves we don’t care but deep in our hearts, we really do.” Produced by Kevin Anyaeji (Leona Lewis, Cheryl Cole, Kylie Minogue) and Shane Facchinello (Austin Mahone, Cody Simpson) of Hush Money Entertainment, “Don’t Let Me Go” is the first single from Dario’s new Ascension LP, being distributed independently. Ascension and “Don’t Let Me Go” will be available on iTunes, Spotify and all digital platforms on June 7th and is available for pre-order now at https://music.apple.com/us/album/ascension/1465783170.

“I hadn’t been in a relationship in ten years so I was excited when I finally let my guard down and gave one a try,” Dario continues. “It did not go as I’d hoped. I wanted to be open and honest about the relationship; let everyone in on the ups and downs of the experience. But the person I was with insisted we keep things private. As a public person, I can’t live that way. We eventually had to part ways. I never got the opportunity to say my peace, so I’m saying it in this song.”

Ascension is Dario’s tenth studio album and his most personal to date. Its title refers to Dario stripping himself of all doubt, fear, and insecurity to become the best version of himself. “I took all of 2017 off so that I could work on myself,” he reveals. “I really wanted to take the opportunity to reflect on who I was and how I got to this point in my life.”

Dario is from a small town in Tucson, Arizona. Growing up, he wasn’t accepted by peers and was often bullied in school. At times, he didn’t have the full support of his parents either. “The rejection I experienced as a kid definitely impacts my life and music, even today.” 

He’s known he wanted to be a singer since he was three years old. “I remember singing a Spanish song from a radio station in the back seat of my father’s truck, and his friend turned to my dad and said, ‘Hey, that boy can sing. You should get him a guitar or something!’ I knew right then and there what I wanted to be when I grew up.”

Dario moved to Hollywood to pursue his pop star dreams in 2006. He knew no one and had very little money but in time, he was able to adapt. “I grew a thick skin that first year. It toughened me up which has helped, especially when dealing with record executives.”

He admits he and the music industry do not have the best relationship. “The labels are corporate. They prefer structure, whereas I tend to do things my way. I don’t like being told what to do,” he laughs.

Love has been a big theme in Dario’s music, and it remains so in Ascension, but this time around it’s different; more grown-up. “I’m an adult and finally comfortable in my skin. I know who I am, what I want, and what I’m willing to do.”

He takes on inequality, mental health, and the importance of advocacy in his music today. “I no longer want people to talk. I want to inspire them to take action.” 

But that’s not to say that Dario’s music is all preachy and grave. He says his biggest aim is to provide listeners with an escape. “When you’re too serious, it can cloud everything that makes life happy. It’s important to keep things light and have fun.”

That’s why when things get too heavy, or he finds himself in a “Don’t Let Me Go” situation, Dario can always find comfort in his three favorite things in life: lip gloss, highlighters and rhinestones. “You can never have enough of either of them,” he insists. 

Dario’s Ascension album, featuring “Don’t Let Me Go”, will be available on iTunes, Spotify and all digital platforms on June 7.

Visit http://darioonline.com.