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It’s not everyday that a pop-punk musician battles a non-cancerous brain tumor and then, undaunted, writes songs about the experience. But that’s exactly what Darro is doing.
Here’s an example:
And another:
We’re not sure if it’s because we had a friend who fought an illness recently (or we’re all in recovery mode after COVID), but we’re moved by Darro’s courage and applaud the direction he and the band are taking with their music.
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SIX CRUCIAL QUESTIONS FOR…Darro
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NAME: Darro
AGE (if you want to give it up): 28
HOMETOWN: York, PA
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1. What is your earliest musical memory?
When I was really young, my dad used to sing and play keyboard in a wedding band. I must have been 4 or 5 years old at the time, but I remember sitting at the top of the stairs as they rehearsed in the basement. After they finished playing I would sneak downstairs and bang on the drums, trying to play what I could from memory.
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2. What has been your most embarrassing musical moment?
I think my entire college senior recital. I had just gotten knee surgery a week before my recital, and I was unable to stand or move around for the whole show. I spent the entire recital sitting in a chair performing these really high energy songs and barely moving my body. It was so embarrassing to have to sit down while performing a rock concert.
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3. What do you like and dislike about touring?
We haven’t really been on huge tours yet (COVID made sure of that), but what I dislike about playing far away shows is not knowing what to expect at the venue or the crowd. Usually when we play shows in familiar towns, we know the area and some of the people that show up. New places are always a little bit scary, but that never stops me from going all out. Also loading and unloading gear is a drag after a show when all you wanna do is mingle with the crowd.
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4. What is your favorite record store, anywhere in the world?
Definitely Amoeba Music in Los Angeles. It’s HUGE. You can walk around for hours and still not see everything. The last time I was there I was so high I don’t remember entering or leaving, I just remembering existing there and being surrounded by records.
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5. Other than your own music, what is your favorite song or album of all-time? Why?
Right now my favorite song is “deathwish” by Stand Atlantic and nothing,nowhere. It’s an absolute bop and masterpiece of a song! It perfectly combines emo rap and modern pop punk in the most tasteful way possible.
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6. You wake up in a seedy Berlin hotel room with no recollection of the past 96 hours. Who is your first call?
Honestly? I would probably call my neurosurgeon (haha). If I wake up in a different country with no memory, there’s a good chance it has something to do with my brain. Soooo, I’d definitely call my doctor to see if something brain-related happened to me because I wouldn’t be surprised.
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Images Courtesy of Darro. Photos by Mike Monto.
