by abby crabill
photo courtesy of dar.ra
Dar.Ra is a multitalented singer-songwriter, producer, and author. He also set up the Kusha Deep Label. He has a large variety of EPs, including: "Now Is Now," "Live For Love," "Stand Up for the Heroes" (a tribute to essential workers during this current global pandemic) and his latest album, "New Kinda Normal." His music can also be found in various Hollywood films, including: Snakes on Planes, films on ABC TV, Match Of Day (BBC TV), and US documentary, City Of Hope. Aside from music, Dar.Ra has also written two books under his full name, Darragh J Brady. These books combine music with literature. The first titled, "Road Tales," is about people with life changing stories that he met while touring the globe. The second, "The Night That Jimi Died," follows a girl who channels the spirit of Jimi Hendrix and rises to change the DNA of the world through music.
Dar.Ra's single “Rise Like The Sun” is an overall shift from what his listeners may be accustomed to. The major tone of the song gives off a Latin vibe created by the various instruments, which creates an upbeat song to dance along with. On the other hand, the heavy lyrics appear to be almost a contradiction to the lightweight sound of the song. Full of thought-provoking lyrics, the song seems to center around the lines, “You think you’ve got all the time in the world / And then you get born.” There are several ways that these lines could be interpreted, though it is best to consider the full circle approach that the song takes in order to fully comprehend the message. In the beginning, Dar.Ra sings, “I want to rise like the sun and hold back for no one” sounding confident and bold. The song finishes with the line, “I’ll pray and rise like the sun/and be somebody in your eyes" creating the idea that he might not truly be so confident and is trying to live up to others' standards. Once this is recognized, the initial feeling of contradiction between the lyrics and sound of the song only seem to enhance the idea of the struggle between faux external lightweight happiness/confidence and heavier internal battles. Not only is this song an excellent insight into Dar.Ra's thought process, but its internal struggle and message is one that is able to resonate with many of us.