CREDIT: DARI
After steadily building her sound since 2021, DARI returns this year with her fifth single, “Glow Up,” a funky, razor-sharp pop anthem that’s both catchy and cathartic. Known for her bold lyrics and fearless musical style, DARI fully embraces her sound on “Glow Up,” a track about stepping into your power after dealing with someone who wasn’t worth your time. It’s funny, biting, honest, and fiercely celebratory, the kind of song you play while walking away from the drama with your head held high. DARI continues to prove she’s unafraid to speak her truth, doing so with undeniable style.
Singular Culture: Could you please introduce yourself and provide a brief overview of your musical background? How long have you been creating music, and what inspired you to embark on your music artist journey?
DARI: Hi! I’m DARI, a pop and R&B artist from Vancouver. Singing has always been a part of me, but I didn’t start formal training until I was 19, with just about three years of lessons. The rest came from passion, trial and error, and putting myself out there.
I studied at Selkirk College in the Contemporary Music & Technology Program from 2016 to 2019, focusing on performance, audio engineering, and production. That gave me the technical skills to write, produce, and engineer my own music. After graduating, my songwriting really developed, and I began refining my sound and vision as an artist.
I’ve played live shows across Vancouver and taught singing to students of all ages. While teaching deepened my connection to the voice, performing and creating are where my heart truly lies. Music is my escape and the way I connect with both myself and others; it’s something I want to do every day for the rest of my life.
Which artists or bands have had the most influence on your music?
Ariana Grande and Olivia Dean are my two biggest influences. As a singer first, I naturally gravitate toward powerhouse vocalists who push the limits of the voice while telling a story.
I’ve always been torn between my love for R&B writing and the catchiness of pop production. I enjoy layering harmonies, building emotional dynamics, and experimenting with contrast, whether crafting a track that’s rich with layers or a song that breathes with space and simplicity.
Having released five tracks, how would you describe your artistic growth since your very first song?
It’s been a wild evolution. My breakout track “is it my mood” gained early buzz and was even shared multiple times on X by Joan Grande, Ariana’s mom, which was such a surreal full-circle moment.
Since then, I’ve seen my writing mature significantly. I experiment freely in the creative process before landing on the final version. I’ve become more experimental and unafraid to take risks. I know who I am now and I’m confident in making music that pushes boundaries, whether it’s building massive vocal stacks or using my lyrics to captivate the audience. I want every song to live in its own world.
Let’s talk about your latest single “Glow Up.” What inspired the track, and what message did you hope to convey with it?
“Glow Up” was inspired by a real and unfortunately ridiculous experience. I’d been talking to a guy who ghosted me, only to show up at my birthday party uninvited with another girl as his date, someone I didn’t even know.
That moment stuck with me because it was so bizarre. Instead of letting it spiral, I turned it into a diss track. The bridge is my favorite part—it’s where the night’s events unfold, and it all comes full circle when I sing, “I might try to get her digits.” I actually made him leave the party and told her she could stay. I’m grateful for the experience though; it gave me an amazing song!
CREDIT: DARI
We’d love to learn more about your writing process for “Glow Up.” Could you share some details, including any memorable moments or challenges you faced along the way?
My process usually begins with an idea, a melody, or a beat that sparks something. Once the groove and foundation are set, I freestyle into my Voice Memos app and then shape the lyrics from there. Sometimes, I can write a song in 15 minutes if I’m in flow.
But “Glow Up” was a whole production. You wouldn’t believe how many instruments, vocal stacks, and micro-details are packed into it. Huge shoutout to my producer and mixing engineer, Jeremiah Gowen. He found space for everything we layered in and made it all shine.
I knew I wanted the bridge to sound completely different from the rest of the song. We used a mix of live and programmed instruments, including electric bass and the Novation Bass Station 2, to give it that gritty, edgy R&B-meets-modern-pop vibe.
Lyrically, the song is bold and honestly a little controversial. There’s a line that says, “When everything that you say makes me a little more gay,” and to be clear, that’s not meant to generalize or offend. It’s just me expressing, with humor and frustration, that sometimes I wish I liked women because men can be so… well, you know. I still love men, just not some of the ones I’ve had to deal with.
The way “Glow Up” blends retro elements with contemporary production is impressive. Could you share some insight into the creative direction behind the production?
Thank you! I wanted “Glow Up” to sit at the intersection of early R&B and modern pop. As someone who studied production and engineering, I’m obsessed with layering and sonic detail.
We combined lush vocal harmonies, live instrumentation, and electronic textures to create something both familiar and fresh. The bridge was designed to feel like a plot twist. Working with Jeremiah is a dream. He understands my vision and elevates it technically.
As an artist creating professional-level music independently, what advice would you give to others navigating today’s music industry?
Keep going. Keep creating. Use your strengths and challenge your weaknesses. Perfect your craft. If you love it, give it your all.
Draw inspiration from everywhere, even the most unexpected places. And remember, you don’t need a massive budget or label to share your art. It’s vulnerable, expensive, and exhausting at times, but creating music that truly represents who you are is powerful. Even without financial gain, putting your soul out there is incredibly rewarding.
I always return to this quote from Stevie Wonder: “Music is a world within itself, it’s a language we all understand.” You’ll find your audience eventually.
What are your plans following the release of “Glow Up”? Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations in the works?
“Glow Up” is just the beginning. I have a vault of unreleased tracks that I’m always working through. An album might be on the horizon, but for now, I want to keep releasing singles and giving each one its own moment.
There’s always more to come, but I’ll say this: the next one drops in August.
DARI’s journey is far from ordinary. With every new track, she proves she’s not just an artist but a force in the making. As she continues to release new music, there’s no doubt her creative evolution will captivate listeners and leave a lasting impact on the music scene for years to come. Keep an eye on DARI and be ready for her upcoming single.