Having fronted the band, The Busker, for 8 years, Dario stepped down to pursue a solo career in 2020. He has already released a number of original singles, and performed as a solo artist at the Manoel Theatre in the last production of ‘Teatru Unplugged’. Excitingly, he is now set to release his first EP. Following a short songwriting hiatus, Dario wrote the songs for Burgundy in the span of just two weeks, and they were recorded and produced in February and March.
“I’m really happy to be releasing fully produced tracks again after a period of focusing on stripped-down folk songs. It feels like a natural evolution and a refreshing shift,” says Dario.
The four tracks on Burgundy feature a unique fusion of Indie/Folk and introspective storytelling, and they promise to take listeners on a journey through themes of companionship, generational expectations and more They blend influences from iconic artists such as George Harrison and Johnny Cash as well as more modernised artists in alternative folk and rock, namely Mumford and Sons, The Lumineers and more.
“I am inspired by music from the 1960s,” Dario explains. “I have always felt more connected to music from that era, although there are various contemporary artists who inspire me too. I believe that the songwriting was more authentic and personal and that is what appeals to me.”
Burgundy is a reflection of personal experiences and artistic growth where each track tells a story, inviting listeners to connect with the emotions and ideas behind the music.
“Find You, the second song on the EP, explores the weight of intergenerational expectations,” Dario explains. “The idea for the song came after a visit to New York — specifically Greenwich Village, where the folk movement was thriving in the 1960s. Walking through those streets, knowing so many songwriting giants had been there before, I felt a familiar pressure that many songwriters experience: the urge to create something bigger, better, more meaningful than what came before. It’s not just a comparison with the past, but also an internal one — especially after being part of the music scene for a while. You constantly feel like you have to outdo your own previous work.”
‘On the corner of Jones and Bleecker Street
Many stories have been written you can tell.’
Washington Square Park, the closing track on the EP, is perhaps the most personal song of the collection. It’s a stripped-down piece — just acoustic guitar and voice — to reflect its intimacy and emotional rawness. The song speaks about that memory, place, or person we instinctively return to when we’re feeling anxious or vulnerable. That safe space looks different for everyone, but its comfort is universal.
‘If I look around me, I can see the world has changed
Life is for the living, trying to do it all with grace.’
“The EP is called Burgundy because, at home in Iklin, I have a room where I keep all my instruments — my little creative sanctuary away from the noise of daily life,” Dario continues. “It’s where I go to be still, reflect, and write. Every song on this EP was born in that room. Its walls are painted burgundy, a deep, grounding colour that somehow captured the emotional tone of the music I was creating. I didn’t name the EP until the songs were finished, but when I looked back, Burgundy felt like the most honest title — it holds the mood, the space, and the feeling that shaped these songs.”
“Everyone connects with songs in their own way—lyrics can take on different meanings depending on who’s listening and where they are in life. What I really hope is that people feel the authenticity in these tracks. Nothing was forced during the writing process; the songs came together naturally, and I think that honesty is something listeners can sense and hopefully connect with.”
“I really have to thank my producer, Peter Borg from Railway Studios, for all his help and guidance throughout the production. One of the biggest challenges for me was recording with a banjo on one of the tracks—I’m definitely not a banjo player, so stepping out of my comfort zone like that took a bit of patience and humour!”
“The cover for the EP was shot in London as an ode to a country that has inspired me many times throughout the years.”
A launch event will be held at Teatru Salesjan’s Café Bar on May 23 and, from May 23, Burgundy will be available on all major streaming platforms.
