Hope Darling

Epictronic is ecstatic to announce the signing of the extraordinary alternative rock band, Hope Darling. This groundbreaking collaboration will reintroduce the band's album ENSŌ, scheduled for re-release on March 15, 2024.

The band, when describing their album ENSŌ, states:

This album is a culmination of 3 years of songwriting, recording, arranging, and lots of patience. It starts with a burst of energy shortly followed by a melodic twist that pulls on the heartstrings and then kicks back into high gear. It is a collection of 9 songs that we handpicked from our library of music to form what we call the ENSŌ album. Many meanings come from the word ENSŌ, but for our band and our music, the definition that we pull from means "to express a moment when the mind is free to let the body create".

Inspiration comes in many forms; it could be a person, a place, a memory, an experience, or even a word. Inspiration can come unexpectedly or be something we didn't want to be inspired by, like the loss of a friend or family member, but the feelings pour out, a melody or words take shape, and the next thing you know you have molded a song.

These songs and this album are dedicated to those moments, experiences, and memories of the people that inspired us. As songwriters, we find satisfaction and gratitude from a listener who takes a moment to tell us how much they connected with one of our songs, that they didn't just hear the song but they listened.

The ENSŌ album is what we are sharing at this moment, but rest assured we have more music and are already planning a new album. Under the Epictronic flag, our band Hope Darling will be able to share our music, our sound, and our band with the world.

Hope Darling is a Florida-based rock quintet that blends passionate vocals, immersive melodies, and a captivating full-band sound that's enchanted audiences for over five years. Led by Gabriel Sanchez and comprising Jason Donadio, Jeff Durso, Frank Dancey, and Richard Gomez, the band draws from diverse influences, spanning Rock, Classical, Reggae, and Hip-Hop.

Their compelling songwriting and exceptional musicianship earned them a Breakout Band nomination in 2015 and saw their single "Lifeline" featured in Spike Lee’s Netflix series "She’s Gotta Have It," gaining local and national airplay.

Navigating through thoughtful lyricism with incredibly moving, uplifting, and energizing musicianship, Hope Darling has already amassed an impressive catalog of achievements, but this is just the beginning. - Music Connection

Hope Darling is an alternative/modern rock band based in the Tampa Bay area. The members state that they are “a band of friends and family who share the same love for music, influenced by each of their own musical heroes, and are fortunate to have the opportunity to live a childhood dream.” The name Hope Darling has deep meaning for the band and was taken from a beloved person who passed away a few years ago.

The band is made up of Gabriel Sanchez (Lead Singer), Daniel Cruz (Drummer), Frank Dancey (Guitar), Jay Donadio (Guitar) and Jeff Williamson(Bass).

Their sound is uplifting and melodic, with a crunchy edge. Patrick and Rob provide a solid rhythmic foundation for Tan’s guitar, Greg’s keyboards and Gabriel’s vocals. Their 5 track EP is without filler, a collection of songs with different flavors that fit together as a cohesive unit.

The passion truly rings throughout the entire EP. These guys are no holds barred, no nonsense rock, with great lyrics, awesome guitar riffs, and excellent production quality. As is the case with any serious rock band, the cherry on top is provided by Gabriel Sanchez’s far-reaching vocal chords.

Hope Darling is a modern band who actually does real rock music, while throwing in some beautiful, well-rounded keyboard sounds into their arrangements – case in point the epic, ever-climbing single “Lifeline”. This gives their sound that radio-ready edge. It has a strong rock soul with great pop flare and a beautiful melody.

Hope Darling lives in the neighborhood of alternative rock somewhere between The Muse and Coldplay. It would be enough if all the band had to offer in their self-titled EP was their seamless sound. But the unique energy put into every track is what keeps the EP from sounding like 5 versions of the same song.

“In and Out Again” and “Savior” have a frantic, soaring energy that seeps through the speakers while “Maybe Someday” is a lighter, all-engulfing song with a softer melody.

Hope Darling is one of those bands that you can’t help falling in love with and routing for. They blend everything good from the rock history books – melody, harmony and full-blooded emotion – creating work that is both current and catchy, while being complex, touching and ultimately classic when they need to be.

These are brilliantly written modern rock songs that demonstrate the genre is not going to die quietly. In fact, I believe Hope Darling is setting the standard to how modern alternative rock should be played today.

Each song brings an interesting concept to the listener; with enough twists and diversity that balances the musical hooks just enough to keep the music on the rock side of the equation rather than the pop side, which however is necessary if you are to make an impression on the masses.

To sum it up, Hope Darling’s EP contains an emotionally driven set of songs that do not skip a beat with its energetic instrumentation of pulsating rhythms breathing life into the band’s sound. All of the tracks are soul-stirring and intense, and indelibly tinged by truly inspiring vocals. - Jamsphere

Always a dream to stumble upon a new favourite band, not least of all in unison with their release of a brand new album. Hope Darling set the mood and embrace listeners from the outset, with their beautifully immersive, heartfelt and anthemic rock project ENSO.

From the opening moments, Burning Light kicks off with a certain distorted yet melodic fullness, not unlike some of the more mainstream hits from the Foo Fighters. We then delve into the immediately poetic and powerfully emotive Don’t Wake Me Up, and that leading voice has presence and connection already, guiding us through the dreams and imagery of the song alongside deeply passionate performances from all involved. The final moments in particular repeat and loop to boldly weave that web of engagement that holds you closely.

After this, the band switch gears a little, for the piano-led yet still clearly ballad-kissed vibe of an even bigger pop-rock anthem.

Lifeline feels like a timeless arena classic, a little Coldplay-esque perhaps, devoted to its intentions with short, relatable lines and a clear sense of rising anticipation as the drums and surrounding layers gather momentum. New falsetto peaks showcase a level of versatility that’s natural and impressive. And all the more so, the band speak on the depths of the human experience in an entirely hypnotic manner.
Hope Darling turns out to be a perfectly-crafted name for this band of openly thoughtful and passionate musicians. The nine songs that make up ENSO offer a fine balance of strong musicianship, intensity and delicacy, whilst accessing those essential feelings of intimacy, longing, lostness and hope.

From Lotus we see these qualities shine, catchy riffs and a fearlessly romantic lyrical backbone. Then with Firefight we’re thrown into faster-paced, punk-rock territories, for a longer-form progression that utilises contrast brilliantly from one moment to the next.

Following this, the acoustic guitar, strings and space of Say A Prayer hit with blissful impact – juxtaposition again standing tall.

Stylish guitar-work offers an Americana vibe initially for Rain, before another soft-rock build-up blends poetry and distorted weight for a wholly enveloping listen. Then the band get appreciative and intimate again, with the help of a superbly produced and soulful guitar solo, for It Was Always You.

Finally, the melodic and ambient tones of Absolution (One Last Breath) bring us all together for a subtle yet striking degree of evolution towards a huge finish.

All at once explosive and profoundly gentle, Enso is a pleasure to lose yourself within. Not groundbreaking in style but refreshingly honest and accessible in its humility and precision combined. The warmth of the sound, and the originality of the writing, as well as the band’s clearly faultless ability to perform with unity and skill and heart, all works its magic throughout.

Well worth a few spins as the colder seasons approach. - Rebecca Cullen

The latest full album release from Hope Darling gives off a personal and cinematic rock approach while keeping things to a slight contemporary undertone but still with a drive that gives the songs an added edginess.
The Enzo album is packed with heart and performed with a certain passion and warmth that lets the stories be told from a place where you can paint these vivid pictures in your own head each time.
These tracks have a touch of rawness to them that again, is very emotionally drawn from but they also bear this sort of polished Sheen that makes everything pop.
Now, when I say cinematic, I mean that you can definitely hear a large number of these songs in the scene of a film and this in no way takes away from the rock aspect of their approach.
This record showcases a band that has a true love for their craft because these songs are so well built and arranged but also pack a little bit of a punch and the delivery is spot on every damn time.
With songs like these the song writing aspect of it is so impactful that the performance is either going to be hit or miss. If it's miss, everything falls apart and none of it really comes through the way it's supposed to.
But these guys don't miss so the songs are brought to fruition so well that you get this feeling of perfection in a way.
It's almost like when you see a movie and there's a part in it that you watch, and you realize that what you just saw is better than your own imagination could have done it.
It's a really cool aspect that you very rarely find in a band and it's something that impresses me.
Every minute of this album has something to give and if you listen to the whole album all the way through it's really the best way to soak everything in.
Yes, there are plenty of songs that stand on their own two legs on our definite singles and gems from the release but doing it all in one shot if you have the time to, is a different feeling.
It is almost like coming out of a movie you just saw walking back out into the world and having to shake it off.
There's this element of fantasy to it that in a way is a form of escapism almost like reading a good book.
I love when an album gives me that and this one did from beginning to end.
It's like stepping into someone else's life and feeling those emotions through the music.
This was a really incredible record and with its release we did want to have a sit-down with Hope Darling to find out what drove this record really and what might be coming next for the band. - Buzzslayers