The Art of Living and Letting Go: Dariell Cano and “DON’T THINK ABOUT IT”
Written by: Sara Diaz
From a very young age, Latinos are taught by parents that if they want something, they better work like a dog and go all out to get it. Parents never gave the notion that something was impossible to achieve; however, they taught how to live through that process no matter how tough the road got. Some go to college, some go to work, and yet some still do it all while dreaming of a whole different world. They unfortunately sacrifice their dreams because of fear.
However, not everyone falls so easy for that narrative. After all, here is Dariell Cano, being a breathing example of what some of us wish or hope to be: a Latino kid that chose ambition and a dream over the fear of an uncertain future. That’s what “DON’T THINK ABOUT IT” is about.
Cano started out his music career as a high school student in Grand Rapids, Michigan and would quickly take the world by storm soon after: songs with fellow Latino bands like Los Aptos and Luna Luna, opening for DannyLux on tour, hundreds of thousands of monthly listeners, multiple songs amassing over a million streams, and an album considered for the Latin Grammys. Yet he is still ready to show the world more.
After graduating high school and wanting to pursue music full-time, Cano made the decision to transition out of Michigan and make the move to Los Angeles, the narrative he talks about in the chorus of this new song when he sings, “What's it like out there in California? / I heard a lot of people out there know ya. / What’s it like out in the West?”
Moving across the country is no easy task. However, there’s excitement within the spontaneity of living a new chapter of life somewhere else which is something Cano expresses in that same chorus when singing “Pues la neta es algo diferente…No me esta yendo tan mal.” ("Well, honestly, it’s a bit different… Things aren’t going too badly for me.") The song doesn’t necessarily present itself full of successes of moving to California as the only idea that would make moving worthwhile. Having fun, making meaningful music, meeting great new people, and just experiencing California itself are a part of the dream themselves. It makes the message less of “I’m going to California because I know I’m going to make it” and more “I’m not sure where this will lead, but I’m ready to learn and find out.”
Cano brings out his nostalgic songs in Spanglish with an R&B twist and influence, bringing out a genre that’s rooted in intimacy and self expression. On this song, the natural blend of his own Mexican and American roots connects to this song as he always brings a piece of his family at home in Michigan with him to this new place. He doesn’t leave his identity behind in pursuit of this dream. It’s something Cano always strives to achieve in his songs, he loves letting his own personality and wisdom shine through to connect with fans on a more personal level.
There can be worries of course, but Cano teaches that you can’t let a good opportunity go to waste on fear. So if you ever find yourself at a crossroads with your future: pick your dream, listen to Dariell Cano and “DON’T THINK ABOUT IT!”
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