From KTV Champion to Recording Artist: Darlon Usher Drops Debut Single
If you missed Open Your Eyes this morning, you missed something special.
Darlon Usher — the young artist who captured Belize’s heart as the Season Seven champion of KTV The Remix — stopped by the Open Your Eyes studio this morning to perform and talk about his debut single Gratitude, a collaboration with Richie Galves of Play Chune Marketing. Hosts Jaime Rocke and Paul Lopez welcomed him to the set — and he didn’t just talk about the song. He sang it live. And it set the tone for the entire morning.
The Song
Gratitude started with a conversation. Galves approached Usher with a vision for a theme song to mark a new chapter for his company. “He explained to me what his heart behind it was,” Usher said, “and I believed in the message. So it was fairly easy for me to tap into that creative space.” Drawing on more than 12 years of songwriting experience — and a background that includes touring Israel with acclaimed Christian reggae band Christafari — Usher wrapped the writing in about two sessions.
Getting it to release wasn’t without its challenges. A packed December schedule pushed back the original January 1st launch, and the video’s sunset shots were repeatedly frustrated by January’s relentless rain. But Usher isn’t fazed. “With the song itself, I think it speaks for itself — both musically and lyrically.”
His hope is simple: that people pause. “I really want people to do some self-reflection and understand what they have to be grateful for — and a lot of times that’s simply waking up in the morning.”
Life After KTV
Since taking home the Season Seven crown and the $10,000 grand prize at the Bliss Centre, Usher says life has shifted. His name has become a household one, and the recognition has come in unexpected ways — including a child asking for his autograph after a school visit. “It’s things like that that really touch me,” he said.
His advice to fellow Belizean artists is clear: stay original. “Know what your sound is. If you do what you believe in, it becomes that much more of yourself.”
Where to Find Him
Gratitude is available now on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube under Darlon Usher. Follow him on Facebook as Darlon Usher, and on TikTok and Instagram as @thisisdarlonmusic.
Tune in weekday mornings at 6:30 am — only on GBM. Watch the full interview here:
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