Cover image via Saufi Nadzri/Darren Teh (Provided to SAYS) & Darren Teh (Provided to SAYS)
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For years, we've known Darren Teh as the powerhouse behind the anthemic pop-punk sound of An Honest Mistake
But now, a quieter, more vulnerable side of him has emerged with his solo instrumental EP, Songs For My Father, released under the moniker DVR3N.
Born from the raw, swirling emotions following his father's passing, the EP drifts away from the band's usual high-energy sound, trading lyrics for layered, ambient soundscapes.
In an exclusive chat with SAYS, Darren opened up about finding creative freedom, turning grief into melody, and the heartbreaking moment a simple voice note brought him to tears.
Darren with his family.
Image via Darren Teh (Provided to SAYS)Writing an EP alone was a completely new experience for Darren. Usually, he pens the backbone of An Honest Mistake's songs before the band jumps in to add their magic.
"It was liberating and also very emotional. I didn't have to check with anyone but myself. I had total creative freedom," Darren shared.
That freedom led him somewhere new. The sound he created was "dreamy, atmospheric, and experimental", a side of him few had ever heard.
"I would work on the drums, then write a guitar part immediately, and add layers on top of it… I just let the emotions carry me through," he explained.
The decision to make the EP entirely instrumental wasn't a stylistic one, but out of survival. After losing his father, words simply failed him.
"I just couldn't verbalise my thoughts and emotions.
"Writing this way felt pure, authentic, and just more honest than words could ever mean. It came from the heart," he admitted.
For Darren, the music became its own language, a way of speaking about love and loss without needing to say anything at all.
Darren's dad.
Image via Darren Teh (Provided to SAYS)Among all the tracks, IGUESSTHISISHOWHEAVENSOUNDSLIKE was the hardest to finish
It began as an imaginative catharsis where Darren experimented with a "droning sound" while visualising the vast, glowing imagery of heaven.
But then came an idea that hit too close to home.
"All of a sudden the idea of including my dad's voice popped into my head," he recalled.
He found an old voice note where his father said, "Darren, can you hear me? I think you and mum need to come over right now. It's really important."
That message, sent just before his dad's health took a turn, immediately brought him to tears.
"The more I played it, the more I felt as if my dad was speaking to me," he shared
"I remember these voice notes were from the day before he had a very odd infection while receiving chemo.
"The infection took him out for about 10 days. He was constantly being pumped with platelets, blood, and medication. I think he knew something was wrong and probably had a panic attack because we had just left the hospital that evening. As soon as we got home, he sent me that message," Darren recalled.
That night marked the beginning of long, painful days at the hospital.
"My mum spent every other night there with him. It was painful to see my dad in such agony, although he barely showed any signs of pain," he said.
The track ends with his father saying, "All good."
Piecing those clips together to form "Darren, all good" became a crucial part of the artiste's healing journey, a quiet reassurance that his father was, in some way, okay
"I can't say I am completely healed. It's still a process. It gets better every day. But talking to a good friend who was a cancer survivor helped. Her dad went through a similar situation and she explained that some of what my dad went through, she did too — that gave me assurance and brought comfort," he shared.
Darren's dad.
Image via Darren Teh (Provided to SAYS)Grief can easily paralyse creativity, but for Darren, music was his only way through the chaos that followed his father's passing
"I barely had time to think of anything else," he said of the days spent organising the funeral.
"Only after all that was done did I finally feel like I could breathe again. Then came the realisation that my dad was really no longer around."
Writing became his outlet. "I channelled the emotions into melody… As I wrote, as I pondered upon my dad and how I felt and how he was, that helped me to regulate those feelings and emotions," he shared.
He remembers his father as a "very positive guy," a self-made man with a hunger for knowledge, who was always incredibly supportive of his children
"He loved listening to music. Every other day, you'd hear him singing at home," he shared.
Darren recalled how his dad would even "dance" in his hospital bed, amusing the nurses with his jolly spirit, "That was my dad."
He is certain his father would have loved and been proud of the EP.
Ultimately, Darren hopes Songs For My Father will bring comfort to anyone experiencing the same kind of loss
"I hope that the music will carry them through the pain, through their grief, and that it'll bring peace and closure.
Grief comes in waves… it will heal but it'll leave a mark that you will remember forever. And that's okay."
He urges listeners to allow themselves to get "lost in the music… to escape and disappear for a while".
And for those lucky enough to still have their loved ones around, he hopes his story is a gentle reminder to show more love, to say it often, and to treasure them while they're still here.
Listen to DVR3N's Songs For My Father album here:
This feature is part of the #saysplaylist series, providing your playlist with a breath of fresh Malaysian air
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