From Tolosa to the World: Dren Zabala’s Rise Through Resilience and Sound
It’s rare to meet an artist whose journey feels like a handwritten letter to everyone who ever dared to dream in silence.
Starting out with just a cracked copy of FL Studio and a fascination with UK dubstep, Dakota has been quietly evolving into one of the most thoughtful and emotionally intuitive producers of the new school. Wavy Music Magazine sat down with Dak to unpack the story, the sounds, and the spirit behind the music.
Rediscovering the Roots: A Sonic Journey Back to Move Forward
At just 11 years old, Dakota’s musical path was launched by a gift from his stepdad—FL Studio—and a healthy obsession with dubstep pioneers like Rusko and Caspa. “Rusko’s essential mix and his Fabriclive set were and still are foundational to my tastes,” he shares. That raw influence never left, but Dak’s current work leans darker, murkier, and far more introspective. Now living in the comfortable groove of 135 BPM, he draws from Jungle, Garage, and the emotional grit of Burial and Barcode. “Even if you hated it,” he jokes, “if my music made you think, I’ve done my job.”
Sound Design as Therapy: The Beatmaker’s Mindset
Dak’s process is less about chasing hits and more about honoring discipline. He shows up daily—even when inspiration doesn’t. “Depression is one hell of a drug for creativity,” he says with a smirk, then immediately gets serious. “But consistency is key. The process matters more than anything.” Whether it’s digging through dusty YouTube corners for samples or getting up at 3 a.m. to lay down a melody that just won’t let him sleep, Dak has come to realize there’s beauty in simplicity and power in persistence.
Almost Signed at Fifteen, Reignited by COVID, and Still Evolving
Back when he was 15, a German label reached out to sign him—a moment that, despite slipping through the cracks, lit a permanent fire. “It showed me someone out there saw me,” he recalls. That early recognition may have planted the seed, but it was COVID isolation that gave him space to really water it. After years of dabbling in house music and riding out a burnout-induced plateau, Dakota found new life in faster tempos and familiar rhythms. “I’m basically back where I started—but slower. It’s weird, but it feels right.”
Closing Thoughts: Not Chasing Fame, Just Feeding the Flame
Dak isn’t angling for clout. He’s not planning viral drops or plotting global tours (though if Rihanna or Billie Eilish hit him up, he’d bring the coffee). His message to aspiring artists? “Your labor is still more valuable—even if you’re not being paid.” And to his 40 Spotify followers, he beams with sincere gratitude: “Y’all keep me going.”
Dak’s trajectory isn’t just a comeback story—it’s a deepening. His beats might not fill arenas (yet), but they might just soundtrack your loneliest bike ride or your biggest creative breakthrough. And in the end, that’s the kind of resonance that lasts.
