Guelph’s own Darren Piper, known by his stage name Optikx, is set to release his inspiring new single, “Champion,” on May 7. The song, which tackles themes of mental health, childhood trauma, and overcoming adversity, marks a powerful moment in the artist’s journey.
“It’s a song about overcoming adversity,” Piper explained. “Anyone can listen to it and feel like it’s their own anthem.”
Drawing from his own life experiences, Piper described “Champion” as a celebration of resilience. After more than a decade of sobriety and recovery from addiction, injury, and physical disability, he continues to openly share his story of surviving childhood sexual assault and battling mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, and complex PTSD.
Born in Australia and raised in Guelph’s south end, Piper attended Centennial C.V.I. He’s faced a tough road, but persistence has been his guiding force.
Piper is also working on his next single, “Overnight Success,” which reflects the long, often unseen struggle behind chasing a dream in the music industry.
“It’s been a long journey,” he said. “I’m 42 now, and things haven’t turned out exactly how I imagined. But it’s my path, and I’m not giving up.”
Despite the doubts that sometimes creep in, Piper said his passion for music keeps him going—and he hopes his story motivates others to pursue their dreams.
Already, “Champion” is making waves, becoming the most-viewed teaser of his career. Its more upbeat energy sets it apart from his previous releases, and it will be the fifth track on his upcoming EP, followed by “Overnight Success” as the sixth. Piper plans to cap off the project with a deeply personal final track titled “What’s My Name,” a nod to his longtime artist identity.
To support the production of his EP, Piper secured funding through the Rise Peer Supported Startup Program. He’s been recording since 2019 at Metalworks Studios, Canada’s top-rated recording facility. Song six is being mixed by Grammy-nominated engineer Blake Eiseman, whose impressive credits include work with Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Pink, Justin Bieber, and more.
Looking ahead, Piper hopes to perform live before the end of the year. Although recovering from a serious fall has been challenging, he says his strength grows day by day.
“Slow and steady wins the race,” Piper said. “But in my heart, I already feel like a champion.”
His ultimate goal? To create timeless music that resonates for decades to come.
