DESI’S DONE IT ALL

IN THE DAYTIME, STILL-HUMBLE SOUL SINGER AND SONGWRITER DESI CAMPBELL LIVES THE LIFESTYLE YOUR AVERAGE SHOWBIZ STAR DOES. HE STEAMS IT OUT IN HIS HOME SAUNA, TENDS TO HIS PLANTS, WORKS OUT AND, AS A KEEN CHEF, COOKS HEALTHY MEALS.

He does all this whilst practicing his vocals and instruments for his shows ahead, in the peace and tranquility of his home. This sounds about right for someone whose long-withstanding music career dating back to the 80s in London, has taken him to LA, New York, Japan and back.

He has recorded and played all over the world for over thirty years, and still plays abroad occasionally. Campbell got his first big break as a backing singer for The Style Council. He went on to sing with names such as Levi Topps from The Four Tops, Errol Brown in Hot Chocolate, and even Aretha Franklin! He supported Lisa Stansfield and The Brand New Heavies with his nineties band Everyday People on tour. Since 2010, Desi Campbell has made Malta his home.

“I truly love my vocation and feel blessed to be doing something that doesn't feel like work for a living,” Desi tells Il-Bizzilla. “I find Malta to be a paradise where anywhere in the world is easily accessible, the climate is amazing, opportunities for me are abundant, and I'm happy to call it home.”

Thirteen years ago, Desi, of Jamaican background who grew up in the UK, moved to the island for a new start. At first, it wasn’t easy, and, after years of recording and touring with his talent, he found himself taking a regular part-time job for the first time in his life. A “shock to the system” - his words - the singer never gave up hope, and after patiently pushing through, the bookings started rolling in again. He now focuses his time between his solo projects, his latest release being the uplifting ‘Better Man’, as well as performing with his band Brown Sugar at luxury hotels and extravagant wedding receptions on our sunny shores. The booming so-called ‘destination wedding’ trend has fluctuated, and couples who’ve long yearned to tie the knot, but were instead tied down with travel restrictions for two years, can now do so in style. Nothing says stylish more than a sharply-dressed wedding band, and Campbell’s band Brown Sugar fits the bill big-time. The frontman’s band is made up of young, enthusiastic local talent, who collectively bring a sense of synchronised funk, reggae and jazz to the party.

Ah, the Maltese wedding. It’s outdoor pools and palazzo lawns, all white tablecloths and catering company napkins. The free-flowing Negronis (made with Kinnie, naturally), and those many, many little caviar tartlets that just seem to keep on coming. It’s the catching up with cousins and friends you haven’t seen since university. Bridesmaids dresses and flower crowns, cream-coloured bouquets and a lot, a lot of Instagram posing. And of course - the cincherthe famous Mediterranean wedding reception dance floor. It is no wonder that Malta has become a go-to host for so many couples getting hitched in this era of restored global travel.

When he’s performing a live show, Desi has one rule - no iPads on stage. “We’re a rehearsed band, not a karaoke show”, he tells Il-Bizzilla, insisting band members learn the songs ad verbatim, so that they can engage with the audience without getting distracted. Full focus brings spontaneity and fun to the performance, and a showman like Desi Campell lights up the whole stage with his renditions of the classics. He’s into all music, and incorporates relative newcomers like Sam Smith and Harry Styles into his smokin’ set-lists, but excels with evergreen Motown and R’n’B classics. He goes through phases with what he listens to personally. “My recent favourites are 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love’ by Queen, and 'Back In Love Again’ by LTD. They’re two very contrasting genres, but that's what I enjoy about music - there are no rules, restrictions or guidelines. I just gravitate towards whatever I'm feeling”. Wise words from someone who’s been gravitating towards his feelings for years, and ended up seeing the world by reaching for (and singing with!) the stars.

WORDS BOBBY SAYDON