Who doesn’t like a comeback?
As jaded and divisive as we’ve increasingly become, there remains a soft spot for those who have returned from a lengthy absence to meet with renewed and re-invigorated success. We’ve seen that happen time and time again in the political, sports, and music entertainment universe and, more often than not, we’re transfixed on some level.
Shawn Desman is a case in point. An explosive force on the Canadian R&B and hip hop landscape early in the new millennium and beyond, the Mississauga-born singer, songwriter, and dancer rode the wave of that success into 2015 when, to spend more time with his family — in particular his wife, who was facing down health challenges — he called it quits.
Flash forward to 2020 when, agreeing to collaborate with Canadian country music artist Tebey on a project called RadioClub, they released a catchy dance mix of Rick Astley’s 1987’s smash single “Never Gonna Give You Up.”
Two years later, after being handpicked by Drake for a showcase performance featuring OVO Sound label artists, and being encouraged by the perennial hit music maker to get back at it, Desman went all in again, debuting the single “Maniac” in October 2022 — his first single release since 2015.
Comeback complete or still a work in progress? On Saturday, July 15th at Del Crary Park, the answer will provided by Desman himself as he headlines Peterborough Musicfest. Admission to the 8 p.m. show is free.
Just 18 years old when he recorded his self-titled breakthrough album in 2002, Desman called on the experience of having recorded four Portuguese language albums from age nine to 16 under his birth name of Shawn Fernandes. That debut album under his stage name Shawn Desman produced three top 10 chart singles in “Shook,” “Spread My Wings,” and “Get Ready.”
VIDEO: “Maniac” – Shawn Desman
Three years later, Desman proved he was no one-trick pony. His follow-up album Back For More, strengthened by the single “Let’s Go,” earned him the 2006 Juno award for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year.
There things sat until 2010 when Desman returned to the studio, the resulting album Fresh bringing him platinum sales for the singles “Electric” and “Night Like This,” and top 20 radio chart standing for “Shiver.”
Three years later, the album Alive spawned two singles, “Nobody Does It Like You” and “Dum Da Dum.” Of note, an accompanying short film of the same name was declared Best Outstanding Short Film at the Reelworld Film Festival in Toronto.
2015 saw Desman at the top of his game — he released the singles Victoria and Obsession the same year — when, as referenced, he made the undoubtedly difficult decision to step away from his music career to be with his wife Chantelle and their three children full-time.
As he related in a November 2022 chat with Erin Davis of View the Vibe, Desman had no intention of getting back at it — until Drake invited him to perform at his OVO Fest music festival. It was there when an executive with Wax Records, one of Canada’s largest and best known independent record labels, told Desman how important the performance could be to resurrecting his career.
“He’s like ‘Do you realize how big of a deal this is?'” recalls Desman. “‘The biggest artist in the world has invited you to do a show … You have to seize this opportunity because if you ever wanted to make a comeback, the time is now.'”
VIDEO: “Shook” – Shawn Desman
Post-performance, Drake’s enthusiasm for Desman’s second coming was no less off the charts.
‘Did you hear those people, man?’,” Desman says, paraphrasing Drake. “‘They love you. Those songs you just did, even the old stuff, feel like they’re brand new and living … Shawn Desman needs to make music again now. People need you.'”
Fortunately for his legion of longtime fans, not to mention the pending Musicfest crowd, Desman listened and recorded “Maniac” a few months later.
“Funny enough, I wrote a version of that song back in 2014 for what would have been my last album that I would have put out that never happened,” recalls Desman during his View the Vibe chat. “One of the guys I was writing the track with puts on this instrumental. I had the title Maniac sitting in my documents and I literally started singing ‘She’s a maniac, yeah, but you love her just like that.’ It was so catchy.”
Desman self-assesses his music as have one requirement to make him satisfied.
“It’s got to make people feel something,” he says. “I don’t want to just write cookie-cutter music. We’ve got to do something that’s catchy, makes people feel good, and is easy to remember. Easier said than done but I think we really nailed that with Maniac.”
VIDEO: “Nobody Does It Like You” – Shawn Desman
Now on the north side of 40, Desman is as curious as anyone to see what’s next in his musical rebirth. That said, it’s clear he’s again in a very good place, professionally and personally. Even clearer is his gratitude for the voice that whispered in his ear.
After launching his comeback with a show at Toronto’s Rivoli, a text message from Drake got his full attention.
“He wrote ‘Dude, I’m so proud of you … I’m so glad you listened to me that night. You didn’t just leave it up on stage and let it fizzle out. I can’t wait to see what you do next.'”
It’s a safe bet Drake is not alone in that regard.
Peterborough Musicfest is presenting 15 free-admission concerts during its 36th season, each staged on Wednesday and Saturday nights until August 19th, and supported by more than 100 sponsors, kawarthaNOW among them.
Overseen by general manager Tracey Randall and staff, a board of directors, and numerous volunteers, Peterborough Musicfest’s stated mission remains “to provide diverse, affordable live music to enrich cultural and economic prosperity in our community.”
For more information on this concert and the entire 2023 season, visit www.ptbomusicfest.ca or phone the Peterborough Musicfest office at 705-755-1111.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a headline sponsor of Peterborough Musicfest’s 2023 season.
