Fill me in — let me know what’s up, baby. I might as well have sung Craig David’s lyrics back to him when we caught up over the phone on Thursday morning ahead of his People by Crystal DJ gig in Abu Dhabi. It was initially suggested that the performance would be a recurring one, but David — no stranger to entertaining UAE crowds — told tabloid! it was a one-off for now.
“If they say, ‘Yo, let’s do a residency where you come every month or however many times’, I’d love to, because I love this aspect of my performance.”
In the meantime? He’s been keeping busy hosting a ‘TS5’ party every Sunday in his Miami penthouse and broadcasting it across the UK through the Capital Xtra radio station.
The Southampton-born singer rose to prominence in the early noughties with several big hits, from Re-Rewind and 7 Days to Walking Away and What’s Your Flava. He’s since released five albums (and a greatest hits), with his most recent dropping in 2010.
The 33-year-old updated us on his latest music-writing escapades, returning to his roots and the hottest tracks on his set.
Tell us about your Miami performance and your latest gig in Abu Dhabi’s People by Crystal?
For many years, I sort of shunned the DJ thing. But I realised: why can’t I do a performance that involves me singing and DJing, as well as me maybe doing a band show or an acoustic performance? And that’s pretty much what has given me the opportunity to be out here [in the UAE] — I got booked to do a DJ show. But I guess my DJ shows aren’t just me playing music behind the decks and that’s it. It’s a performance. It’s playing other people’s music [and some of mine in the mix], but at the same time, singing and adlibbing around the songs.
What are your favourite tracks on your set right now?
Trey Songz’s Touchin, Lovin. I did a remix of it recently, so I’ve been blasting his one and then going into my version of that. Same thing I did with Loyal from Chris Brown; I also love another one from Chris Brown, from his new album, which is Came To Do. I think that’s gonna be another big club, R&B hit for him.
What do you think of British acts making it big in America these days?
Good music will always travel. If it’s the Rudimentals or the Sam Smiths of this world, the Ellie Gouldings — good music will always travel. I think even moreso now, because of the internet.
Are you thinking of putting another album out?
I’m really back in my creative mode, and I’m writing so many songs and just putting music out. I’ve been putting a lot of stuff out on my SoundCloud. [Music] is an energy. Rather than reducing music down to a commodity where you’re trying to sell it… forget all that. I’m like, let me put the music out, and let it do whatever it needs to do. I’m back to that mode again, which is how, when I look back in hindsight, my first album was created. I never had success — I didn’t know what I was really basing it on — I was just making music because I loved it, and I’m back to that.
— Listen to Craig David’s latest tracks on soundcloud.com/craigdavidofficial.
