It seems like only yesterday that pop newcomer Dawin demanded answers for an age-old question that plagued generations of young people: whatchu gon’, whatchu gon’ do with all of that dessert?
Really, it was this time last year that he came out with his standalone single — you guessed it, Dessert — and hit the Billboard Hot 100 charts in America; a version featuring rapper Silento took over radio stations worldwide.
On Thursday night, the 25-year-old New Yorker will be performing it at RedFestDXB in Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, where he’ll share the bill with Rita Ora, The Vamps and Steve Aoki. Adam Lambert, Fifth Harmony and Trey Songz will perform the following day.
“There’s going to be a variation of things, unreleased music, remixes, some of my favourite throwback songs and a lot of dance routines we’re preparing for the first time. I’m going to be doing new things in Dubai that I’ve never done before,” Dawin told tabloid!.
What kind of throwback songs are we talking? “I got a few for you. Mario – Let Me Love You. Frank Ocean – Thinkin’ Bout You. Maybe Britney Spears – Oops I Did It Again,” he said.
But before he hit the stage, he shared his most surreal moments of 2015, and told us why he wants to bring the ’80s back on his first album.
2015 was a massive year for you. What was the coolest moment?
I remember Dessert got picked up for So You Think You Can Dance and it played on television, and it really shocked me to see it play five times and see some big names on TV listening to and reacting to my song that I made in my bedroom.
So if 2015 was the year of Dessert, what does 2016 hold?
There’s a very big possibility that I’m releasing an album. Whether there’s an album or not, there’s going to be multiple song releases that I’m excited about.
What would the ideal debut Dawin album sound like?
Oh, I have that mapped out in my head already. I want to continue fusing genres and find a way to catch people off-guard, but I’m also a very huge fan of the ’80s and the ’50s, so I would incorporate those styles with modern sounds, as well. Take the ’80s inspirations and combine it with today’s EDM, in a faithful way. Not tasteless, I would say.
What is it about ’80s music that you like?
The style of music, the instruments — I really love the instruments. I’m a musician, as well. The fact that there was so much dance music back then, and so many hits that were dance [songs], I really appreciate that. It just sounds so pure to me. Those rhythms sound timeless. I want to relive that.
Who are some of the acts that inspired you?
Michael Jackson, with his Thriller album, Off The Wall. Quincy Jones has some amazing songs. El Debarge — Rhythm of the Night. Even the Motown stuff was absolutely genius to me. Prince, Whitney Houston.
Is there anyone out there today you’d like to collaborate with?
Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, The Weeknd, just to name a few.
You mentioned you’re a musician…
I started playing guitar at the age of four. I was very curious as to how music was made. And I wanted to really imitate and copy what I heard. I had the help of my dad, who also plays guitar, and by the age of 10, I started producing music, because he’s always had a recording studio at home. I was writing by age 12, and I got into putting out my own music by the age of 16 or 17.
How do you feel about Dessert now, after what it’s gone on to do?
I feel super proud and thankful. I did have a feeling that it would lead to this point and open so many doors. It’s still surreal, but I remember last year, I was in the middle of making so many songs. But I feel like our bodies make our decisions better than our ears, and I felt something that told me this is the one, you know. Forget about every other song. I did about a hundred other songs, but Dessert had something that answered all my questions. Will this reach this person? Will this reach the radio? It has all of it.
*Tickets for RedFestDXB, taking place on February 11 and 12, range between Dh400-Dh1,200 on redfestdxb.com.