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Shawn Desman Isn't Back — He's Still Here
In the past year, the Canadian pop singer has played sold-out shows across the country, signed a lucrative songwriting deal with Anthem Entertainment and popped up all over NXNE with exclusive performances for his most dedicated fans. "Body," his collaborative track with Jamie Fine, is climbing the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 chart, sitting at No. 87 after 5 weeks on the chart. It's a hit on radio too, now in the top 10 of the Canada Hot AC Airplay chart.
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Not bad for a singer who's been performing for well over 20 years.
Desman was the soundtrack to the childhood and adolescent years of many Millennial and Gen Z-aged Canadians. With bona fide hits like “Shook” and “Electric,” he was a pop radio and MuchMusic mainstay in the early 2000s with the total package — catchy, upbeat songs, hypnotic dance moves and good looks.
But Desman caught the performance bug much earlier.
“Any videos of me as a kid, I'm always in front of the camera, dancing and singing,” he recalls. So it wasn’t a surprise when nine-year-old Desman performed “My Favorite Girl” by New Kids on the Block at his elementary school talent show in the early '90s. “I remember coming outside for recess, and the entire school was waiting for me,” says Desman.
Seeing his school celebrity status, Desman’s parents took him to a Portuguese singing school. He spent his childhood and early teens touring and performing across the country in his second language.
“I loved every moment of it," he says. "At times, it was a little bit overwhelming, but I knew that it was what I wanted to do.”
Shawn Desman photographed by Lane Dorsey in Toronto in June, 2025. Styling by Aliecia Brissett.
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It wasn’t until 2002 that Desman signed a record deal with the now-defunct BMG Music Canada. In a pop music peak, so-called urban sounds were on the come-up. As he was putting the final touches on his self-titled debut album, last-minute additions included “Get Ready” and “Shook” — both of which went on to become hits, helping the album go gold.
“I’m so grateful. It's hard to write one great song that people like. I feel blessed with the ability to know what my audience likes and be able to tap into that, and have had so many songs that have been successes,” he explains. “Even now, to still be here after 23 years and have a song that's charting in the Top 10 in the country is crazy to me.”
Three years after his debut, Desman released his sophomore album, Back for More, which earned a Juno Award for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year. Despite the critical acclaim, he was dropped from BMG, but later signed a major label deal with Universal Music Canada.
In the following decade, he further cemented himself as a pop hitmaker with certified gold and platinum tracks “Shiver” and “Night Like This,” respectively. From his fourth record, 2010’s Alive, he delivered fan favourite “Nobody Does It Like You.” Still, he was dropped for a second time in 2015.
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“It was hard and devastating, and made me hate the business,” he recalls. “Success has many parents, but failure is an orphan. When you're hot, everybody's on you and wants to be a part of it, but as soon as something goes wrong and you're not hot, everybody forgets your number.”
For seven years, being a full-time dad was his main gig. Desman was also supporting his wife, Chantelle, during a precarious health diagnosis related to severe ulcerative colitis, so he took a break from the music industry. (Her health condition would later inspire the romantic body positivity anthem "Love Me With The Lights On.")
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“I did miss touring, but I had to do it for my family. Looking back, I wouldn't trade it for anything. I'm so lucky I got to be with my kids when they were young.”
In 2022, Desman’s life would change. He received a call from Drake, asking him to perform at the All Canadian North Stars concert at OVO Fest.
“I hadn’t performed in almost 10 years, but I made it my mission to blow the roof off that night.”
Shawn Desman photographed by Lane Dorsey in Toronto in June, 2025. Styling by Aliecia Brissett.
He delivered on that promise. The crowd went wild for Desman’s nostalgic hits. Afterwards, came a heartfelt moment with Drake that subconsciously prompted his return to music.
“He thanked me and said he grew up watching me perform, and I was a big part of his career, which felt crazy. When you're young, you're not thinking about creating a legacy and inspiring people,” he recalls. “He told me the crowd loved me and I needed to start making music again.” Chantelle felt the same way. “Once I got the stamp of approval from her, it was all systems go.”
As they say, the third time’s the charm. In this new phase of his career, Desman is making the most of it.
His comeback track “Maniac” peaked at No. 71 on the Canadian Hot 100. He has embraced the world of social media, posting fun flashbacks and new tunes that capture the hearts of both longtime fans and their offspring.
You could see multiple generations in the crowd at Desman's intimate Billboard Canada Unplugged showcase and Q&A at Division 88 in Toronto at NXNE, later dancing along with him on the platform of Bloor-Yonge subway station as part of a special TTC pop-up performance.
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“I have fans that have been with me throughout the 20-something years who now have kids that are fans, which is incredible," he says.
With "Body" surging, Desman is ready to hit the road again. He will kick off the summer concert series at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto on August 15 and is embarking on a cross-Canada tour in the fall with Fine, which he promises will be “an incredibly high-energy show.”
His new label, Wax Records, helped him secure a new songwriting deal with Anthem Publishing. The agreement allows him to work with songwriters globally, boasting more music and international touring.
“They're super passionate,” shares Desman. “They’re excited about doing business together and seriously believe in what I'm doing. That means everything.”
Now 43, Desman is approaching the new phase of his career with maturity and grace. He's not taking anything for granted.
”I know this doesn't happen to everybody," he says. "It's one thing to get one chance at music, but this is chance number three for me. You can't write a better story.”
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