Shawn Desman has been a fixture in Canada’s music scene for more than two decades, becoming a staple of Canadian R&B throughout the 2000s and 2010s. Some of his earliest childhood memories are of watching Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” — yet his career may not have happened if not for an elementary school talent show.
“In Grade 2, for some reason, my Grade 2 teacher decided that I should be in the talent show […] I’d never sang in school, never danced, nothing,” said Desman. “I was like ‘cool, I’m going to sing a New Kids On The Block song.’ So, I did that, and I remember going out for recess that day, and the whole school being there […] going crazy […] so that really kind of started this whole thing for me.”
Desman began his career singing in his family’s native Portuguese. After recording five Portuguese-language albums, he transitioned to English music at age 16.
His self-titled debut album, released in 2002, was certified gold and featured the hit singles “Get Ready” and “Shook.” From 2005 to 2013, he released three more studio albums, producing notable songs such as “Let’s Go,” “Shiver,” “Electric” and “Night Like This.”
However, following the release of his fourth studio album, Alive, Desman faced career setbacks and was dropped from his former record label. Shortly after, his wife, Chantelle Leonardo-Fernandes, was diagnosed with severe ulcerative colitis. In 2015, Desman took a lengthy hiatus from music to focus on his family.
During that time, he struggled with mental health challenges and was unsure if he would ever return to music. A shift in mindset and encouragement from those around him helped his recovery and continues to guide his music career today.
“I was kind of like my own worst enemy in a sense,” he reflected. “I was like, ‘do I really want to come back and do this, and put myself out there again?’ […] And then finally somebody was like, ‘well Shawn, honestly, what do you have to prove? […] You should just do this because you love it.’ And I was like, ‘damn, you know what? You’re right. I should just do this because I love it.’”
With encouragement from family, friends and fellow artists, Desman made a comeback in 2022, releasing the single “Maniac” after a successful performance at Toronto’s OVO Fest. Since then, he has shown no signs of slowing down, embarking on a cross-country tour in 2024, including a stop at Winnipeg’s Burton Cummings Theatre — one of his tour highlights. Desman said that live shows and performing for fans remains his favourite part of his job.
“I feel so happy on stage, and it’s not like 20-year-old Shawn, who’s trying to impress the sexy girls that are in the audience. It’s 43-year-old Shawn, in a room that’s filled with love and respect and admiration, and I have that same feeling toward the fans as they do for me,” he said.
While returning to music, Desman remains focused on his family with Leonardo-Fernandes and their three children. He schedules as much as possible around their activities, from soccer games to dance competitions.
He credited an organized schedule and a strong support system for helping him balance life and career.
“As long as you’re just thorough and you have a good schedule, you can make anything work,” he said. “And a good support system too. We have an amazing family that helps us and friends that help us too, so it’s great.”
Leonardo-Fernandes continues to share her experience with ulcerative colitis on social media. She underwent her final surgery this January, and Desman said she is doing well. Her journey inspired his recent single, “Love Me With The Lights On,” which features a music video in collaboration with Canadian intimate apparel brand, Knix.
“There are so many people that you wouldn’t even know live with Crohn’s or colitis and also actually have an ostomy bag. Because it’s hidden, you just don’t see it so you would never know,” he said. “And it was actually all [Leonardo-Fernandes], she was like, ‘I want to bring this to light, that even with [ulcerative colitis], we could still live a normal life and be sexy and all that stuff.’ So really, hats off to her for doing that because it’s her journey, not mine. I’m just here to help her share her journey.”
Desman’s next single, “BODY,” featuring Ottawa-based artist Jamie Fine, will be released March 21. The two artists met at one of Desman’s concerts and later collaborated in Toronto, writing “BODY” on the second day of their session. Desman recorded the song alone, but felt something was missing, and decided he wanted Fine to feature on the track.
“I remembered how Jamie sounded singing it in the studio with me, and I was like, ‘man, she should be on the song with me,’” Desman recalled. He reached out to Fine, who immediately agreed.
“[Fine] was like, ‘Shawn, I kid you not, I left the studio today wishing that “BODY” was a record for me,’” he said, with a laugh.
Aside from new music, Desman plans to perform throughout the year. He will headline the Shake the Lake concert in Kenora on Aug. 2, and will then embark on a 20-city Canadian tour at the end of the year, including a stop in Winnipeg in November or December.
Desman finished the interview by expressing his gratitude to the fans that continue to support him.
“To have so many people come out of the woodwork and support me, support my music, support me at these shows […] I feel like last year was probably one of the best years of my life,” he said. “And really, it’s because of the fans […] I’m just so grateful for that.”
Shawn Desman’s new single, “BODY,” featuring Jamie Fine, will be available on streaming and digital download March 21. To pre-save the single and learn more about future releases and events, visit shawndesman.com.
2025/03/12 — album release date corrected
