Shawn Desman

Biography

Shawn Bosco Fernandes (born January 12, 1982), known by his stage name Shawn Desman, is a Canadian singer, songwriter, dancer, actor, and choreographer.

Early life

Desman attended St. Francis of Assisi Elementary School in Toronto. After discovering his passion for performing, Desman's parents encouraged him to pursue a career in music. From age nine to 16, he made Portuguese albums and toured under his legal name, Shawn Fernandes. In 1998, Shawn was in The Boomtang Boys video for their song "Squeeze Toy" as a dancer.

2002–2005: Debut album and Back for More

At 18, Desman was signed to BMG Music Canada and started recording an album, which was released in 2002. The self-titled breakthrough album featured three top ten singles ("Shook×Shook2002 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Shook3:552Shook (Uomo remix feat. Bishop)4:13", "Spread My Wings" and "Get Ready") on the Canadian charts. The album went on to achieve gold certification in Canada. The single, "Spread My Wings", is a cover of the unreleased group Vega, featuring Chilli of TLC.
His follow-up album, Back for More×Back for More3 May 2005 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Back for More4:082Let’s Go3:583Sexy3:544Ooh3:035Insomniac4:166Hurt3:217Red Hair3:588She Ain’t Coming Back3:599Nobody3:5310What If3:4711Man in Me3:1712That’s Love4:0113Butterflies4:52 garnered a Juno Award for the R&B/Soul Recording of the Year which featured the single "Let's Go". After the release of his second album, BMG dropped him from the label. He was then signed to Universal Music Canada.

2010–2015: Fresh and Alive

His 2010 album Fresh×Fresh3 August 2010 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Fresh3:262Electric3:133Moneyshot3:264Quickie3:225Click3:476Trouble3:267Shiver3:238Night Like This3:519Impossible3:2610Something Stupid3:2611Dynamite3:42 garnered two gold singles, one platinum single, Video of the Year at the Much Music Video Awards, Canadian Dance/Pop Song of the year at the Stylus Awards, as well as SOCAN Number 1 Award for Electric/Night Like This.
Desman is also a producer and has worked with various artists producing hit singles for Nick Carter, Kreesha Turner, Keshia Chanté as well as contestants on YTV's The Next Star, where he produced the song "One More First Chance" for Brock Zanrosso in 2009 and "It Might Be You" for contestant Parker Schmidt in 2011.
In 2013, Desman released his fourth studio album, Alive×Alive5 February 2013 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Alive3:292Nobody Does It Like You3:173Stuck3:224I Do3:405Run3:416Too Young to Care3:327Dum Da Dum3:128I Got You3:349Bulletproof3:2410Won't Give Up on You3:26, along with an accompanying short film of the same name. The album spawned two singles; "Nobody Does It Like You×Nobody Does It Like You22 May 2012 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Nobody Does It Like You3:17" and "Dum Da Dum". In 2015, he released the songs "Victoria" and "Obsession", and was dropped by Universal Music.

2022–present: Resurgence

In July 2022, Desman performed at Drake's All Canadian North Stars concert at OVO Fest, featuring a dozen Canadian hip-hop and R&B artists. After the show, Drake approached him in the hallway outside of the green room, praising him for his performance and had encouraged him to continue making music. A few months later he had signed a new deal with Wax Records and released a new single called "Maniac×Maniac21 October 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Maniac2:42", his first single since 2015's "Obsession". In January 2023, the single debuted at number 99 on the Canadian Hot 100, making it his first appearance on the chart in 10 years, it would then peak at number 71.
In 2023, he participated in an all-star recording of Serena Ryder's single "What I Wouldn't Do", which was released as a charity single to benefit Kids Help Phone's Feel Out Loud campaign for youth mental health. In November 2025, Desman collaborated with Canadian country singer Dallas Smith on the song "One Good Life×One Good Life7 November 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1One Good Life2:59".

Personal life

Desman is of Portuguese and Italian descent. He has two younger brothers (one of them being fellow Canadian singer Danny Fernandes). He is also a cousin to another Canadian singer Tyler Medeiros.
In 2015, Desman's wife became ill, so he made the difficult decision to step away from his music career to focus on his family. He credits his appearance at Drake's 2022 OVO Fest concert celebrating a legacy of Canadian hip-hop and R&B musicians as one reason why he returned to making solo music. A conversation with Drake and response from the audience gave him the conviction to return to the recording studio.

Features

2003: "Movie Star (Remix)" Rascalz feat. Shawn Desman
2006: "All Eyes on Me" Puppet feat. Shawn Desman
2010: "Feel It" Danny Fernandes feat. Shawn Desman

Collaborations

2009: "One More First Chance" (as producer for Brock Zanrosso on YTV's The Next Star)