Equate Meets Desta French

When you think about Latin music in the UK, not a lot of artists who fit into that category might pop up in your head. That’s why today we want to introduce you to Desta French, London-based singer-songwriter with Colombian and Italian roots and with a mission to find a voice for the UK’s Latin population. Although she’s mainly released songs in English in the past, she’s now dropped her first all-Spanish song ‘Aguanta’ - an atmospheric, trap-infused and fresh track, just in time for summer! We chat to her about her Latin roots, her musical upbringing and her plans for the future….

Words by Antonia Kuenzel

EQ: Hi Desta, could you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got into music?

DF: I was always performing in some capacity, what I didn’t realise is that I was also writing songs from a really young age, maybe 11/12, I would create words and melodies in my head and further to that, I was listening to music that would go on to guide my taste in the studio, like jazz mainly. I was obsessed with it in my early teens which I think was the foundation of how I approach melodies and choose chords, despite never having had any formal training. I met a producer called Jamal Hadaway straight after university, and after our first song called ‘magazine’ in the studio there was no turning back. It’s like I had put two and two together.

EQ: Who would you cite as your biggest inspiration(s)?

DF: Michael Jackson – my mum was a big fan! Janet Jackson, Toni Braxton, Mariah Carey, Aaliyah. A lot of old school RnB, and lots of Latin music. Old school salsa and cumbia and stuff like that. El Gran Combo, Hector Lavoe, Cheo feliciano, Selena. A lot of traditional stuff.

EQ: How would you describe your journey in music so far, are there any notable lessons you can share with emerging artists hoping to following your footsteps?

DF: My process and journey is my own, I’d find it hard giving someone too much advice based on that because everyone has their own journey and mistakes to make. The main thing I would say is to not do something if it doesn’t feel good. Listen to your gut, no one understands who you need to be more than you.

EQ: Your new track ‘Aguanta’ is out now, which is your first Spanish single. What made you decide to sing in Spanish this time?

DF: It was always going to happen, it was just a case of finding the right resources and timing, when my intentions and the stars decided to align. I needed to find the right musicians who understand Latin music, and the confidence in myself to challenge this unchartered territory I find myself in. There are not many U.K. artists writing RnB in Spanish.

“The main thing I would say is to not do something if it doesn’t feel good. Listen to your gut, no one understands who you need to be more than you.”

- DESTA FRENCH

EQ: …that’s great! So going forward, will you switch it up between Spanish and English or stick to Spanish for a while?

DF: I’ll see where my heart takes me with that – I imagine I’ll keep writing in both languages. I’ve got some pretty nice music in English yet to release.

EQ: Considering you’re also half Italian, will you consider a song in Italian as well at some point?

DF: I’m not so familiar with Italian music, like I am Latin music. It was less influential from a musical perspective, but I imagine if I were to do more research I would be inspired. You’ll see it in my art and visuals though, I feel as Italian as I do British and Colombian. Probably more of the folky stuff I’d mess with. My favourite song is called ‘Femmina’ by Toto.

EQ: The UK-Latino community is still on the come-up. Are there any fellow artists in your community that you can recommend as well?

DF: Yeah definitely! Cevi, Sashellys, jsca, Mike Kalle made a really good Latin hip hop album called Sudaka, Carla, Gwala, Dukus, Juanita Euka, Guerrera there are more. These are people I know personally who are doing their own thing well.

EQ: You said that “it’s hard to decide when or how to make the decision to let your heritage be part of your art”. When and why did that decision come for you?

DF: I said that when I was referring to the difficulties I knew I would face in finding my audience here, as I know from my experience growing up, that the Latin community is very sparse here and the music scene is still so new. I just wanted to release this project ‘San Lazarus’ when I could give it the best shot of being heard. I knew I would need a new audience to find it, people who understand and empathise with the sound scape, I think and language maybe.

EQ: And finally, what have you been up to during lockdown and what can we look forward to seeing from you once normal life resumes?

DF: The EP ‘San Lazarus’ comes out in August. In quarantine I’ve been creating, always working on ideas. I tried to not rise too much to the pressures of feeling I need to be a performing monkey on socials, because it seems to be the “done thing” at the moment, which I find can feel a bit cheap. I like to do things that feel authentic, ideas that I need to make a reality.

YouTube/DESTA FRENCH

Stream ‘Aguanta’ HERE

Follow Desta on socials:

Instagram: @Desta_French

Facebook: Desta French Music