Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

‘I refused to sell my soul for a shilling,' says singer DES-C

NATURALLY-gifted singer Des-C has always been a maverick who has done things his own

way and never followed the musical crowd. While this has enabled him to maintain his integrity, on the flipside, the talented artist has had a stop/start career with long gaps in between songs.


The independent singer, songwriter and musician made a return with his recent release

OMG G, which is powered by his unmistakable vocals. He is hoping this is the beginning of an exciting new chapter.

Eastern Eye caught up with Des-C to discuss his new single, musical journey, controversial opinions about the industry and why he has thought about quitting. As usual, he didn’t hold back from his strong opinions.

You keep appearing and disappearing from the music scene, why is that?

A lot of this is to do with finance. I am a self-funded artist and don’t wish to be any record labels puppet. I refused to sell my soul for a shilling. In 2016 I released a song called Kainat, which I thought would do well, but it didn’t and it was no fault of the producer Namz Kay, who has my utmost respect. So I had to innovate, I had to evolve,

but most importantly, I had to understand from where I failed and why?

Do you find it difficult to fit into the industry?

No, not at all. Before I used to write and sing songs. Now I sing, write, produce music and direct music videos for other struggling artists in the music industry.

Looking back on your musical journey, would you have done anything differently?

I think this is a question for the ages for every human being who has come and gone in history. Yes obviously I would, but would this change me as a character from where I am now? Let’s not forget, it’s from one’s mistakes where one learns.

What is the biggest challenge you face as an artist today?

I think it’s self-belief, which my fans have made me realise through my new single OMG G. It has given me a realisation of self-belief.

What led you towards your single OMG G?

I had to give my fans something different, which they would not have expected from me. Or they did but at the beginning of my career, which I did not give them. It had to be something, which was not following trends. I wouldn’t say a game-changer per se, but definitely something which my fans could turn around and say ‘wow’ that’s the Des-C we remember.

There were a lot of game-changers when you first started…

Talking about game-changers. Let’s not forget the Mentor Kolektiv, Sona family, Asian Dub Foundation and so many more. We were the innovators of the trend, which everybody is following now. The only difference was we were too ahead of our time and people used to laugh at or hate the whole hiphop/ urban fusion songs back then. With OMG G I wanted a party popping no trend following song.

What was the biggest challenge of putting this song together?

Most definitely the financial aspects and getting the right team behind me to achieve what I had set out to do. Everything had to be perfect from A to Z from the music producer (Dav Juss) to the music video director (the great Murshed).

What has the response to the song been like?

It’s been doing fantastic. My aim is to get the music video to OMG G genuine views. It is out now on my official YouTube channel (@theeofficialdesc) and is available to download on all major digital platforms.

Will you now take another long break?

I may take a permanent one. If I don’t achieve what I set out to do, I will retire. Yup. Please, let me explain. Not too long ago I played a track at a family gathering (the artist and song shall not be named). The song was complete garbage in every sense possible, musically and lyrically. This was the opinion from all my family members. A few days later the same song I showed them had reached eight million views, but with only a few thousand likes. Also please bear in mind the artist is brand new. After showing my family the online response they were convinced the song must be good, otherwise how did the artist generate so many views and comments in 48 hours. I knew this was fake. Unfortunately, this vexed me.

So stuff like that is disheartening…

I know how much hard work, blood, sweat and tears I have put in this year. I have stayed consistent in terms of making musical noise on social media platforms regardless of label funding. I had done some remixes and covers, which are all on my YouTube channel. I had little or no response from my fans. What was I doing wrong? Why are they not receptive to what I’m doing? Have their expectations become greater for me because the scene has

changed? So many questions!

What did you do?

So I went on my Facebook and said how I felt. This was not a PR stunt to get views. It is an opportunity to get a response from my fans to see if they are still out there? It is for them I do this. If they are no longer there, why am I doing it at all? I need them to be

receptive, negative or positive. It is because of you fans artists like us exist.

How are you feeling about it?

I am a true believer in the law of attraction, so feeling very positive. This is all in the hands of my fans and obviously God almighty. I can only try my level best and if my best is not good enough I can look back with no regrets. Ultimately, only fans have the power to make or break an artist.

What is the musical master plan going forward?

I have got an album and collaborations lined up for this coming year, so I shall remain consistent after reaching my genuine 100,000 plus (YouTube) views. I have started music production for other struggling artists too. I am also directing and shooting music videos.

Who would you love to collaborate with?

Sangra Vibes and new upcoming rapper Jagga.

Last time we spoke you mentioned about doing a qawwali song, will that happen?

It is already done with a music video and let me tell you, it’s fire.

Any other musical genres you want to explore?

I think you guys know me well enough for me to say I will not leave any stone unturned.

Is India on the radar for you?

I’m not going to chase India now. Let it chase me. I believe if I focus and concentrate hard enough on these shores, UK will be back on the world stage again. But I can’t do this alone. We need more home-grown talent to emerge.

Have you made a New Year’s resolution?

I don’t believe in resolutions anymore. You either do what you’re going to do or you’re not. Simple. The mind goes where energy flows.

What do you think of the British Asian music scene today?

Every Tom Dick and Harjinder wants to be a singer. Let them. I have to maintain my belief about quality over quantity.

Does it sadden you that UK is falling away from being world leaders in Punjabi music?

It makes me laugh. Let me explain. Nearly every artist I have met internationally have this belief, regardless of releasing in Punjab, Canada or wherever. In their own minds, they have not become successful unless the UK audiences are listening to their songs. What does that tell you? Even if that artist comes and performs here once that is all it will take for them to have the self-belief that they have made it. Because of UK’s vast Asian musical

history, everyone knows we help set it all off.

What are your future predictions for British Asian music?

No one will want to be a musician once the fake views and comments are clamped down on.

Today what is your biggest motivating factor?

It’s in my OMG G music video. I believe where one door closes another opens.

What music dominates your own playlist?

Latin music.

What advice would you give a young artist?

Stay consistent and remember it is okay to make mistakes. But most importantly, learn from them.

You always speak your mind. Do you want to say anything controversial?

I said what I needed to say. I don’t think you can get any more controversial than wanting to reach a hundred thousand genuine views.

Finally, do you have any message to give?

Please support my single OMG G and download it legally. Without you guys, us artists are nothing.

More For You

Ping Pong restaurant chain shuts all UK branches

The chain had also gained a following for its themed brunches

iStock

Ping Pong restaurant chain shuts all UK branches after 20 years

Key points

  • Chinese dim sum restaurant Ping Pong has closed all its UK locations
  • The chain made the announcement via social media
  • Founded in 2005, the brand thanked customers and staff for their support
  • Loyal diners shared memories and disappointment in the comments

All branches are permanently closed

Chinese restaurant chain Ping Pong has permanently closed all its branches in the UK, the company confirmed in a social media announcement.

Founded in 2005 by restaurateur Kurt Zdesar, the dim sum chain had become popular for its stylish interiors, creative menus, and Asian-inspired cocktails. The company did not provide prior notice of the closure but said the decision marked the end of an “unforgettable” 20-year journey.

Keep ReadingShow less
New Covid strain

Experts have raised concerns about the immune-evasive nature of the Stratus strain

iStock

New Covid strain Stratus spreads in UK with unusual hoarse voice symptom

Key points

  • A new Covid strain known as Stratus is spreading across the UK
  • The variant is marked by a distinctive symptom: a hoarse or raspy voice
  • Sub-variants XFG and XFG.3 now account for 30% of cases in England
  • Experts say there is no evidence of more severe disease
  • Lower immunity levels may make more people vulnerable to infection

Covid variant Stratus on the rise in the UK

A new strain of Covid-19, known as Stratus, is spreading across the UK and drawing attention for its unusual symptom — a hoarse or raspy voice. According to data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Stratus and its two sub-variants, XFG and XFG.3, are responsible for around 30 per cent of Covid cases in England.

Of the two, XFG.3 is currently the more dominant. The UKHSA confirmed that monitoring of all circulating Covid-19 variants is ongoing as part of regular surveillance.

Keep ReadingShow less
Human brain continues forming neurons

Neurogenesis, the process by which new neurons form in the brain

iStock

Human brain continues forming neurons well into old age, study finds

Key points

  • New neurons continue forming in the brain’s hippocampus into old age
  • Study confirms presence of neural progenitor cells in adults
  • DNA carbon dating and single-nucleus RNA sequencing were used
  • Research shows variation in neuron production between individuals
  • Findings could aid treatments for neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders

Human brain shows ongoing neuron formation into older age

A new study has confirmed that the human brain continues to produce new nerve cells well into late adulthood, challenging previous assumptions about age-related decline in neurogenesis. The findings, published in the journal Science, provide fresh insight into how adaptable the brain remains over a lifetime.

Neurogenesis, the process by which new neurons form in the brain, is known to occur in the hippocampus — a region involved in memory. While previous research has suggested that this process continues throughout life, there has been limited concrete evidence of the presence of neural progenitor cells in the adult brain.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kent County Show 2025

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, who grew up in Brenchley

Getty Images

Kent County Show opens with royal visit from Duchess of Edinburgh

Key points:

  • Day one of the Kent County Show begins at Detling Showground near Maidstone
  • The Duchess of Edinburgh visits the event for the first time in 16 years
  • Organisers expect up to 70,000 visitors over the weekend
  • Farming and rural life are at the centre of the three-day programme
  • Highlights include live camel racing, equine sports, livestock displays and more

Kent County Show opens with royal visit

The Kent County Show returned to Detling near Maidstone on Friday, marking the start of a major three-day celebration of farming, food, and rural living. The event opened with a special visit from the Duchess of Edinburgh, who is attending for the first time in 16 years.

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, who grew up in Brenchley near Tunbridge Wells and serves as patron of the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations (ASAO), met with farmers, equine exhibitors, and local businesses on her tour of the showground.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sri Aurobindo

Heehs’s biography is grounded in extensive archival research across France, England, India and Israel

AMG

Sri Aurobindo and the rise of the Asian century

Dinesh Sharma

My friend and colleague, the American historian Peter Heehs, who has lived in Pondicherry, India, for decades, recently published a compelling new biography, The Mother: A Life of Sri Aurobindo’s Collaborator (2025). Heehs previously authored The Lives of Sri Aurobindo (2008), which remains one of the most balanced and scholarly accounts of Aurobindo’s life.

According to Heehs, most previous biographies of the Mother were written for devotees and relied on secondary sources, often presenting her as a divine incarnation without critical engagement. “Such biographies are fine for those who see the Mother as a divine being,” Heehs said, “but they can be off-putting for readers who simply want to understand her life – as an artist, writer, spiritual teacher, and founder of the Ashram and Auroville.”

Keep ReadingShow less