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Derek McDonald
Glasgow-born
Derek McDonald was discovered by X Factor tycoon Simon Cowell at 17.
While
still in his teens, Derek earned the admiration and respect of legendary Motown
superstar, Lamont Dozier, won a coveted Smash Hits Award and toured the UK in
pop duo Mero.
He
reinvented himself as solo artist DMAC, enjoyed chart success and spent a year
honing his skills on tour with performances on most UK TV shows, including the
famous Top of The Pops stage.
Derek
was catapulted to fame after the Asian release of his debut solo album
Inescapable notched up number ones in Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore, and he
was invited to tour with Blue on a sell-out tour of the continent.
Derek's
unforgettable appearance at the 2004 MTV Asia Awards only army of adoring fans
captivated by his cheeky Glasgow charm.
That
year he landed a major deal with Motorola where they pre-loaded their new smart
phones with one of Derek's music videos, 3 songs and several photographs from
his album.
The
last few years he has focused on developing his songwriting and performance
skills, having worked alongside some of the most sought-after producers and
artists in the business. And with a growing consistently diverse portfolio, his
songs are fast becoming hot-property.
"Music
has always been my life," he admits. "All I've ever wanted to do is write and
perform great songs.
"I've
been setting myself new challenges for my second album and I'm very proud of
the way it's coming together."
Recording
in New York, Los Angeles and Scandinavia, 26-year-old Derek has enlisted the
expertise of some of the industry's biggest names to ensure his next album has
all the elements of commercial success, while still maintaining a more mature
sound.
The
road to stardom is littered with obstacles in today's reality show-led climate.
But Derek's sheer strength of character, raw talent and desire to succeed have
not only made him more determined, but he is now stronger than ever - as a
writer and an artist.
Derek
said: "Most people would have given up by now. But all the blows have made me
step up my game and think a lot about my goals and how to achieve them by
challenging my own limits.
"Being
an artist is like learning a trade - I now feel I've gained the necessary
experience in order to move to the next level."