Celeb Savant

Shawn Desman - a Canadian singer, songwriter and Juno, MMVAs and SOCAN award-winning artist - joins us on this episode of Celeb Savant. Shawn explains how he independently recorded his first Portuguese album at the age of 10, how he became the teenage Canadian Portuguese 'Justin Bieber', and how after stepping away from the industry, Drake convinced him to start creating music again. Website - www.shawndesman.com Instagram - @shawndesman Facebook - @ShawnDesmanOfficial TikTok - @shawndesman YouTube - @ShawnDesmanVEVO

Molly Hocking - a British singer, songwriter, and the winner of the 8th season of The Voice UK - joins us on this episode of Celeb Savant. We hear how Molly joined a theatre group at the age of 8, which helped with her self-confidence, about her journey on The Voice UK, why she is grateful for all the doors that have closed along the way, and what is coming next. Website - www.mollyhocking.com Instagram - @molly.hocking.music Facebook - @justmollyhocking Twitter - @hocking_molly TikTok - @justmollyhocking YouTube - @Justmollyhocking

Maya Manuela - an American emerging singer and songwriter - joins us on this episode of Celeb Savant. Maya explains that she gave up college to pursue music in Nashville, why she shifted away from creating country music, her creative process, and all about her debut album - American Doll. Website - www.mayamanuela.com Instagram - @mayamanuela_ TikTok - @mayamanuela YouTube - @mayamanuela

Tommy Champion - an American genre-fluid music producer, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and sound designer - joins us on this episode of Celeb Savant. Tommy explains how moving to New York, and co-founding Carriage House Studio has allowed him to collaborate with artists in every available genre. We also hear how creating in different genres has inspired Tommy to focus on his own music, and more about his latest projects. Website - www.tommychampion.com Instagram - @tommychampion.wav Facebook - @tommychampionmusic TikTok - @tommychampion.wav YouTube - @tommychampion.mp4

Ashleigh Watson - an Australian upcoming independent retro soul singer and songwriter - joins us on this episode of Celeb Savant. We hear how Ashleigh joined the Motown soul band Sweethearts at the age of 14 until 22, where she was a mentor in the band, how studying jazz after school laid the foundation for the next phase of her career, and more about collaborating with Michael Cristiano for her latest project. Website - www.ashleighwatsonmusic.com Instagram - @ashleighwatsonmusic Facebook - @ashleighwatsonmusic YouTube - @AshleighWatsonMusic

Lauri Ylönen - a Finnish singer, songwriter, and musician from the multi-platinum selling band The Rasmus - joins us on this episode of Celeb Savant. Lauri explains how, as a child, he started out playing piano and classical guitar, how the band was formed in 1994 when Lauri was 15 years old, how he became friends with and collaborated with Desmond Child, who wrote most of the songs he loved as a child, and all about the band’s 11th studio album, Weirdo. Website - www.therasmus.com Instagram - @therasmusofficial Facebook - @therasmusofficial TikTok - @therasmusofficial YouTube - @TheRasmusOfficial

Vince Kelley - an American singer, actor, and performer - joins us on this episode of Celeb Savant. Vince takes us through his journey from going to the School of Performing Arts in NYC, why he prefers being on stage compared to acting in front of the camera, what he loves about performing in live theatre and all about portraying Blanche in Golden Girls - The Laughs Continue... Website - www.goldengirlstour.com Instagram - @vincekelley @goldengirlstour Facebook - @goldengirlstour

Charlotte Jackson Coleman - a British actress - joins us on this episode of Celeb Savant. Charlotte tells us about studying journalism after school and being a successful television presenter on Sky Sports, ITV's 71 Degrees North, and more. We hear how having a role as a journalist on 'Keith Lemon: The Movie' allowed her to change her path and become a full-time actress, and about her latest project as Sammy on 'Secrets'. Instagram - @seecharlottej Twitter - @seecharlottej

Dynamyte - an American singer, songwriter, drummer and multi-instrumentalist - joins us on this episode of Celeb Savant. Dynamyte says she started performing with her brother at the age of 8 under the stage name Michael & Marisa. They performed in the USA for a decade, including opening for Ariana Grande, Cody Simpson, and more. We hear about how she has moved into her solo project, how she creates music, and what’s next. Website - www.dynamyte.com Instagram - @dynamyte Twitter - @callmedynamyte TikTok - @dynamyteofficial YouTube - @Dynamyte

Tilly Fenton - an Australian indie-pop singer and songwriter - joins us on this episode of Celeb Savant. Tilly explains how, as a child, she was taught classical piano, which she originally hated… but once she realised she could play her favourite songs, she started to enjoy it. We also hear how studying music and learning to play the guitar gave her the confidence to sing in front of others, about her creative process and more. Website - www.tillyfenton.com Instagram - @tilly.fenton TikTok - @tillyfent0n YouTube - @tillyfenton

Toby Gad, a German-born and American-based 3 x Grammy, Diamond, and NAACP Award-winning producer and songwriter, joins us on this episode of Celeb Savant. Toby talks about his award-winning career, which includes his first big break writing songs with his brother for the Milli Vanilli album, and how he creates songs - including massive hits for Fergie, Beyonce, John Legend and many more. We also hear about his latest project Piano Diaries, where Toby reimagines some of his biggest hits. Website - www.tobygad.com Instagram - @tobygadmusic Facebook - @toby.gad.7 Twitter - @tobygad TikTok - @tobygad YouTube - @tobygad

Thapelo Esau - a South African singer, songwriter, and producer - joins us live in studio for this episode of Celeb Savant. Thapelo takes us on her journey, honing her craft at school, becoming a top 9 finalist on SA Idols, losing her singing voice after having surgery on her vocal chords, and how she rebuilt her confidence and regained her singing voice to ultimately release her latest EP - Ms. Esau. This episode of Celeb Savant was recorded live in studio at Solid Gold Podcasts in Johannesburg, South Africa. Instagram - @thapelooesau Facebook - @IdolsSAThapeloEsau TikTok - @thapelooesau YouTube - @ThapeloEsau

Dimitris Nezis - a Greek independent singer, songwriter, and producer - joins us on this episode of Celeb Savant. We dive into Dimitris’ award-winning career, which includes studying vocals and music theory, and releasing Greek music for over a decade before creating music in English. We also discuss the current music landscape and more! Website - www.dimitrisnezis.com Instagram - @dimitrisnezisofficial Facebook - @dimitrisnezisofficial Twitter - @dimitrisnezis TikTok - @dimitrisnezis YouTube - @dimitrisnezisofficial

Nadia Sheikh - a half British, half Spanish singer and songwriter - joins us on this episode of Celeb Savant. We dive into Nadia's music world, which includes seeing Avril Lavigne live on stage at the age of 12, which inspired her to follow a path in music. She also explains what a 'vomit demo' is, and the approach to writing songs in English and translating them into Spanish. Website - www.nadiasheikh.com Instagram - @nadiasheikhmusic Facebook - @nadiasheikhmusic Twitter - @NadiaSheikh_ TikTok - @nadiasheikhmusic YouTube - @nadiasheikhmusic

Randall Abrahams - a South African media and entertainment executive and television personality - joins us on this episode of Celeb Savant. Randall takes us on his multi-decade journey in the industry, touching on his time in radio (Good Hope FM, YFM), being MD at Universal Music Africa, his experience being a judge on Idols SA, and about his latest collaboration with eNCA... the podcast - Both Sides. Website - www.enca.com Instagram - @randall.tv Facebook - @eNCAnews Twitter - @tv_randall YouTube - @encanews

Lavinia, an Italian-born and German-based rising dance music singer and songwriter, joins us on this episode of Celeb Savant. Lavinia tells us that it was her dream to go to the Olympics as an artistic gymnast, how she nearly ended up in a wheelchair from falling from the parallel bars, and how a year after the accident she found creating music was also a passion, which she pursued to chart-topping success. Instagram - @laviniahope TikTok - @lavinia_music YouTube - @laviniahope

Thuso Mbedu - a South African Emmy and Critics Choice Awards nominated actress - joins us from Los Angeles on this episode of Celeb Savant. Thuso explains the intention behind her performance is to bring healing through her craft, what she loves about portraying different characters, and how she researches for creating a character. We also hear all about her latest project, which is currently airing on Showmax - Task. Instagram - @thuso.mbedu Facebook - @tsonokwanda Twitter - @ThusoMbedu TikTok - @thuso.mbedu

Gemma Marinus - creative arts educational leader - joins us live in studio on this episode of Celeb Savant. She tells us about her journey in the industry, which includes performing on stage in productions such as Mamma Mia, and how her passion for teaching allowed her to transition into that space. We also hear about Stageworx, the performing arts school that she opened, and more about 'Born to Perform' 2025. This episode of Celeb Savant was recorded live in studio at Solid Gold Podcasts, Johannesburg, South Africa. Website - www.stageworx.co.za www.montecasino.co.za Instagram - @stageworx_ @howard_audio Facebook - @stageworxperformingarts @HowardMusicSA @gemmalouisedonnelly @montecasino Twitter - @montecasinoza YouTube - @howardmusic1 LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/gemma-marinus-227900231

Jai McDowall - a Scottish singer, songwriter, and Britain’s Got Talent winner - joins us on this episode of Celeb Savant. We hear how Jai auditioned three times for X Factor UK, and as a last resort auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent, how winning BGT in 2011 has allowed him to have a career in the industry, and more about what he is currently doing, which includes just having finished collaborating with G4. Website - www.jaimcdowallofficial.com Instagram - @jai_mcdowall Facebook - @JaiMcDowallMusic Twitter - @jai_mcdowall YouTube - @jaimcdowallmusic

Robin S - an American singer, artist, and dance icon - joins us on this episode of Celeb Savant. Robin tells us about her first professional gig performing with a band… which helped her hone her craft as an entertainer, and the reason behind her stage name. We also discuss what the audience's perception of artists are, and more on her upcoming tour to South Africa in September/October 2025. Website - www.iamrobins.com Instagram - @iamtherobins Facebook - @officialrobins Twitter - @iamtherobins