Now 22, Danny was born on September 16th 1985. By eleven he had an agent and was dancing in commercials. By 16 he was practically drowning in gold medals, even netting two consecutive (and aptly-named) Rising Star awards in the annual CNE dance battle. At the same time, he blew away thousands of competitors to become the youngest member of the Toronto Raptors famed Dance Pak and started appearing regularly as a backup dancer in music videos.
Soon after, he hit the road with the likes of Aaron Carter, Blackstreet, Deborah Cox and, of course, his brother Sean, with whom he toured the world for an entire year, even playing the NBA All-Star game in Atlanta.
By the time he returned to Canada, Danny was ready to step up to the mic. He hooked up with then-fledgling producer Pilzbury and the pair ensconced themselves in a Brampton studio. From there he made history, and music every day.
One of their first collaborations, back in 2003, was the song "Curious". In a rare case of piracy gone right, the track mysteriously leaked online (I do nott know who did i, Danny says, but who ever did I want to thank) and was discovered by a DJ in Germany who pressed it to bootleg vinyl. Fernandes MySpace page got flooded with requests and soon touring Europe for months on end and topping club charts
Then it was high time to conquer Canada. Fernandes did not have a label yet, but that was fine for him overseas. So late last year, he sent his song down to New York and the hot track easily convinced rapper Juelz Santana to drop a guest spot. Then Danny started working radio as a true independent artist. Without any label backup, "Curious" shot up radio playlists. By the time he soared, solo, into the top 20, CP Records snatched up this fresh talent.
You only get one chance to make a first impression, so Fernandes and Belly hunkered down in the studio to write the songs that would become his debut album Intro. "I make music that I can dance to", Danny says matter-of-fact. That is what I do because I was a dancer before I was anything else.
So rest assured Fernandes knows how to move hips. His debut is rammed with addictive club bangers, led by "Curious" and his fiery new floor-filler "Private Dancer." Built on spectral synths and skintight beats, Danny sexed-up his songs, even the slow numbers, are purpose-built for getting down and picking up, busting moves and breaking hearts.
Since taking his first steps towards stardom, Fernandes ambitions have only grown. The singer-dancer is positioning himself as the next Chris Brown or Justin Timberlake. It is a big goal, sure, but so far Fernandes has cleared every high bar he has set.
This album might be his intro, but there are more chapters to come. Keep putting out singles, keep putting out albums, keep putting out videos. Fernandes says he never plans to stop.
Imagine Danny Fernandes's surprise when he found out that "Curious" a song he had worked on in a friend's studio in downtown Toronto, had been downloaded and released as a single in Europe in 2006. "They put it on an actual vinyl record and it had a picture of me and everything. I guess people just fell in love with it because it still a huge hit to this day,"says the tattooed, baby-faced 24-year-old. A born entertainer, Fernandes is a true double threat, combining a background in dance with a smooth voice to create irresistibly catchy hits.
But it didn't start out that way. When his mom enrolled him in dance classes at six years old, Danny was "just a regular kid who wanted to play hockey." Fernandes endured his fair share of ribbing from kids at school. Good thing his brother, R&B mainstay Shawn Desman, was a source of inspiration. "He is a big influence. Watching him do this my whole life has been amazing. I idolize him. He is such a talented artist."
Danny's dedication paid off. Before long, he was crisscrossing the globe as a backup dancer for the likes of Aaron Carter, Blackstreet and Deborah Cox. The itch to move to the forefront of the stage, however, was his cue to start laying down tracks with a friend.
Everything was progressing at a natural rate when Danny discovered that he had a hit single in Europe. Last year the song was re-recorded with New York hip hop sensation Juelz Santana, giving the smash "Curious" even more street cred. "He is the coolest guy you will ever meet,"says Danny of Santana. "He is very down to earth, proper and polite."
Currently, Danny is on the cusp of an August 19 release of his debut album, aptly titled Intro. His second single, "Private Dancer," is so slick and memorable there is little doubt that clubs nationwide will soon be blaring the song into the wee hours of the morning.
Until then, Danny is excitedly prepping for a Canadian and European tour. "Touring is amazing. Being able to see the world and do what you love to do, and share your music with people in other countries, is the best experience in the world," he enthuses.
Life on the road requires a lot of discipline, and to prepare he is getting fit, eating right and working on his vocals. "I am working hard every day. It's music from when I wake up to the time I go to sleep." He is also doing his fair share of daydreaming about a joint tour with his brother, Justin Timberlake and Chris Brown. Says Fernandes: "There would be a whole lot of girls at that show!"
Sean Patrick has sinced written about articles on various topics from Debts Loans, Car Loans and Debts Loans. Sean Patrick is an avid music fan that enjoys all types of music and particularly hip hop artists. To find out more and watch Danny Fernandes videos: check out