Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Desmond Roberts of American Idol 23

American Idol returned Sunday, March 9 with Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie returning as judges. They’ll be joined by Carrie Underwood, who replaces Katy Perry.

Audition episodes will continue to air each Sunday at ABC until Hollywood Week begins.

Here’s more about Desmond.

* He’s a 26-year-old Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter with music already out.

* He’s also a 2021 graduate of the Berklee College of music where he majored in songwriting.

* In an interview with Voyage LA, Desmond said he began singing in the children’s choir as church at a young age, starting learning piano at age eight and started writing songs when he was in eighth grade.

* He describes his music as a mix of pop, hip hop and neo R&B, but says he doesn’t like to be pinned down to a specific genre.

* “My goal is to write music in every known genre due to my attraction to multiple styles of music,” he told the site.

* On Instagram, he labels himself a huge Sara Bareilles fan and professional sad boy. The former stems from his days learning piano by watching YouTube videos.

* The latter, he explains in that interview, saying he’s struggled with depression on and off and used music “as a cathartic release for every emotion i feel … I’m now learning to use my music as a way to pull myself up instead of capturing or sometimes amplifying my low points.”

* As for that released music, Desmond dropped a seven-song acoustic album in 2020 and has since followed up with a trio of singles. His most recent release, “Jealousy,” landed in October 2022 and you can check it out below.

* Desmond turned 26 in October, writing on social media: “I’m 26, booked, busy, and transforming. While I’m always under construction, there’s a different energy and drive that’s behind this milestone for me.”

* Desmond plays a number of instruments and used to call himself the “adorkableinstrumentalist.”

Desmond on social media:
Instagram
TikTok
Facebook
YouTube