FABULOUS has lunch with DJ Trevor Nelson and gets the lowdown on his career secrets and his baby-making album.
Where: The Royal Institute of British Architects, London
Trevor, your career has spanned three decades – what’s your secret?
I’ve been around a while, but out of the public eye a little bit. Staying off telly keeps you in just the right place. I could have done a lot more TV, but I chose to do radio because it’s my safe place.
Could you retire now if you wanted to?
If I downsized! But I really like my lifestyle.
I need to work to live, so I think if I didn’t have to get up for work I’d be dead.
I’m comfortable, but I still have the hunger, and living in London you have to work unless you’re mortgage-free or something.
What’s been your most showbiz moment?
I have them all the time! I don’t appreciate them enough because they’re to do with work.
Most recently I was onstage DJing with Nile Rodgers in Sweden – he’s a hero of mine. I also DJed for Prince before he passed away. He was doing a private show for 500 people and I had to wait two days for him to research me, so for him to give me the OK was massive.
Do you get recognised a lot?
Loads! Every single day. It’s all nice stuff, though. People shout “Trevor McDonald!” at me sometimes, which I find hilarious. They know I’m a Trevor and that we’re both black. But it’s normally just people saying that I got them through uni or they feel like they know me.
BTW
- Trevor has a house in Saint Lucia, where he goes every year to see his family.
- He’d just come from the gym and was off to the BBC after our interview to do some recording.
- Stevie Wonder gave him his number, but Trevor lost it!
Are your kids showing signs of following in your footsteps?
My daughter Mali, 27, is a massive muso. She’s out there already but I didn’t raise her, her mum did [they split when Mali was young]. It’s her mum’s influence. Mali plays alternative music, she DJs, she produces, she lives it – she reminds me of myself when I was younger.
My son Miles, 24, not so much, but he loves festivals. That’s a different love of music.
What can we expect from your new compilation album, Slow Jams?
When I told people I was doing this album they said: “A baby-making album then, hey? A Valentine’s Day album!” Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get It On is the first slow jam I ever remember hearing. It’s full of suggestion and intention, it’s sexually charged and sung by the greatest. But I bring things right up to date with songs from the likes of Ne-Yo and Bruno Mars.
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Would you say you’re romantic?
Any of my exes will definitely tell you no! But I’m very happy right now. I’ve been engaged to Pri, 38, for a couple of years, but that’s all you’re getting. I don’t talk about her that much.
I’ve seen too many celebrities involve their partners too much in the public eye. It should be private. But I think I’m more romantic now than I’ve ever been – in my own way!
Who should we be listening to in 2018?
Most of the people I like are under the radar. Two of my favourites are Anderson .Paak and Chance The Rapper. There’s no stopping the big artists at the moment – Ed Sheeran is just a beast! Everyone thought Spotify would destroy radio, but people are listening to radio now more than ever.
Trevor Nelson’s Slow Jams is out now.
Ed Sheeran performs Perfect on The X FactorncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTErKynZpOke7a3jp%2BYm62cpMK0e5RsbHFsYWx8pbaMramerp%2Bneq%2Bxy6ymp2WSlq%2B6ecyaoqKml2Kura7UpmY%3D