Cape Town singer-songwriter David Derman is aiming for something cinematic on his latest single, and he largely pulls it off. The singer’s new single ‘Stardust’ arrives as an emotionally charged pop-folk anthem that imagines what love might look like at the end of the world.
Written alongside producer Aidin Nortje, the track leans into sweeping melodies, pounding percussion and festival-sized emotion, channeling the kind of widescreen energy that fans of The Greatest Showman will immediately recognise. But beneath the soaring hooks and dramatic production is a surprisingly intimate concept: when everything falls apart, who do you run to?
“I wrote ‘Stardust’ as an upbeat, passionate and cinematic pop/folk song that imagines the moment the world might be ending, and what truly matters when everything material falls away,” Derman says. “It’s about where you would go, and who you would run to, if everything else disappeared.”
That tension between chaos and connection drives the song forward. Sirens wail, skies shift and worlds seemingly collapse around him, but Derman keeps the emotional focus locked on devotion and transcendental love. The chorus lands with the kind of euphoric payoff built for late-night drives and hands-in-the-air festival moments, as he promises: “I’ll break through walls of whatever world you’re calling from.”
Drawing influence from artists like Ed Sheeran, Noah Kahan and Kaleo, Derman’s music tends to blur genre lines in favour of emotional honesty. That approach feels especially fitting given his unconventional background: alongside music, he completed studies in molecular biology, psychology and a Master’s degree in Wine Biotechnology before fully committing to his artistic career.
Now stepping into a new chapter, ‘Stardust’ feels like the sound of an artist scaling things up without losing the vulnerability that made listeners connect in the first place. Even with its apocalyptic imagery and larger-than-life production, the track’s message remains refreshingly simple: when everything else disappears, human connection is what survives.
Listen to ‘Stardust’ below and read more music news here.
