Calvin Harris shares inspirational letter from 1999 ahead of new release
He didn't give up
Last updated 2nd Jun 2020
Calvin Harris is one of the biggest DJs around. He regularly features high in the charts and of course he is also one of the richest DJs. However, it wasn't always that way.
Way back in the late 90s, Calvin Harris, whose real name is Adam Wiles, was just starting out in the music business. Before he was famous, he used to work in a supermarket stacking shelves, purely so that he could get enough money to buy music production equipment.
And, in 1999 he wrote to Simon Dunmore, the founder of Defected Records, an independent record label specialising in house music. Calvin sent Simon a demo of some of this music, and received a handwritten letter back, which he posted on Instagram recently.
The letter addresses Calvin Harris by his real name, saying, 'Adam, Thank you for sending your track to Defected. The 'feel' of the track is a little too pumping for the sound of Defected but, I think that the production and ideas are excellent when your age is taken into consideration.'
The letter continued, 'I am returning your CD but would like you to know that this is far superior to many of the demos we regularly receive.
'Please keep in touch with your future projects. Best regards Simon Dunmore.'
Now, 21 years later at the age of 36, Calvin is set to release a record on Defected. Just the latest in many songs the DJ has released over the last 20 years. Of course we all know how Calvin's career has been super successful, especially since the release of his debut album, 'I Created Disco' in 2007.
In the years since, Calvin has had plenty of success with huge hits like his collaboration with Dua Lipa, 'One Kiss' and many songs you might not have known he's written such as Cheryl's 'Call My Name', Rihanna's 'Where Have You Been' and Rita Ora's 'I Will Never Let You Down'.
Take a look through Calvin Harris' biggest collaborations...
'Dance wiv Me' - Dizzee Rascal featuring Calvin Harris and Chrome, 2008
After releasing his debut album 'I Created Disco' in 2007, Calvin and Dizzee met at a festival that year. Dizzee had been a huge fan of 'Acceptable in the '80s', and the pair discussed working together. Calvin said of the collaboration: "Dizzee texted me, saying he'd done this a cappella over someone else's music, but his verse was too good for their music, so could he do it with me instead? So I spent a long time on it, to make sure it lived up to his expectations. I sent him the track, and he called me at 2 in the morning to say it was amazing, so I knew it was good."
Watch the video on YouTube here.
'Bounce' - featuring Kelis, 2011
Calvin's next major collab came in the form of 2011 summer anthem 'Bounce' starring Kelis. The first single from his third album '18 Months', 'Bounce' peaked at Number 2 in the UK charts after being kept off the top spot by Example's 'Changed the Way You Kiss Me'.
The song also marked Calvin's decision to stop singing on his tracks; he said: "I'll do tracks with people who can sing well – proper artists, proper performers. I can focus on what I'm much better at, which is making music. I'm just not cut out for that role. I kind of fell into it a few years ago – the live show had to happen, I had to be the frontman because I was doing the vocals on the songs. It went all right. I spent a few years trying to get it really properly good, but it dawned on me it wasn't going to get much better. I've taken the singing thing as far as I can."
Watch the video on YouTube here.
'We Found Love' - Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris, 2011
Teaming up with Rihanna for another 2011 summer banger, 'We Found Love' went to Number 1 in the UK and was certified 5x Platinum, selling over 10 million copies worldwide. Former X Factor star Leona Lewis was originally going to sing the song, but she didn't commit and it went to Rihanna instead.
Calvin said of the song: "'We Found Love,' is the most successful thing I've done ever... It's not strictly a song by me, obviously, it's by Rihanna. She sings it...It was great to work with her... No one could have taken it as far as she did. You can't escape it in America. I've heard it a lot. I've heard it probably more times today than I did when I was mixing it. Which is a good thing."
Watch the video on YouTube here.
'Let's Go' - featuring Ne-Yo, 2012
Calvin worked with Ne-Yo on 'Let's Go', released in March 2012 from his third album '18 Months'. The track peaked at Number 2 in the UK, being held off the top spot by 'Call Me Maybe' by Carly Rae Jepsen.
Watch the video on YouTube here.
'We'll Be Coming Back' - featuring Example, 2012
Calvin and Example's collaboration on 'We'll Be Coming Back' in July 2012 was a huge hit, peaking at Number 2 after being held off Number 1 by Wiley's 'Heatwave'. It appeared on both Calvin's album '18 Months' as well as Example's fourth album, 'The Evolution of Man'.
Watch the video on YouTube here.
'Sweet Nothing' - featuring Florence Welch, 2012
After working on a remix of Florence and the Machine's 2012 single 'Spectrum' from their second album 'Ceremonials', Calvin became interested in working with lead singer Florence Welch. She wasn't immediately available, but he finally tracked her down and they worked together on 'Sweet Nothing'.
He said: "With Florence, she was really busy at that time. She was in the middle of a tour and she had like three days to record something, so I wasn't there, anything could've come back. I didn't think she'd do it. She seemed a really unattainable artist to reach for. I think she would've done it if the song was right and the people were right and it was all at the right time."
Watch the video on YouTube here.
'Drinking from the Bottle' - featuring Tinie Tempah, 2013
Calvin worked with Tinie Tempah on 2013 single 'Drinking from the Bottle' which appeared on his album '18 Months', peaking at Number 5.
Watch the video on YouTube here.
'I Need Your Love' - featuring Ellie Goulding, 2013
Ellie and Calvin sparked dating rumours with their collaboration 'I Need Your Love' in 2012, appearing on '18 Months' as well as Ellie's album 'Halcyon'. It peaked at Number 4 in the UK, and was nominated for both British Single of the Year and British Video of the Year at the BRIT Awards 2014.
Watch the video on YouTube here.
'Blame' - featuring John Newman, 2014
Calvin worked with John Newman on 'Blame', which appeared on his fourth album 'Motion'. The artists worked together to write the song, along with John's brother James Newman - it peaked at Number 1.
Watch the video on YouTube here.
'Outside' - featuring Ellie Goulding, 2014
Calvin and Ellie worked together again in 2014 following the success of 'I Need Your Love', releasing 'Outside' in October that year. It appeared on Calvin's album 'Motion' and Ellie's album 'Delirium'. It peaked at Number 4 in the UK.
Watch the video on YouTube here.
'How Deep Is Your Love' - with Disciples, 2015
Calvin teamed up with Disciples for 'How Deep Is Your Love' in 2015, featuring vocals from Norwegian singer Ina Wroldsen. It peaked at Number 2 in the UK charts, starring model Gigi Hadid in the music video.
Watch the video on YouTube here.
'This Is What You Came For' - featuring Rihanna, 2016
Calvin once again teamed up with Rihanna for 2016 single 'This Is What You Came For', peaking at Number 2 in the UK. It was co-written by Calvin's former girlfriend Taylor Swift, who used pseudonym Nils Sjöberg initially as she did not want their relationship to overshadow the success of the song. It has since been changed.
Watch the video on YouTube here.
'Slide' - featuring Frank Ocean and Migos, 2017
'Slide' was the lead single from Calvin's fifth album 'Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1', featuring Frank Ocean and hip hop trio Migos, released in February 2017. It peaked at Number 10 in the UK charts.
Watch the video on YouTube here.
'Heatstroke' - featuring Young Thug, Pharrell Williams and Ariana Grande, 2017
The Scottish DJ worked with rapper Young Thug, Pharrell Williams and Ariana Grande on 'Heatstroke' from his 'Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1' album. The song was certified Silver in the UK.
Watch the video on YouTube here.
'Feels' - featuring Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry and Big Sean, 2017
Calvin worked with Pharrell Williams, Big Sean and Katy Perry on 'Feels' for his fifth album 'Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1' in 2017, peaking at Number 1 and being certified 2X Platinum in the UK.
Watch the video on YouTube here.
'One Kiss' - with Dua Lipa, 2018
'One Kiss' was a worldwide smash hit, peaking at Number 1 in the UK and spending a whopping eight weeks at the top. It was the biggest-selling song of 2018, and was also the third longest-running Number 1 of the century by a female artist. It also won Best British Single at the BRIT Awards 2019.
Watch the video on YouTube here.
'Promises' - with Sam Smith featuring Jessie Reyez, 2018
Calvin's next big collaboration was with Sam Smith - 'Promises' was released in August 2018, and will appear on Sam's upcoming third album, due to be released in 2020. It peaked at Number 1 in the UK and was certified 2X Platinum.
Watch the video on YouTube here.
'Giant' - with Rag'n'Bone Man, 2019
Calvin got together with Rag'n'Bone Man in 2019, putting out 'Giant' which peaked at Number 2 in the UK and was kept off the top spot by Lewis Capaldi's 'Someone You Loved'. The pair performed the song at the 2019 BRIT Awards.
Watch the video on YouTube here.
'Over Now' - with The Weeknd
The Weeknd teamed up with Calvin for 2020 single 'Over Now', which peaked at Number 33 in the UK.
Watch the video on YouTube here.
'By Your Side' - with Tom Grennan
'By Your Side' was a Top 10 hit for Calvin Harris and Tom Grennan in 2021.
Watch the video on YouTube here.
'Potion' - with Dua Lip and Young Thug
After the HUGE success of 'One Kiss', Calvin and Dua Lipa teamed up again to bring out 'Potion' with Young Thug in May 2022.
Watch the video for 'Potion' on YouTube
'New Money' featuring 21 Savage
21 Savage and Calvin Harris joined forces for 'New Money' which is included on the DJ's album 'Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 2'.
'Stay With Me' featuring Justin Timberlake, Halsey and Pharrell
'Stay With Me' featuring Justin Timberlake, Halsey and Pharrell was released in July 2022, the song is one of two collabs the artists have recorded for Calvin's album 'Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 2'. The second song is called 'Stay With Me (Part 2)'.
'New To You' with Normani, Tinashe & Offset
Calvin Harris' 'New To You' with Normani, Tinashe & Offset was released on 29th July 2022. The song's lyric video was also released with a tropical theme which showed old TVs in a jungle setting.
'Miracle' with Ellie Goudling
Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding teamed up for their third collab in 2023. The song called 'Miracle' was released on 10th March.
'Desire' with Sam Smith
Following the success of 'Miracle' with Ellie Goulding, at the end of July 2023, Calvin dropped huge single 'Desire' with Sam Smith!
'Lovers In A Past Life' with Rag'n'Bone Man
Calvin Harris and Rag'n'Bone Man teamed up on the fifth anniversary of their hit 'Giant', to announce another song called 'Lovers In A Past Life'. It was released in February 2024, peaking at Number 13 in the UK charts and was certified Silver by the BPI with 200,000 UK sales in May 2024.
Watch the video on YouTube.
'(When I'm With You I'm) Free' with Ellie Goulding
Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding teamed up for the fourth time on their song '(When I'm With You I'm) Free'. They premiered their new song together at Ushuaïa nightclub in Ibiza, and the crowd went wild.
You can hear songs by Calvin Harris on Downtown Radio.