IT’S been a long time since teenage crooner Craig David took to the limelight with his number one classic Seven Days – 17 years in fact.

So on a blistering hot evening in the National Arboretum at Westonbirt, I was intrigued to find out just how one of the teenage founding members of UK garage and a commercially very successful R ‘n’ B/pop artist has matured.

Bouncing onto stage sporting a white lounge jacket over a dark t-shirt and trousers, he launched into Ain’t Giving Up, What’s Your Flava and Fill Me In to a crowd dizzy on sun and excitement. David played a number of hits from his recent chart-topping album Following My Intuition – Louder than Words, Change my Love – as well as a few of my own guilty pleasures from Born To Do It, including Re-Rewind, Walking Away and Warm It Up.

Also, who knew that a cover of Justin Bieber’s Love Yourself, could sound sooo good?

Craig David has a lovely voice. From starting off aged 16 to now aged 36, his voice has gained a richer quality, that is perhaps more heartfelt than that of his exuberant youth. He talked to the crowd between songs saying that when he was young, he was riding the crest of a wave.

He put his hand in the air “I was once up here, then I was down there,” he drops his hand and his head. He told us he knew he had to “get back on the surf board and start riding the waves again”. And why shouldn’t he? He’s a talented artist, having three Ivor Novellos – including Best Songwriter – four MOBOs and two MTV EMA awards under his belt.

Since his move to Miami Beach, he’s also enjoyed a very successful career as a DJ.

For the second part of David’s set, he pushed aside the heartfelt lyrics, pop and R’n’B rhythms and treated us to a very enjoyable DJ set. Mixing samples of other artists, he crooned over remixes of his own work and covers to winning effect.

Sayonara San Antonio, on your bike Ayia Napa, Westonbirt Arboretum has just joined the dance scene! And, yes, ladies and gentlemen, I can confirm that Craig David really was Born To Do It, and boy, does he do it well!

JOHANNA HAMILTON