Craig David brings old school classics to Radio 1's Live Lounge

If there was one thing missing from this year's Live Lounge Month so far, it was a bit of UK garage and R&B.

Fortunately, Craig David was on hand to deliver a bit of both with a mix of new music and old school classics.

But before it all got started, Craig was woken up by Nick Grimshaw and a question about his bathroom habits from comedian Joe Lycett.

Craig made his pop return ("I don't want to say comeback," said Clara before his performance) in 2016 with his Top Ten single When The Bassline Drops, but was out of the spotlight for several years. But for Craig, his time away was a learning experience that brought him back more determined than ever.

"Sometimes you only find out by living it that life is a journey," he told Clara.

"There was a period in my career where there was a bit of a low but you find your character in that.

"You ask the questions; do you want to be a current artist and known for new music or do you want be known for the throwbacks?

"It was necessary to go through that. I feel rejuvenated and back in my lane."

Craig recently released his new single Heartline, a song he recorded with chart-topping dance star Jonas Blue. He tells Radio 1 online that the song is about never knowing when or where cupid's arrow will strike.

“It will happen when you least expect it, probably in a situation that you told yourself it wouldn't be happening,” he revealed backstage.

“And are you going to make the move? It's just saying be ready because the universe likes to throw these things at you.”

Craig’s iconic hit Seven Days is 17 years old but it still sounded fresh when he performed it for Radio 1. It’s a special song for Craig, as he says it’s the song that is responsible for him signing his first record deal.

“I was on the journey of being signed,” he said backstage after his Live Lounge performance.

“Rewind was happening and I had a song called Walking Away on a CD that was doing the rounds at record companies and then I’d written this song called Fill Me In.

“There were different record companies interested and people were offering me singles deals, they weren't quite sure of me at the time.

“Then one gentleman at Wildstar records told me to keep writing and that he thought there was an album in me.

“When I wrote Seven Days, walked into his office told him I’d written this other song and his eyes opened up with a smile that almost said 'I knew you were going to do this.'”

When it came to his cover, Craig went the extra mile. He took DJ Khaled and Rihanna's Wild Thoughts, mixed it with Stardust's iconic Music Sounds Better With You and gave it all a unique UK garage twist.

No acoustic covers here, no sir.

Craig David’s music career has spanned nearly two decades and he says hearing his songs (and Live Lounge sessions) on Radio 1 is still as huge for him now as it was then.

“Hearing Fill Me In played on Radio 1 for the first time was unbelievable for me,” he says.

“Sometimes as an artist it's very easy to take that for granted and that's what gets me more excited than anything.

“You're in the conscious, the psyche of the whole nation - and more. If that doesn't get you a little bit gassed, I don't know what's going to get you hyped for the day.”

And after that Live Lounge session, everyone (including Craig) must be hyped for the day.