Crowds gather for Isle of MTV at the Granaries

Having first debuted nine years ago, this year’s edition of the Isle of MTV concert once again took place at the Granaries in Floriana, headlined by chart-topping US singer Jason Derulo. 

Accompanying Derulo last night were fellow American performers Tori Kelly and Echosmith, as well as Jamaican-born singer OMI (who replaced UK singer Jess Glynne after she had to drop out for health reasons) and 19-year-old Dutch DJ Martin Garrix. 

During a press conference ahead of the show last night, the upbeat and charismatic Derulo joked about not being given a room with a sea view at the hotel, and also expounded on his taste in women. 

Responding to an international journalist Derulo said that his favourite outfit for a woman is the “little black dress”. 

“There’s something really special about… it’s simple, I don’t know, it just does it for me. Damn, I got all deep there, I should write a song about it,” Derulo joked, adding that the qualities he looked for in women are confidence, “and a woman who makes me laugh”. 

Meanwhile, in comments to MaltaToday, singer OMI described the international milieu of Jamaican music, which continues to inform his eclectic approach. He added that while he’s grateful for the success of his hit single ‘Cheerleader’, he’s also keen to be remembered as a singer in his own right, independent of the chart-topping love song, and is currently hard at work on his debut album.  

A collaboration between MTV and the Malta Tourism Authority, Isle of MTV Malta will be filmed and edited into a 60-minute special that will broadcast across 20 MTV channels throughout Europe on 1 August. 

On Monday, Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis announced that the date for next year’s Isle of MTV concert – which will serve as the 10th anniversary edition of the free festival – will be held on 28 June 2016. Quoting NSO statistics, Zammit Lewis said the festival was crucial in ensuring the high levels of tourism and expenditure the country was currently experiencing.