5 out of 5 stars and 35 reviews
5
(35)San Diego, Orange County, Palm Springs, Temecula
About this vendor
Music by Desi- Island Style is a Carlsbad, CA-based artist that loves to complement weddings with authentic Hawaiian-inspired music. Desi Relator, the man behind the music, is an exceptional musician who is passionate about his craft. As one of Southern California's most sought-after performers, Desi is well versed in keeping audiences entertained with his elegant, evocative tunes.
Born and raised in Oahu, Hawaii, Desi is considered one of the top island-style musicians on the west coast. His performances offer something different and new while always being a bit reminiscent of old Hawaii. Desi’s voice is smooth and rich and his sweet-sounding, melodic guitar playing will either evoke a nostalgic feeling or urge you to get up and bust a move.
With over 20 years as a professional musician, Desi has evolved into a seasoned, well-organized performer. Whether you want him to travel to a wedding venue or your own home, he would be happy to realize your wishes. He can accompany every stage of your celebration, from your rehearsal to your reception.
Details
Business Attributes
- Pacific Islander-owned Business
Instruments
- Guitar
- Percussion
- Ukulele
- Vocals
Music Genres
- Caribbean
- Country
- Dance
- Folk
- Hip-Hop
- Pop
Music Services
- Live Music
- Recorded Music
- Sound Equipment
Wedding Activities
- Rehearsals & Parties
- After Party
- Rehearsal Dinner
- Wedding
- After Party
- Ceremony
Awards and Affiliations
3-Time 'Best of Weddings'
2023.2022.2021.
Best of Weddings
The Knot independently assesses vendors for this award—it’s never self-reported. We base it on firsthand experiences from real couples and guests, and they must have a 4.5-star average across 7+ reviews in the qualifying year.
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Reviews
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5
out of 5.035 reviews
So happy to have Desi play at our reception, fun music during dinner.
Desi did an AMAZING job at our wedding and we highly recommend his services. From the very beginning to even after the event Desi was so communicative and was so easy to coordinate...
with. From providing the audio equipment for our officiant to learning a new song to play at our ceremony, Desi did it all and we are so glad that we chose him for musical entertainment at both our ceremony and cocktail hour. Several of our guests commented to us about him and how he was so good and that they thoroughly enjoyed his music. The only regret we had was that we weren’t able to fully enjoy his time since we were running around for photos. Big mahalo Desi for your time, dedication, and expertise at your craft.
Desi and his manager Mary where vary nice to work with! I was able to call and talk to them and ask any questions I had, both are so friendly on the phone and in email. I had a few...
moving parts to my company work event and they explain what they were able to do and that made it easy to get things set up and figured out. Unfortunately, the weather was horrible but Desi was accommodating and the event went well! Thank you DESI!
Simply the best. Everything about our arrangement was perfect
We couldn't have asked for a better live musician for our wedding! From the first time we reached out to Desi and his artist manager Mary, they were responsive, professional, and w...
illing to work with us to create the perfect atmosphere for our special day.
We booked Desi for the ceremony and the cocktail hour for our small wedding end of March in San Diego. The ceremony site only allowed for acoustic playing without amplifier, and Desi was happy to accommodate. His songs made our ceremony truly special.
At the cocktail hour, Desi's performance and great energy really helped set the tone for the entire event. He was also flexible with last-minute changes and requests, and was able to adapt his performance to fit the flow of the event.
The weather was very mixed that day, with some rain and wind, and pretty low temperatures, so we had to make last minute changes for the set-up, but Desi was flexible and helped having the best set-up for the event. Moreover, we had several rainbows during the ceremony and cocktail hour. Listening to his version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" while admiring the rainbow was an absolute and special highlight of the wedding! He also made some amazing pictures of the rainbows and we can't wait to see them!
Beyond his musical talent, he was also a pleasure to work with. He was kind, friendly, and genuinely interested in making our wedding day as special as possible. He was professional and punctual, and we felt completely confident that he would deliver an outstanding performance - and he did!
Overall, we would highly recommend Desi to anyone looking for a talented, professional, and accommodating artist for their event. Thank you for making our wedding day even more memorable!
Wodnerful music, on time. Extremely pleasant to work with. I would hire him again
Desi is "DA BOMB!" I heard him playing years ago and literally searched him out when I wanted someone to perform for our daughter's rehearsal dinner. We were NOT disappointed. He's...
so good that most people at the party didn't realize Desi was playing live. They thought he was a recording because he's so good. And most of the guests were from Hawaii! From his communication up to the event, to his punctuality, to his friendliness, and his professionalism - A+++++++!!!
My company hired Desi for our annual holiday party. He was loved by all of the employees. Professional and great to work with. He’s affordable and has a fantastic voice. We’ll be h...
iring him again for sure.
We hired Desi to play live music for our wedding ceremony, cocktail hour and he Dj’d for reception. He’s a personable guy and listened to our requests. He sings a great mix of ever...
ything as well as played the songlist we provided for dancing. Desi communicates quickly and thoroughly. We felt like, with Desi, we were in great hands during the entire wedding planning process. One of the best choices we made for our wedding day.
We hired Desi play at our son’s rehearsal dinner at The Hotel Del Coronado. He exceeded our expectations. Our guests loved him and asked us about him for days after the wedding wee...
kend. He is a detailed professional, but laid back and flexible at the same time. Most of all, Desi is a talented, seasoned musician. I’d hire him again
Desi played live music for our wedding ceremony, cocktail hour and also Dj’d for the reception. He’s a great guy and worked with us to make sure he played everything we wanted for ...
our music. His voice and guitar playing is amazing- one of the best memories of our wedding day.
Desi played for our ceremony and cocktail hour of our wedding. He was amazing. He learned a couple new songs even that I wanted specifically for my walk down and up the aisle. He i...
s such an beautiful singer and guitar player. Everyone really enjoyed his music. We were so lucky to have him play for us.
Desi is the simply the very best Hawaiian style musician on the west coast. We are lucky to have him in San Diego. We highly recommend him for any celebration.
Desi was so wonderful to work with! And even more amazing singing at my wedding. Everyone loved him! He was such a joy for my guests because there is nothing that compares to a liv...
e singer at a wedding. I could not have been happier!! They also responded quickly to all of my requests and were extremely professional in the booking process. Would recommend him to anyone!
TIKI Claus
Company Christmas party at Bali Hai.....made better by DESI......he made the evening magical
Desi is the Greatest! His infectious personality and fun loving smile just puts you in the “Big Island” mood!
Years ago when we first listened to Desi, we knew if we had a gatherin...
g of friend and family, we would want Desi there! Everyone loved his music!
My husband and I got married last April and we had Desi play for our cocktail hour into dinner and he was amazing, the guests love him and he definitely added a hawaiian vibe to ou...
r wedding like we wanted! He is super talented and so so nice.
Desi is incredible and one of the best decisions we ever made for our wedding!!!
I am from Hawai'i and was struggling during COVID to plan a wedding in California that felt like h...
ome. Most times when you search for a "Hawaiian musician", you don't get what I am used to back home.
I went to see Desi play and knew right away we had to have him! We went to see him a second time and decided we needed him for the rehearsal dinner too!!!
My husband is from Cali so on rehearsal dinner night hosted by his family, we had Desi play covers (non-Hawaiian/Hawai'i songs) and he was equally as amazing!!
Professional, friendly, and so so memorable. All my family and friends commented on how great he was!
Mahalo nui Desi!!!!
We hired Desi for our wedding reception Jan 2020, he was a key factor in creating the relaxing, warm, welcoming vibe we were looking for. Extremely professional, kind, punctual and...
talented. The booking process was effortless, we received immediate contact/responses. Desi came early to the event, accommodated our needs in more ways than we originally requested. We received numerous comments from our guests that he was the best musician. Would highly recommend Desi.
Desi was everything we hoped for for our wedding!!
He was very communicative, and shows he truly cares for his clients. Our wedding plans changed a few times due to Covid and he wa...
s there for us the whole way along, adapting to and supporting us in the madness. We went from a big wedding in May to an immediate family backyard ceremony in July. Desi was on board and beautifully played a song he learned for us for my walk down the aisle.
His music truly made our day, and our families were amazed by him. He took the time to meet everyone and knew them by name when he left. He is not only a fantastic performer, but a person of great character and happiness that will make your day magical!
Tracey & Tony’s 34th Wedding Anniversary
We have enjoyed Desi’s performances at Bali Hai happy hour which he transported to our home to give us Hawaii in Port Loma with our favori...
te tunes. One of the best parties we ever had with friendly and talented entertainment that thrilled our friends and family. Thank you and can’t wait to enjoy this again.
Desi is a phenomenal musician! Although his focus is Hawaiian music, he does pop and some country also. The music ranges from easy listening to more lively. Whatever he plays, all ...
of his renditions of songs that I've listened to on YouTube are better than the originals. Desi is very friendly and professional. We go down to Bali Hai every 2 or 3 weeks and always look forward to seeing him perform! A wonderful time...
Desi is incredible! My husband and I had our original wedding canceled because of the pandemic. When we decided to get married in September, we were so lucky to find Desi!! In only...
a few weeks, he helped make our dream wedding come true. He played a wonderful mix of Hawaiian and reggae music. As a present to my husband, I danced hula accompanied by his music. Happy tears all day! Mahalo nui loa, Desi!!
Desi was the most professional and easy-going vendor we hired for our wedding. Due to Covid-19, we had to reschedule our May 2020 wedding and downsize considerably. Desi’s manager ...
was extremely helpful with the booking and re-booking. When our wedding day finally came in October, Desi’s music was absolutely AMAZING! He played every song we requested and he sounded beautiful. All of our 18 guests were impressed with his music. Worth every penny!
We saw Desi perform at the Bali Hai during happy hour and knew immediately that we wanted to hire him for our ceremony and reception. Our wedding was only 3 months away but we con...
tacted him and we was available for our date! Our wedding was a lunch reception at the Bali Hai and Desi was wonderful! His music and ambiance was exactly what we were looking for. He was very professional, early and on time to set up, and provided a mic stand for our officiant as well. He contacted us after we hired him and went over details of the day and any particular songs we wanted played; he will sing and DJ :) He sang somewhere over the rainbow for when my wife walked down the isle and he nailed it! Everyone at the wedding kept saying how amazing he was! His energy and experience with performing at weddings is what will set him apart from anyone else. Do yourself a favor and Hire Desi for your wedding or any event for that matter!
What a voice! Man, that guy can really play guitar! The compliments just kept pouring in all night long from our wedding guests. Seriously, I think he made our wedding so much more...
awesome with his music. Desi is the consummate professional and knows how to read and play for a crowd. We would totally recommend Music by Desi to anyone looking for the perfect music for their wedding.
Desi and Mary were kind, professional, and communicative working with us both before and after we had to reschedule our wedding due to the current unfortunate circumstances. I woul...
d highly, highly recommend Desi to anyone looking to book a musician for their celebration.
We were planning out wedding from afar, in hopes of creating a tropical island vibe for our big day. In choosing our venue, Bali Hai, we stumbled upon Desi while clicking through I...
nstagram. He and his manager were quick to reply, had a simple rate card to understand and the booking process was a piece of cake as well. Leading up to the wedding week, we had a great call with Desi to go over all the details and he was not even phased by the challenge of the songs we wanted played acoustically at the wedding. From "Thinking Out Loud" to "Love Story" to "I'm Yours", Desi nailed it! My friends and family continued to enjoy his performance through cocktail hour and then he emceed the reception where we ended up dancing the night away. It felt like we had family running the show, which made it fun. Thanks Desi for making our special day such a blast!
We first saw Desi perform while enjoying cocktail hour at Bali Hai restaurant. We decided we couldn’t celebrate our big day without having him preform. It was a great decision and ...
We cannot speak highly enough of Desi! He was quick to answer or questions and learned several songs for our wedding, even putting his twist on Tom Perry’s “Here Comes My Girl” for me to walk down the aisle. Our guests loved him and he created the perfect atmosphere for our cocktail hour. If we didn’t live far away we would be visiting him weekly at Bali Hai!
Desi was fantastic! He is a really talented guitarist and singer. Many of our guests commented on how much they enjoyed his music. He played the Hawaiian version of "Over the Ra...
inbow" as I walked down the aisle, and it was magical! Plus, he was so friendly, easy to work with, and reasonably priced.
Desi sang at both our wedding ceremony as well as throughout our reception. Not only does he possess a beautiful singing voice and musical talent, but he also acted as our DJ duri...
ng the reception. He truly is talented! We highly recommend Desi!
We feel so lucky to have found Desi to play for cocktail hour of our wedding. Having Desi play at our wedding was one of the best decisions we made. Everything about the experien...
ce was wonderful from his incredible musical talent, to his awesome, laid back, happy vibe. Desi plays a wide range of songs and covers them very, very well. I love that he plays such a range wide of styles from Jack Johnson to traditional Hawaiian music and lots in between. Desi played All You Need Is Love by the Beatles while my dad and I walked down the aisle...I definitely saw a few tears. We had so many compliments from our guests for loved Desi's music as much as we do. Truly cannot say how special he made our big day and we are truly thankful.
This guy was a pure professional bar none.
On time - on cue - in tune and very personable !!!!
Hire this guy you will NOT BE SORRY !!!!!!!!!!
My fiancé and I heard Desi playing live Hawaiian music at the Catamaran Resort in San Diego.
We enjoyed his laid-back manner and his fantastic voice. Right then and there we decide...
d to
hire him for our wedding and thankfully he was available (our date was 8 months out). He
played for our ceremony, cocktail hour and then DJ’d the dance music for the reception. We
would highly recommend Desi as a reliable, knowledgeable and extremely professional
musician and DJ. He’s easy to work with and worth every dollar.
Desi, in all ways possible, made our day the most special and wonderful day ever. Although most couples will say that their day was the most special for many reasons, we are 100% c...
ertain that our day would not have been the same without Desi. From the very moment we originally heard Desi play, we knew we had to have him be a part of our Wedding Day. Desi’s musical and vocal skills were not only a fantastic addition to our Day, but his personality and professionalism are not matched by any. As a Bride, the last thing you want is to be worried about vendors Day of, and Desi gave me nothing to worry about at all. He understands the day, the moment and how important it is to get right. Desi was an absolute God Send, and we whole-heatedly recommend Desi for any and all parties for those seeking a superbly fantastic human being and musician. Thank you, Desi!
Contact
P.O. Box 595, Carlsbad, CA | San Diego, Orange County, Palm Springs, Temecula
Music by Desi- Island Style