Calvin Harris: Does the DJ/producer sing his own songs?
The star has used his vocals on a number of his songs
He's one of the biggest DJs in the world, he's a supremely talented songwriter, he's produced some of the biggest hits of the past two decades... But the question on everybody's lips is - does Calvin Harris sing his own songs? Well the answer is an almighty YES!
Calvin Harris, real name Adam Wiles, has used his own vocals on a number of his massive hits including the likes of 'Summer' and 'My Way', but it was way back in 2007 when Calvin released his debut album that he first started singing. Here we take a look at all the songs the music extraordinaire sings on.
Which songs does Calvin Harris sing on?
Throughout the years, Calvin has sung on a number of his releases including 'Acceptable In The 80's' and 'The Girls' in 2007, 'I'm Not Alone' and 'Ready For The Weekend' in 2009. Take a look at some of the biggest hits he's sung.
Calvin Harris - 'Acceptable In The 80's' (2007)
'Acceptable In The 80's' was Calvin's debut song, released in 2007, and featured on his album 'I Created Disco'. The song featured the artist's vocals and reached Number 10 in the UK.
Watch the music video on YouTube
Calvin Harris - 'The Girls' (2007)
Released as the follow-up to his debut hit, 'The Girls' was the second song that Calvin sang on. The song was a success in the UK going to Number 3, and has more than 10 million views on YouTube.
Watch the music video on YouTube
Dizzee Rascal featuring Calvin Harris - 'Dance Wiv Me' (2008)
In 2008, Dizzee Rascal and Calvin Harris teamed up for their hit 'Dance Wiv Me', featuring Dizzee rapping and Calvin singing. The song featured on Dizzee's album 'Tongue n' Cheek', and the extended edition of Calvin's second studio album, 'Ready for the Weekend'. The song was co-written by both artists and produced by Calvin.
Watch the music video on YouTube
Calvin Harris - 'I'm Not Alone' (2009)
Two years after the success of his debut album, Calvin released 'I'm Not Alone' which was the lead single from his second album 'Ready For The Weekend'. Once again, written and produced by Calvin, along with featuring his vocals, it was another big hit for the Scottish musician, going to Number 1.
Watch the music video on YouTube
Calvin Harris - 'Ready For The Weekend' (2009)
'Ready For The Weekend' was another huge hit that featured Calvin Harris' vocals, as well as singing the hit song, he also wrote and produced it. It was another Top 5 hit for Calvin, as it went to Number 3 in the UK, and topped the UK dance chart.
Watch the music video on YouTube
Calvin Harris - 'Flashback' (2009)
Calvin Harris' song 'Flashback' was another tune to be featured on his second album 'Ready For The Weekend'. The song reached Number 18 in the UK and Number 2 in the UK dance chart.
Watch the music video on YouTube
Calvin Harris - 'You Used to Hold Me' (2010)
'You Used to Hold Me', released in 2010, was widely accepted to be Calvin's last vocal performance for a while as he was concentrating more on production and DJing, getting huge vocalists to collaborate with him on his songs. It went to Number 27 in the UK and was certified Silver. Over the months that followed, Calvin worked with Rihanna on 'We Found Love' and Kelis on 'Bounce', both scoring him Top 2 places in the UK charts.
Watch the music video on YouTube
Calvin Harris - 'Feels So Close' (2011)
Despite saying he was going to concentrate on producing after the release of 'You Used to Hold Me', Calvin returned to singing on his track 'Feel So Close'. The song featured on his third album '18 Months', serving as the second single, following his collaboration with Kelis on 'Bounce'. The song went to Number 2 in the UK and has been certified 3× Platinum.
Calvin then went back to releasing massive collaborations with the likes of Florence Welch, Example, Ellie Goulding and Tinie Tempah, before dropping his single 'Under Control' with Alesso, which many thought he also sang on. However, he drafted in help from Theo Hutchcraft after admitting he thought his own singing sounded 'terrible' on it.
Watch the music video on YouTube
Calvin Harris - 'Summer' (2014)
Calvin Harris returned as a vocalist on his hit 'Summer' which became his sixth Number 1 single in the UK. The song featured on his fourth studio album 'Motion', and has been certified 4× Platinum in the UK.
Watch the music video on YouTube
Calvin Harris - 'My Way' (2016)
Returning once again to sing on another of his songs, Calvin Harris released 'My Way' in November 2016. After the release, Calvin revealed it was actually Pharrell Williams who persuaded him to sing on the track and realised he can use his vocal talents to his advantage.
Speaking during an interview, Calvin said: "There's a lot of DJ producers, and I look at myself and I think, 'What do I have to offer that they don't? What can I do that they can't?' Because you know, we all pretty much do the same thing."
Watch the music video on YouTube
Calvin Harris - 'Smoke The Pain Away' (2025)
In March 2025, Calvin Harris released a song featuring his vocals called 'Smoke The Pain Away'. It didn't quite break into the mainstream Top 40 in the UK, but it did go to Number 7 on the UK Dance chart. A press release at the time described the song, saying it "offers a glimpse into a more personal side of Calvin Harris, with the artist showcasing both his vocal abilities and exploring a fresh approach to songwriting. This marks a step in his musical evolution, expanding beyond his DJ roots into a genre-blending space that reflects his desire to push creative boundaries," adding that it was "a celebration of artistic freedom, weaving together influences from his past with exciting new sounds."
Listen to the song on YouTube
READ MORE: 28 of Calvin Harris' fantastic collaborations
Author: Anna Sky Magliola
Anna Sky Magliola is a Digital Content Editor at Rayo, creating content for brands including Hits Radio, Greatest Hits Radio, KISS, Cool FM and Magic Radio. She began her career at Bauer Media in 2007 and has spent almost two decades creating engaging digital content for millions of readers, specialising in music news, celebrity interviews and TV features. A passionate dance music fan, Anna Sky has travelled the world to experience some of the biggest festivals and is always looking for the next great music story.