Robby De Sá is a producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist from Potchefstroom in South Africa. He attended Potchefstroom High School for Boys and North-West University.
Based in Sydney, he has worked with many artists, songwriters and producers including The Veronicas, MAY-A, Gretta Ray, Busby Marou, Mitch James, Tina Arena, Pamela Shayne, 5 Seconds of Summer, and Stan Walker. He (along with others) was reported to be one of 'Australia's most accomplished songwriters' in November 2013.[1]
Roberto Manuel De Sá (Robby) has been a professional guitarist since 1999 when he joined South African band 'Allegory' in Johannesburg, South Africa. In 2002, after the band completed a contract for Sun City International, he moved to Ireland with vocalist Gavin Edwards at the request of ex-Westlife member Brian McFadden and formed the band 'Franklin' with several other South African musicians.[6] They were signed to Brian's own label (Pig Records) in Ireland. Robby co-wrote and released the single "You" in June 2004 which led to the Top 20 hit[7] for the band in Ireland. Franklin performed at many of the Ireland's high-profile events such as Oxegen, Michelstown Festival and O2 in The Park. The band also supported Incubus at the Point Depot, Dublin in May 2004.[8] As a session musician Robby has performed and toured with Enrique Iglesias, Il Divo, Westlife, Brian Mcfadden, Charley Pride, Shakin Stevens, Delta Goodrem and Ben Mills.
Robby was a co-writer of the song 'Paperthin' which placed second in the 2013 'Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition'[9][10]
Robby co-wrote and produced the Tina Arena song Only Lonely (from her album Reset),[11] which featured in a commercial for the 2013 season finale of Australian soap opera Home and away . The song peaked at No. 32 on the Australian Aria Singles Chart[12] on 24 November 2013 and peaked at No. 14 in the Australian iTunes Store[13]