British R&B singer-songwriter Craig David is back with new beats, and he’s got something to prove.

“I’m excited and still passionate about my work,” David says. “I want to get back into the thick of things.”

With his new album, “Trust Me,” the 26-year-old performer is hoping to build on his previous success, which came in the early 2000’s starting with his hit debut album, “Born To Do It.”

“’Hopefully we sound very fresh in our own rights,” David says of the new album, which was recorded last year in Havana, Cuba.

“It’s really different when you’ve put yourself in a place you’ve never been to before,” David says of recording in Cuba; a process he describes as “old school” and included continual recording sessions with a live band, and only recording two or three takes of a song.

"It's invigorating," David, adds. "It can create something exciting, different.”

Inspired by Cuban culture, the CD features an eclectic sound that’s infused by everything from David Bowie’s classic “Let’s Dance” to a 1980’s soul sound.

David says he hopes his new sound will connect with listeners, and promises he hasn’t lost his funk-infused style of his past releases.

“There are certain things that you can relate to, no matter what part of the world,” David says. ““I’m melody-driven. The most important thing to me is the melody. You have to get the melody right.”

Growing up in the British world of house music and DJ mixes, David found his way into the music scene as a teen. Spinning as a DJ and writing his own lyrics, he started making an impact on the local market. In 1998, he released a single in the ingle in the U.K. that created so much buzz that he found himself with the No. 2 spot on the U.K. charts.

It was the first time he saw the connection his music made on others.

“If I could experience that again, it would be amazing,” he says.

Now, with 13 million CDs sold worldwide, two No. 1 Singles on the U.K. charts, four completed albums and multiple music awards, David seems to have more than enough opportunities to continue connecting with fans.

“Staying at the top is the hardest thing; you have to push a little extra. I just want to make a great album,” he says. “My attitude is, just keep it moving.”