Infusion #293 : 16 April - 30 April ’17

ROLLS A 5 LOCO DICE DROPS BY TO CELEBRATE THEIR 5TH BIRTHDAY Jazzie B • Wookie • Decibel •Alan Fitzpatrick Ma’ana Day album launch • Groove on the Grass White Dubai • Nick Warren and more!

MUSIC

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PEOPLE

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LIFE

#BRAAIDAYDXB #BRAAIDAYDXB

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TALAL BUDEBS Publisher CHARL CHAKA Managing Partner charlchaka@infusion.ae FRAK FU Sales/marketing sales@infusion.ae STU TODD Editor editor@infusion.ae PAULA MANGUEIRA Design design@infusion.ae SONIA IGNACIO Operations operations@infusion.ae CONTRIBUTORS: Ginger S, Sam Moult, Neil Henderson, Paul Walker, Dan Fahy, Tara Ellis, Stu Todd, Megan Durnford.

INFUSION IS PUBLISHED BY Milehigh Media, LLC PO Box 53443 – Dubai, UAE Tel/Fax: 04 368 8098 infusionmag infusionmagazine infusionmagazine

OUR PARTNERS

Time Warp, Germany recently streamed some of their mammoth event via streaming site Be-at.tv.

With the Manheim event running from early evening on Saturday, April 1st until mid-afternoon Sunday, April 2nd, this event is not for the feint hearted.

There is some serious season closing events on the horizon.

Solomun at Blue Marlin is always a roadblock.

There are a slew of live action remakes of popular Manga movies in the works. I am especially excited about the Netflix series Death Note, Attack on Titan, and of course Ghost in the Shell.

GUEST LIST BLACK LIST Summer is just around the corner.

Better stock up on that factor 100 sun block, and fast.

Some drivers on the roads of Dubai really have a death wish, please take your time, pulling off a manoeuvre that Evil Knievel wouldn’t even attempt just to move just one car ahead. Not cool.

Why do “celebrities” feel the need to try their hand at DJing? If you have a skill, play to that strength, don’t use your ill gotten fame to rake in money for a terrible show.

Lindsay Lohan we are looking at you.

Say What?

BREAKING NEWS

People are always commenting that music isn’t underground enough these days. Last week prankster group Trollstation set up a drum ‘n’ bass rave in a London Underground train complete with MC Harry Shotta. The authorities eventually shutting down the light-hearted pop up rave at Regents Park station.

These ultra realistic masks from hyperflesh.com are hilarious. You might have seen the video posted online of Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Kim Yong Un, but the $4500 price tag?!

MEME CORNER

WE LOVE ANDY BUCHAN

What is there to say about the recently departed Andy Buchan, editor extraordinaire that hasn’t been said before or echoed by all those that have met him either in person or via a loving e-mail thread. When Andy announced that the previous issue of Infusion Magazine would sadly be his last, it was met with an outpouring of public admiration and thanks for all his hard work on the good ship Infusion. It is clear that I have big shoes to fill, and fill them I must. I would also like to point out that when I arrived in Dubai from Edinburgh nearly 3 years ago, Andy was the first person to entertain me as a writer and for that I am eternally grateful.

Andy had made the decision to take the Buchan clan back to the UK and settle down in Leeds, which has always had a rather tasty music scene, but in the last few years has developed in to a hotbed of some of the best electronic parties in the UK. From his base in Leeds, Andy has picked up where he left off with regards to his relentless release schedule and has found a loving home, with disco/edits maestro Rayko’s Rare Wiri Records imprint amongst others. I think I can speak for everybody at Infusion Magazine and Dubai as a whole when I wish you and your family all the very best for the future. facebook.com/AndyBuchanDJ

What we did

NEW ORDER @ DUBAI DUTY FREE TENNIS STADIUM

The mercurial New Order flew into town for their first ever desert ditty and very much like the phoenix born from Joy Division’s ashes, they rocked the house with not only their classics but some of their latest productions too.

The show was a tour de force from the off and something of a striking colour infusion. Their latest long player, “Complete Music”, gave the whole show a colour bath in the production and the LED displays were awash with far-flung aching imagery, as kaleidoscopic as the range and duration of their career.

The requisite earth shatterers were belted out in all their extended glory, “True Faith” effortlessly roving into that most classic of drum beats heralding Blue Monday’s arrival. Except this was very much a warm Friday and the Joy Division encore medley topped off of course with “Never Tear Us Apart” was pretty damn sublime. If you missed the opportunity to witness this, make sure you get down to see some truly legendary pioneers of pretty much all the music you’re listening to today.

BEN KLOCK B2B MARCEL DETTMANN @ GROOVE ON THE GRASS

This was my first Groove On The Grass of the year, I missed the last one, but I wasn’t going to miss this one for the world. The evening started a little lighter with the local residents setting the pace before Italian duo Mind Against kicked it up a gear as the appreciative crowd surged.

All great techno DJ’s have one thing in common; they are synonymous with a label, a sound or a club, so to goes for Berlin based producers Ben Klock and Marcel Dettmann. The klock (excuse the pun) struck midnight and the Berghain resident pairing of Ben & Marcel took to the stage to provide a 3hr b2b set that laid down some amazing tunes, put down your Shazzam train spotters, it’s wasted here. I didn’t recognise anything but who cares as the music was that good. The production was great, the sounds superb and I’m looking forward to what the GotG crew has next on the list.

Words by Stephen Day Groove on the Grass season closing feat. Ellen Allien, Octave One (live), Kenny Glasgow, Hunter/Game + more, Friday, May 5 – 5pm to 3am / from AED180 / facebook.com/ GrooveOnTheGrass

HOA 2Lani

2LANI THE WARRIOR SUPPORT DJS

CHARL CHAKA JAMES JUSTIN

THU 20TH APRIL

JW MARRIOTT MARQUIS FREE ENTRY BY GUESTLIST 100 AED AT DOOR RSVP@INFUSION.AE HOUSEofAFRIKA HOUSEofAFRIKA

HOUSE_of_AFRIKA HOUSE_of_AFRIKA

DEK ON 8 UNVEIL NEW SUNDAY LADIES NIGHT

Media One Hotel suntrap Dek on 8 are revitalising their Sunday’s with a new ladies day concept – We Run the World. From 12pm to 6pm every Sunday, ladies can enjoy a range of F&B delights and killer music from Chris Wright. Then from 6pm the ladies night will kick off where the girls will receive 3 complimentary drinks and be treated to a set from DJ Bia. BLUE MARLIN IBIZA UAE REVEAL KILLER APRIL LINEUP

Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Ghantoot have been nothing short of relentless in their weekly programming and have really pulled it out the bag for April. Having already played host to Carl Cox and Jon Rundell (7th), Satori (Live) and Blond:ish (14th), BMI finish the month with Apollonia, Carl Craig and Stavroz (live) on April 21, then Italian techno maestro’s Tale of Us and Vaal drop by on Friday, April 28.

UNITE WITH TOMORROWLANDS

With the demand for tickets in the GCC for Tomorrowlands topping out at around 50,000, the move to bring Unite with Tomorrowlands to Dubai was a bit of a no brainer. The 8,000 capacity Festival City Arena will feature similar dÊcor, stage production and guest DJ’s to that of Tomorrowlands and will also feature performances from 3 of the headlining artists being beamed directly to Dubai as it is happening. The event will kick off at 2pm on Saturday, July 29 and will be the first time something like this has taken place in Dubai.

HOUSE OF AFRIKA OFFERINGS FOR APRIL

House of Afrika returned last month after a brief break and have settled in well to their new home at Bridgewater Tavern, JW Marriot Marquis, Business Bay. Charl Chaka and his team have unveiled his remaining guests as 2Lani The Warrior on Thursday, April 20 and then P4blo & Floyd Lavin the following week (April 27). One for the diary, Black Motion will also be dropping by on Thursday, May 11.

Entry is free before 11pm by registering on the House of Afrika facebook page and AED100 afterwards.

BASE IN THE (CREATIVE) SPACE

From the creative minds of Bulldozer Group comes a “super venue” more akin to those that adorn the high-end hotels of Las Vegas or the infamous Ibiza super clubs, Base promises “an immersive, exciting & unique experience raising the bar on the global nightlife scene”.

With the group’s speciality lying at bringing international luxury food and beverage brands to Dubai such as Sass Café and the decadent VIP Room at Business Bay’s JW Marriot Marquis, it is a safe bet that the attention to detail will be nothing short of exemplary.

The bespoke open-air venue (yes, that’s right it’s open-air) is to be situated in Dubai Design District and with the expected capacity to be close to 5,000, the venue has some grand plans up it’s sleeve. Base is due to open it’s doors for several showcase events before the summer break at the end of May, and judging by the early designs, it is going to be some show. Given the groups previous endeavours there will be a huge emphasis placed on the high level of service and the quality of the customer experience.

Early details have been circulating that Base has in the pipeline some massive artists pencilled in for performances.

It is not clear who will be performing or when, but names such as Calvin Harris, Marco Carolla, Pharrell Williams and Justice have been mentioned in hushed tones. With names like that being banded about it is clear that there will be no confusion over the calibre of artists that Base will be bringing to Dubai. With guests like that being added to the mix it is important that the more

discerning patron are catered for.

That will be more than covered as the generously tiered seating design allows for unobstructed views of that evenings performances and much of the club. Those all important booths and large tables will adorn each wall and those lucky enough to bag a booth behind the decks will be treated to an up-closeand-personal view of the DJ’s performance.

Lastly, and by no means leastly, there is the bar and dance floor area. As you might expect with a venue of this size, it would have an impossibly high DJ booth and performance area; not so.

Of course there is a respectable amount of height to the stage and booth, but what you can expect from Base is some seriously intimate performances from some of the worlds most in demand and influential artists of the dance, pop and hip-hop world, which for a venue of this size is often unheard of. Purely judging from the designs, Base looks to have all the attributes of a mid sized music venue, catering for a large club crowd but with lounge sensibilities. I, for one cannot wait to see it at full tilt. Keep your ears and eyes open for more information on the opening party.

P4BLO SUPPORT DJ

CHARL CHAKA THU 27TH APRIL

JW MARRIOTT MARQUIS FREE ENTRY BY GUESTLIST 100 AED AT DOOR RSVP@INFUSION.AE HOUSEofAFRIKA HOUSEofAFRIKA

HOUSE_of_AFRIKA HOUSE_of_AFRIKA

FLOYD LAVINE

MEET THE RESIDENTS - DECIBEL TOUBBA Congrats on another great season, how have you found making your mark in a quite competitive scene?

Decibel is relatively new to the scene, there is always going to be obstacles and challenges any promoter would need to face and address. The most important aspect of our events is what we bring to an audience, and that is total FREEDOM. We pretty much have a space where sweating your ass off is encouraged. We’re not about being “Fashionable” We freaking dance all night, and with our audience. Our followers know this very well.

You have been quite prolific on booking rising stars that maybe some haven’t heard of, do you think this is a risk?

Even if you brought the biggest name to the city, it’s still a risk. The reality is, great music should always be a ‘given’. It’s the experience that actually matters the most. And to be honest, not everyone knows the big names either. What matters is the actual package. In addition, we like booking rising stars because they are bringing new things to the table. Dubai is far behind in music simply because bookings are focused on “Which DJ you bring” rather than “What new talent” is out there.

We like to stay up-to-date with Europe a lot and find amazing talented gems that are so well known in the world and not in Dubai.

Have you been able to catch the DJ’s prior to booking them or do you book them purely on their production and online mix prowess?

None of the DJs we’ve booked I have seen live myself. Its their mixing skill and production that I care about the most. New talented producers are always going to bring something new. Whether it’s mixing or simply playing out their production. I spend a lot of time listening to mixes and discovering new artists. Comes naturally as a DJ since I play most of their work.

At Decibel you pride yourselves on mostly using only your own residents to support your guests, how important is this to your brand?

There is absolutely no point of doing events without having certain elements that truly represents the brand. One of them will always be the music myself and Krucho put down. We keep our playlists updated, and will always be the heart of the energy the brand represents in music and experience.

Do you think it’s a bad idea for other promoters not to adopt this stance?

So far all promoters have their residents and it’s actually awesome, or, they would bring in various local talents in each gig, which is also awesome. I can’t think of anyone that doesn’t. But lets say that there wasn’t. That would suck big time. Residents will always be the integral part of any event. Its plays as an identity attribute if you will.

What has been the standout event of the season for you?

Hands down, the best gig for me this season was without doubt, with the queen Fatima Hajji. 2 hours of relentless power and that is what dance music should always be about in my opinion.

What have you learnt as a DJ over the course of the season?

Never play tracks that are crowd pleasers. If there is anything I loathe, its probably playing an overplayed track. You literally don’t stand out from any other DJ if you do that. That’s why I spend so much time finding gems and going through the beautiful course of listening to every track from start to finish.

If you get the audience to experience your sets with new material every time, then they will surely and naturally become accustom to new things and new experiences. I would play a track two or three times, then it becomes history and move on to something new. Always keep your sets interesting, and your crowd will always be interested in new sounds you’re going to put forth.

Can you let us in on what you have planned for final party of the season?

All I can say is we are going all in and signing out our season with a mighty bang. So big we’re probably going to cause an earthquake. “Shake like an Earthquake” will be the moto of the night for me.

What do you have planned for the next season? Will you be mixing up the formula or sticking with the plan?

We will see how things will go. We have plenty of new things in mind and will take action to introduce it to our followers and the scene. We have a strong formula working now, but we have so much room for improvement, its quite exciting to have these opportunities to work with.

KRUCHO What was your background prior to joining the Decibel team?

I graduated 2 years ago from hospitality school. I always had a love for techno and wished to take it somewhere. I proved myself and kept pushing my limits, until I finally joined the Decibel team.

Compared to a lot of the DJ’s in Dubai you are fairly young, do you think this works in your favour?

Age does not matter, however this gives me more room to do plenty in the near future. There is so much that has to be done and I can’t wait to take on more adventures. The Krucho name is becoming more and more popular thanks to the endless support I get.

How have you arrived at your current style? Who has been the biggest influence on you?

My current style is a compilation of everywhere I have gone and all DJs I have seen between Beirut, Dubai or abroad. My biggest influence would definitely be my Decibel DXB family. They have made me who I am today and I will always be thankful for that.

What sets you apart from the rest of the DJ’s?

I have had the chance to play alongside some of the most amazing DJs worldwide, such as Kintar, D-Unity, Fatima Hajji, Matt Sassari, Miguel Bastida, Alberto Ruiz just to name a few.

What has been your most memorable set?

The most memorable set would definitely be the warm up set I did for my good friend Kintar in January. I loved every moment of it, the crowd and the energy was absolutely thrilling and kept me wanting more.

What has been the biggest track for you this season? What makes it so good?

Very difficult to choose just one big track but I would definitely say The White Shadow (FR) remix of “Feuilles D’Automne” by Teho. I shared amazing moments with this track with many friends and love to share it with crowds.

What do you think it takes to make it as a DJ these days?

To never give up, find your sound and you will shine. Keep digging for jewels and you will see that you should never stop the search.

Persistence is the only way to make it as a DJ these days, especially with techno.

If you could bring any guest to Decibel who would it be?

The White Shadow (FR) or Upercent, definitely two of my favourite DJs and producers out there. Very difficult to explain in words but their dark, groovy, electric sound stands out so well! They are doing their own thing and I have the upmost respect for both these guys, I wish to meet them someday (or have them play one of our night) Alex Bau plays ON42, Thursday, May 11, Media One Hotel, 10pm-3am, entry AED100.

ONLY THE bRAVE

B

ritish techno DJ and Drumcode artist Alan Fitzpatrick has in recent years become one of the hottest properties in the techno world. His combination of functional, yet perhaps soulful releases and DJ sets have seen his stock rise considerably since he blasted on to the scene. As well as his undeniable talent in the studio, Alan is one of the hardest working DJ’s on the techno circuit right now and in 2015 he amassed a touring schedule that was around 125 shows deep.

It only seems right that he finally stops over in Dubai and a debut performance on Friday, April 21 for Plus Minus at Media One Hotel’s ON42 warehouse-esque space is looming high on the horizon.

To give you an idea of how hard Alan works and how much he values his followers, he recently completed his “We Are The Brave” mini tour of the UK, which saw him play at 3 house parties in Glasgow, Newcastle and Liverpool. This tells you all you need to know about this humble, yet highly focused artist, seldom will you see an artist have such a grass roots approach to their fans.

However, do not mistake kindness for weakness as Alan can smash it up with the best of them, as his rock solid DJ sets will testify. For a point of reference of Alan’s warehouse rave heritage, just take a look at his upfront techno work out “Where Haus?” which dropped last year on Dusky’s 17 Steps imprint. Fitzpatrick’s Customer alias leans even more heavily towards this no frills techno aesthetic and it has paid him dividends in the process. Look out for Alan dropping tracks from his We Are The Brave Records catalogue, like the very apt “Friday Night Dancing” and the raucous “We Do What We Want”. Just remember to dress for the occasion because Alan is going to insist that you dance.

Alan Fitzpatrick plays ON42, Friday, April 21, Media One Hotel, 9pm-3am, entry from AED100.

A BRIGHT OUTLOOK

Dubai promoter Something Big are partnering up with Croatian taste maker Outlook Festival, and they are bringing several of the festivals artists to ON42, Media One Hotel on Thursday, May 4 for one heck of a party. We caught up with garage pioneer Wookie and Grime selector Logan Sama.

WOOKIE What has been happening in the studio and on the road?

In the studio, I’ve recently been upgrading my tools. Acquiring some nice bits of analog mixing gear; SSL summing mixer and a few 500 series components. (Compressors & Eq’s) So I’ve spent the last few months getting accustomed to those new toys, enhancing my ‘mix down’ skills. In between that time playing parties up & down the country. The train journeys allow me to read the gear’s manuals.

Can we expect new releases from you soon?

As a matter of fact, yes! I’ve just finalised the master mixes of 2 tracks, ‘Reach Out’ and ‘Plutonomy’. Hopefully those should be out in the next few months. Along side a few remixes that I’ve got on the go now.

Who to your mind is keeping that original soulful garage sound alive?

MJ Cole, Jeremy Sylvester, Matt Jam & Scott Diaz, El-B, Disclosure, from the new generation.

You bravely took a break from the industry, at what point did you say, “Enough is enough”?

It was probably around the time the record shops disappeared, and MP3’s took a hold of business. Also the musical landscape had changed and I probably felt a little disillusioned with what I was doing. I felt a little alienated at the time and probably was a little too stubborn to try and adjust to the changes. So I convinced myself that my time was up, time to call it a day.

What did the break do for your creativity, both in the studio and on the decks?

I would say it helped me regroup myself and gain a new perspective.

Like I said before, the business had changed quite a bit since I started. So it was a good opportunity to do so.

What was your take on the UK Bass scene when you returned?

To be honest, I didn’t really like it. The sound had taken a different direction and seemed a bit ‘cold’ to me. That’s probably one of the biggest incentives I had to return at the time.

Do you think you will ever return to your r&b, hip-hop and reggae roots?

I think at some point yes. I was working on an R&B project back in 2001, with the likes of Lain, Tayo Cruz, Earle Ray.. but that didn’t get released. I’m not sure I will be make any reggae projects though.

You will be back in Dubai shortly to promote the Outlook Festival in Croatia, what makes Outlook so special?

I’ve only been to Croatia once before, that was 2014. I loved my experience then, the energy of the place was crazy. Brilliant location for a festival.

Who will you make sure that you catch when you are there?

I’m not sure how long I’m there for this time around, but I would love to catch, Dizzee Rascal, Ghostface, Pharaoh Monch and Chronixx.

How was your first trip here last year?

2014 was my first trip and I came over with Newham Generals, we had a laugh. And my boat party with Chris Lorenzo and Hannah Wants etc… got messy, with me loosing my brand new phone. lol.

Have you been keeping tabs on the scene here?

I’ve always got my eyes and ears open.

LOGAN SAMA Logan Sama is an intrinsic part of the Grime scene and has been relied up on for selector duties for the scenes biggest names. WE caught up with Logan ahead of his set at the Outlook party being thrown by Something Big at ON42, Media One Hotel on Thursday, May 4 How is life on the road or do you get plenty of down time Funny that you ask me this, as I currently find myself recovering from 2 weeks of straight travelling. Usually though I am working from my home base and the travelling is minimal, but every now and then it can be quite brutal. That’s the ‘work’ part of things.

What’s been going on in the studio recently?

I had the pleasure of covering for DJ Target on 1Xtra recently whilst he was away on vacation. As a 100% Grime DJ it was a new experience for me to present a show with a wide range of sounds.

I had good fun with it, but it is not something I would want to take on regularly. My passion lies firmly within Grime.

Your roots are very much in the pirate radio scene, how important are these stations to the UK scenes and do you think that is still the case?

Grime music was born on pirate radio alongside other sounds like drum n bass and dubstep. Whereas rap music and afro bashment are less rooted in the pirate radio culture. Nowadays pirate FM radio stations are almost a thing of the past but the spirit and attitude remain with platforms like Internet radio and even YouTube channels, which provide alternative and unique content for niche fans.

With stations like Rinse FM going over land, do you think it still means the same as it once did?

No, it is a very different place now. Things have changed. But

to think things will stay the same forever is foolish. We must adapt and change with them.

These days grime seems to be a bit of a buzzword for the sound of UK’s streets, are you ok with that?

I think these days grime is often mis-used to describe any MC based music out of the UK. It is good that Grime has become synonymous with British culture but it is one genre amongst a wide variety of MC led music that come out of the UK. Grime is a very specific sound and style. I feel that calling everything Grime mistakenly means that other scenes do not get their full credit.

Being such an important DJ in the grime scene, what does the genre mean to you?

Grime is the reason why I am here. It means everything to me.

Do you think it is long over due for grime to be recognised as not just an extension of hip-hop/r&b?

Grime for us has never been an extension of hip-hop. If your frame of reference is that all MC based music is a type of hip-hop then I can understand the mistake. But across the world there are many types of music that include MCing that are not from Hip Hop. Grime has a complicated history and those influences certainly include some of hip-hop. I prefer to think of Grime as the Greatgrandchild of West Indian sound system culture.

Do you have any plans to release music yourself?

Whilst I do not directly make music myself, I have always released music from talented creators through my various labels. My latest label ‘KeepinItGrimy’ has just launched and will continue to release quality Grime material from exciting acts both new and old. I also continue to release instrumental EPs under my Earth616 imprint.

You are a bit of a Street Fighter head, which version is your favourite?

I got in to the game with Street Fighter 4 in 2009. Before then I hadn’t really been in to the games. Not a lot of people know this but Dubai and the UAE in general has some incredibly talented players who are capable of taking on any of the pros in the world.

Being an old school SF fan myself Ken was always the man, who is your favourite fighter?

I actually play Ken in the current version, Street Fighter V. But my favourite was the English boxer Dudley who featured in SF3 and SF4.

Tell us about your upcoming show in Dubai for the Outlook Festival? Will this be your first trip to Dubai?

I have never had the chance to experience Dubai outside of the airport. So yes, this is my first time! I always see pictures and videos and it looks amazing. I am excited to experience it in person!

Any thoughts on the scene here?

I am not sure what to think! I know so little so it is very exciting to me to experience it first hand. I hope I get to meet people who love Grime and maybe even some people who make Grime in Dubai. That would be awesome!

Wookie, Logan Sama, Mike Skinner, Blazin & MC Visionobi play ON42, Thursday, May 4, Media One Hotel, 10pm-3am, entry from AED75.

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CALLING THE CITY’S PLAYERS. 7 CUISINES | SHISHA BAR + SOCIAL TRADING LOUNGE

LEVEL C | EMIRATES FINANCIAL TOWERS DIFC, DUBAI, UAE

MA’ANA: DAY

T

obie Allen and his Ma’ana Records imprint have, since it’s inception been really pushing producers in the Middle East to step up their game and take advantage of the amazing platform he is providing them with. The new album from the local label speaks volumes of this tireless approach and the tracks that have been handed in are testament to how much the label and its vision are valued in the region.

With the 16 track Ma’ana: Day album only having one stipulation, and that was to deliver a little slice of sunshine to the listener. To celebrate it seemed almost mandatory that the launch party take place at a poolside terrace, and what better spot than the centrally located Dek on 8 at Media One Hotel.

With the album boasting some serious DJ talent as well as top producers, there was almost too much choice when it came to the event lineup. Joing label boss Tobie Allen will be Sam Farsio, who was jointly (along with Jason Pinto) responsible for “Sultan”, Wisqo who delivered the piano laden “Holding On” and there will be a live performance of Jefty and Simone Cooper’s collaboration “Make It Through”.

WHITE DUBAI

Taking one look at White Dubai and it is little wonder that it has been camped out in DJ Mag’s Top 100 Club poll for several years.

However, that’s has been previous years and with the 2017 poll recently hitting the streets, the Meydan Racecourse rooftop venue has doubled down considerably on last years placing of 49 and is now sitting pretty at number 26 in the chart.

The fact that White Dubai has placed higher than the revered London institution Ministry of Sound and infamous Ibiza nightspot Privilege is due to a great number of things. Firstly the sound and light production is out of this world; dancers zip about high above the dance floor, lazers cut impressive lines across the Dubai skyline and the crystal clear sound system would make the biggest sound geeks dance opened mouthed.

One thing above all else attracts legions of ardent followers to White Dubai time and time again and that is the calibre of the international guests that visits them on a regular basis.

In the recent past White Dubai have welcomed huge names from the urban and EDM world such as Jay Sean, Jason Derulo, Akon, Giggs, Dimitri Vegas, even Tinie Tempah has a residency at the sky high night spot. With the current season coming to a close, White Dubai are keeping their foot firmly on the gas and have locked in Meek Mill and Ameriie to help blow out the candles of URBN’s 3rd birthday cake on Saturday, April 22. Nelly will be dropping by on Thursday, May 4 and then on Thursday, May 18 White have Lil Jon who has recently been named the Las Vegas resident DJ of the year. It is a certainty that whenever you head up to the White Dubai rooftop corks will pop.

WORLD SERVICE Having toured the world several times over as part of the hugely influential Global Underground brand and genre-defining duo Way Out West. Nick Warren is also used to performing on some of the worlds biggest stages, so ahead of his intimate set for Tiger Sessions and Back2basics at Pure Sky Lounge on Thursday, April 27 we sat down with the Englishman.

Where have you been on your travels recently? This year has been insanely busy for me. I have toured pretty much the whole of South and North America for the past 3 months, including several “The Soundgarden� events in Argentina and a very hectic WMC in Miami. The best of the shows so far has to be The Soundgarden event on the beach in Mar del Plata, Argentina. It was streamed live on BE@TV and is available on their website if anyone wants to check it out.

Has there been a period of time since this all began that you have not been on the road?

Hahaha, it does seem like I'm always on the go sometimes. Touring takes up so much of the year and there are amazing places all over the globe to explore and play great parties, a week at Christmas seems to be my main time off and in the summer I head to Finland for some r&r in the nature.

Way Out West have recently rebooted on Anjunadeep, what prompted the move to release more music as WOW? Jody and I had a period where we did our own thing but it was always the plan to come back with a new album. It’s done now and the release will be announced very, very soon.

How does your live setup look these days? The live show is going really well, I am playing the drum pads and some keys and Jody is on the controller and keys. Every show is different though and we are really enjoying the live experience.

What’s your take on “progressive house” today?

Would it be fair to say that most of the deep house that is around now is simply a slower version of what you have been playing since the 90’s?

You are dead right, deep house and even a lot of techno is basically prog under different names. It's quite funny really. I don't mind about the genres or trends too much though, I've always just played what I like.

With you being one of the original superstar DJ’s courtesy of Global Underground, do you feel you have been there and done it all when it comes to DJing?

Well, like any trade I think you learn something everyday and strive to improve your skills. I still

love to DJ and feel it’s a privilege to play music I love to people.

Do you think mix CD’s are fighting a losing battle with podcasts or will it always have a place?

There is still a place for them in a shrinking market. Hernan's recent Balance album is a perfect case in point. If you deliver an outstanding product then people will still want to have it.

From your travels, what have you found that clubs these days are doing better than say 10 years ago?

I think the scene is much more professional these days, great sound systems and cool environments are the norm these days.

Tell us about The Soundgarden label/event concept and the reasoning behind setting it up?

The Soundgarden label is a platform for me to release eclectic electronic music from all genres that I believe deserves to be heard. We’ve just released three ambient pieces by Inhmost, with remixes by Oona Dahl, Nitemoves and Anton Dhouran.

The Soundgarden events reflect the eclectic sounds that we like, happening in fun and fresh locations, often outdoors and daytime. We put a lot of effort into the visual aspects of the event and often have little treats like fruit and ice creams for the crowd.

It’s really a family vibe in the booth as well.

The Soundgarden events reflect the eclectic sounds that we like, happening in fun and fresh locations, often outdoors and daytime. We put a lot of effort into the visual aspects

of the event and often have little treats like fruit and ice creams for the crowd. It's really a family vibe in the booth as well, we invite great friends like Hernan Cattaneo, Guy J, Guy Mantzur, DAVI, Eelke Kleijn, Henry Saiz, Marc Marzenit etc to play. It also gives me and the other headlining DJs the rare chance to play different sets, like playing some lush chillout to about 70 people during the sunset in Ibiza or opening on our yearly Miami Music Week sunset cruise with some groovy house music I don't get to play at my main slot sets. Next up is our Ibiza Opening Party on May 23rd and then the annual OffWeek event in Barcelona with our friends from Sudbeat.

What is coming next for Way Out West and yourself? Can we expect a new WOW LP soon?

The new WOW album comes out this summer, which is very exciting, we have a ton of live shows all over the world and I will also be touring solo at the same time. We have more The Soundgarden events in Ibiza, Barcelona and South America coming up this summer, and it's the festival season too! Hernan and I will be playing B2B at Extrema Outdoor Belgium in June, which is going to be special.

Where is top of your list to still play?

I have played pretty much everywhere but would love to go back to Iceland again as I had such fun playing there in the past.

Nick Warren plays Pure Sky Lounge, Friday, April 27, Hilton Hotel JBR, 9pm-3am, from AED100.

TALKING ALL THAT JAZZ Since the late 80’s, Soul II Soul and their close family of artists have helped to shape the music industry and counter culture in the UK and wider afield. One man that is synonymous with this collective is Jazzie B OBE, and he continues to influence generations of artists to this day.

Ahead of his headline set for Soul Heaven at 360°, Jumeirah Beach Hotel on Friday, April 28 Infusion caught up with Jazzie B to find out more about this national treasure.

What has been happening in your world of late? It’s been a lot of fun recently – we’ve been having an incredible time. I’ve been out on the road with my sound system Soul II Soul and it’s been great to connect with all our fans. Check soul2soul.co.uk for our latest work.

Going back to your roots, what are your earliest memories of sound systems and the culture? Music styles have been pigeonholed into categories in recent years, which can be quite limiting. I’d definitely like to bring back a feeling of peace and harmony to the community via my music.

Do you think that the way the world that exists today almost removes any possibility of a return to these ideals? For me everything has to change, it is all about evolving and I’m not so sure if you would want to go back to that time. I’m still sure that the romantic idea of the sound system is still out there and some places still practice it.

Where have you recently played that reminds you of that time? Output Club in NYC. I was there last week for the Shelter anniversary with Timmy Reggisford and Louie Vega, I was playing with Soul II Soul. We still have various sound clashes here in London, but I would say that one of the biggest exponents of the culture on that level is Red Bull Music Academy.They seem to be able to allow the dream to continue in one way, shape or form all be it in a more controlled environment. My kids and other kids from my area also frequent those gigs and are quite enthusiastic about it all.

It’s always nice ot hear from their perspective about it all. So I guess for me the essence is still really there.

With your early Soul II Soul work being written at time of much change and oppression in the UK, is this something you have always drawn on when creating music? Well I suppose everybody in their early strikes of music is often what they are about and where they are coming from.

I guess with Soul II Soul in that particular era, technology had moved on, and so technology played a large part in regards to what Soul II Soul were about and how we were able to tell our story.

Jazzie B plays 360°, Friday, April 28, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, 1pm-3am, free entry.

Has that early feeling ever left you, or do you feel that it has directly shaped you as an artist?Well, even as an artist, DJ and a producer I still get nervous and that gives a sense of what it means to me and how I feel about it.

How important do you feel it is to regularly connect with your fans on a live basis rather than DJing? DJing is my first love. It’s what keeps me moving and I’m so happy to be able to go out there every weekend, playing my music and doing what I love.

How important was it for you to record and release “Origins”? Very important, I feel like I’ve now graduated to the next stage in terms of not just having a collective, but being a real band. And I’m not just talking about the sessions we play together, but the music we physically make together. That was also the first time that I had let go and not being in the control room at the time of the recording takes. When each take would be laid down, usually I would be in the control room and for this I was on the other side of the fence. It was also another angle of the business, which allowed me to continue to evolve and now I’m learning to play with a band and enhancing elements of the band and there is still things in the industry that I am still new at.

With “Origins” is there anything you would have done differently? Na, it is exactly what it is, what it should have been, how it is and I’m very happy with the outcome. Listening back to it sonically, I think it was a great evening.

What is next for Soul II Soul? Will you be writing new material any time soon? The future of Soul II Soul is happy face, a thumping bass for a loving race. Keep on moving.

Is there one track in your set list that you would rather not perform but feel you need to, as the fans love it so much?

If so, why? I choose the songs we play, and I enjoy them more and more every time. The live side of my career has just started - I’m more like a child wanting to play with all the equipment during rehearsal sessions. Then when it comes to show time, I’m as nervous as if it was my first show. I feel more at home when I’m DJing.

What can we expect from your set at 360°, Dubai? Music that brings happiness to everyone – when you’re happy you dance and I want partygoers at 360° to hit the dance floor! I have been in and out of Dubai since the 90s - I’m looking forward to playing again for the Soul Heaven crew who have partnered with 360° on 28th April.

Jazzie B plays 360°, Friday, April 28, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, 1pm-3am, free entry.

Rolling a 5

Loco Dice is a curious artist that made the seemingly impossible transition from hip-hop DJ to A-list techno touring legend, yet when you hear his sets it all makes sense. His set at Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE was one of the stand out sets of last season and there is no question that he will do it all over again at the beach club’s 5th birthday come Friday, May 5. We take a look at some of Dice’s releases that have helped shaped some of the more discerning dance floors over the years.

Loco Dice – Phat Dope S**t (Four:Twenty Recordings 2002) Phat Dope S**t was the beginning of his relationship with studio engineer and top producer Martin Buttrich and this track helped to sound track many a lost afternoon out on the DC-10 terrace. This also announced Dice’s arrival as a force to be recommended.

The vocals say it all really.

Loco Dice – Menina Brasileira/ Jacuzzi Games (Ovum 2005) Dice’s EP for Josh Wink’s Ovum imprint, also in conjunction with Buttrich showed a deepening of house and techno in Europe and signalled a new era in minimal house and techno.

Loco Dice Minimal Explosion (Mixmag CD 2005) This well timed cover mix for Mixmag helped to cement Dice’s status as the leader of the new strain of minimal music coming out of Europe and was championed on the terrace of DC-10 and pretty much everywhere else.

Loco Dice - Orchidee (MINUS 2006) As signalled the previous year, Loco Dice continued to delve deep in to the music that was having the biggest impact on the bigger dance floors and cultivated tracks especially for those special moments and “Orchidee” on Richie Hawtin’s Minus label was a sprawling, rattling, glitched out minimal synth work out that took people places they hadn’t been before.

Loco Dice – Seeing Through Shadows (MINUS 2006) That same year, Loco Dice followed “Orchidee” up with an all-together more sinister track. “Seeing Through Shadows” became an instant classic and was hammered by everybody at the top of the techno tree.

Kabale Und Liebe – Mumbling Yeah (Loco Dice Remix) (Remote Area 2008) As you may have guessed by now, Loco Dice is an artist that likes to keep his production output interesting and seldom follows the same path twice.

His hip shaking rework of Kabale und Liebe’s “Mumbling Yeah” again found its way in to all the big guns record bags.

Loco Dice – 7 Dunham Place (Desolat 2008) That same year Loco Dice returned with his critically acclaimed debut album. “7 Dunham Place” is the product of him and Martin Buttrich being holed up in a New York studio and is a great selection of Dice’s influences. Similar in warmth to his 2006 Harissa EP on Cadenza, all tracks are solid tracks for more intimate times. “Breakfast at Nina’s” is a shoe in for afterparty anthemic status.

Loco Dice – Underground Sound Suicide (Ultra Records 2015) Fast-forward to 2015 and the past 7 years have seen a continental shift in Dice’s musical direction. The same swagger and rock solid beats are there but he has graduated from techno DJ to a certified superstar and as such, his next artist album is chock full of huge collaborations.

Black Coffee – Buya (Loco Dice Remix) (Get Physical Music 2016) One of my favourite of Loco Dice’s recent remixes; his reworking of Black Coffee’s “Buya” harks back to the originality of his earlier synth work and percussion.

Martin Buttrich & Loco Dice – Damn You Made It (Rhythm Assault 2017) Bringing us right up to date is the brand new collaboration with longterm production partner Martin Buttrich. “Damn You Made It” is clearly designed with both artists sets in mind. Bristling with a bassline so thick and rolling it would be impossible to not to move with it.

This track also features on Martin’s “Collaborator” album, which also includes tracks with some of his other long term studio friends like Timo Mass and of course Matthew Jonson.

Loco Dice and Âme play Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE 5th birthday, Friday, May 5, Golden Tulip Hotel, Ghantoot, 1pm-11pm, free entry.

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ON THE RADAR ANALOG ROOM FEAT. TOM TRAGO APRIL 20 - INDUSTRIAL AVENUE

BACK TO BASICS FEAT. NICK WARREN APRIL 27 – PURE SKY LOUNGE

RUSSELL HOWARD LIVE APRIL 20-22 - DUBAI COLLEGE

MA’ANA: DAY LAUNCH PARTY APRIL 27 – DEK ON 8

APOLLONIA & CARL CRAIG APRIL 21 -BLUE MARLIN IBIZA UAE

EDDIE IZZARD APRIL 27 – WOLD TRADE CENTER

PLUS MINUS FEAT. ALAN FITZPATRICK APRIL 21 – ON42

ONE BIG FRIDAY FEAT. CLAPTONE APRIL 28 – ZERO GRAVITY

ON THE RADAR LOCO DICE MAY 5 - BLUE MARLIN IBIZA UAE

BRAAIDAYDXB FEAT. FRANCOIS VAN COKE MAY 12 – EMIRATES GOLF CLUB

GROOVE ON THE GRASS SEASON CLOSING FT. ELLEN ALLIEN

THE LIGHTNING SEEDS, THE FARM & TOPLOADER

MAY 5 - EMIRATES GOLF COURSE

MAY 12 – IRISH VILLAGE

DECIBEL CLOSING PARTY FEAT. ALEX BAU MAY 11 – ON42

SOLOMUN MAY 12 – BLUE MARLIN IBIZA UAE

HOUSE OF AFRIKA FEAT. BLACK MOTION MAY 11 – BRIDGEWATER TAVERN

PLUS MINUS FEAT. EINMUSIK B2B JONAS SALBAACH

MAY 12 – ON42

Soundstage MUHAISNAH FOUR

Multi-talented Cromwell Ojeda aka Muhaisnah Four has been involved in several bands in recent times, but his Muhaisnah Four output is by far his most lauded. We get the lowdown on M4 form the man himself My biggest gig ever was… April 14, 2017. RBMA Weekender Gig at Dubai Design District. Opened up for Danny Brown, Earl Sweatshirt, Knxwldge, Jessy Lanza and Princess Nokia. I also released my first album on that gig and played the whole track live from the album with a 6pcs repertoire.

I’m best known for… My exquisite taste for hamburgers and the dude with like a thousand plus band.

I’m most proud of… My wife for putting up with me. People tend to think that I manage my time equally with my day job, music projects and family. I spend most of my time at work and whatever energy and time left, I do music. While piggy back riding my daughter at the same time off course.

The artist I’d most like to work with is… It’s a tie between Daft Punk and Trent Reznor. I’ve always wanted to dive into the world of Daft Punk music production. With Trent, I’m a big fan of his diversity and discipline with music and live set production.

One thing you may not know about me is that… I don’t know how to play keyboard. All the notes and chords I’m doing live and on the album are just done by feels.

This year, I’m playing in… Well if you managed to get a copy of my album, I will be playing in your car / room / living room / head.

My sound is described as… Feel good music. Can be a soundtrack to your summer romance.

My music sounds like… Synthpop, chillwave and indie electronic.

A lot of people and media said that my first single “Home” could be a track from the Drive soundtrack.

If I had to live in one decade it would be… 70’s so I can prevent the bad glam fashion from the 80s.

The one piece of music kit I can’t live with out is… Microkorg.

I can get all the sound that I need from that synth.

Facebook.com/muhaisnahfour

DJ BOOTH: SOPH-EYE RICHARD

French-Canadian multi-talented DJ and resident at The Beach House, Anantara Dubai, Soph-eye Richard gives us the lowdown on what makes her tick on and off the decks…

One thing you might not know about me is… I’m a nerd, but I love to be silly and make jokes. Catch me in the right mood and you’d think I was a comedian. Although I love entertaining, I really enjoy my alone time.

My worst job ever was… I had once gone through a training for door-to-door sales of kitchen knifes, in Canada. It barely lasted one day.

My favourite ever record is… I guess the answer would depend on my mood and the style I’m vibing with the most at that moment, but I’d have to say “Your Sweetness Is My Weakness” by Barry White gets me every time, especially when the horn section comes in!

Dubai’s clubbing scene is… Blessed. We are blessed to have such an international presence, as well as homegrown parties.

The key is to unite and support one another, appreciate the different music genres and backgrounds we are all coming from.

I’m really proud of… Having followed my vision through the ups and downs and making a living from being an artist, independently. I lived and/or performed in about 20 countries to this day; I’m so grateful for that itself.

What track could you drop in every set? I’m going to limit myself to 2 and say “Get It Off” by Kerri Chandler or “Mirror Dance” by Afefe Iku. I can’t live with out… Faith in the Universe, my intuition… and steak! I’m a meat lover.

My biggest DJ achievement to date is… Every time someone feels inspired from, or touched by my set, it’s the biggest achievement as a DJ. If you could DJ in any decade, which would it, be…

Hands down the 70s & 80s. Take me to New York, to the Paradise Garage with Larry Levan, or to the first block parties with Kool Herc and the b-boys/b-girls getting down… you’d see me doing my thing there for sure!

If I could go back to back with any other DJ it would be… I have to name a few; Kerri Chandler, Roger Sanchez, Black Coffee, Dennis Ferrer & Louie Vega. And we better have more than 2 CDJ’s ;) @meettheeyes

SAND CITY SOUNDS – WOMEN IN DXB Lead singer of Stereo Arcade’s resident band Sound City, Jessica Cotton explains what it is like for an independent female musician in Dubai…

Tell me about your musical background.

I was lucky enough to grow up in a musical family. My mother played the piano and sang, and it always felt natural for me to take a musical career path. I had always felt a connection to music, and especially singing.

From a very early age I discovered that music was what fed my soul, made me happy and also saw how happy it made others!

My musical influences are always changing – As a kid I enjoyed listening to a lot of jazz, soul and mowtown, groups like The Supremes and amazing artists including Billy Holliday, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, B.E King and later on Michael Jackson became my regular choices. Since my early 20’s I have enjoyed listening to artists such as India Arie, Joss Stone, and of course the amazing Amy Winehouse. I was not only drawn to their style of music, but the emotion which was projected in their voices, the stories their lyrics told and the connection I felt when listening. I like to take this approach when performing. I try to make each song my own, to tell the story and connect with my audience.

What’s been your best gigging experience so far?

Dubai has given me a plethora of performing experiences; I have been part of many amazing corporate events, weddings and private functions. Stereo Arcade has definitely given Sound City and me some great exposure. Stereo Arcade draws in all types of people.

The Stereo Arcade crowd comes to listen to good music, and have a good time! Which is what it is all about. Me and the boys look forward to being there every week, we love the support we get, its Amazing!

Tell me about your music experience so far in Dubai.

Dubai has given Sound City and me the opportunity to really thrive. We have all been out here for a number of years, and the guys are all incredibly talented musicians. I think the music scene is growing, but there is still a tight knit community of regular working musicians! It is nice to see new artists thriving as well.

How would you describe yourself/ your band when it comes to music?

The best thing about Sound City is that we all have very different musical backgrounds – rock, pop, soul, blues and drum & bass! This has led us to be flexible and creative when choosing songs. We are a cover band, but we add some of our own creativity, personality and vibe to each tune. We don’t mess with the classics; we only do them justice!

What was your most favorite music discovery in Dubai?

There are some amazing Filipino bands in Dubai, one band in the Holiday Inn, Al Barsha (Bodega Garage) are an incredible 7-piece band, and damn those guys can play! Also, our amazing friends who are also part of an incredibly talented band The Distillers, who play at Hard Rock on a Thursday and Friday night. Go check them out!

What is it like being a women in the Dubai music industry I am so lucky to have so much support as a female singer in Dubai.

There are some great female singers out here, and I enjoy supporting those ladies who are also doing what they love.

What genre of music are you most passionate about?

Soul Music baby!

What was it about the concept of Stereo Arcade that made you know if would be right for your band?

We had wanted to be involved with Stereo Arcade for a while, the place attracts the people and crowd that as a band excites us.

People appreciate the music, and the bands that Stereo Arcade have performing are quality! All nights of the week you can go and find something different to listen to.

Where did you/ have you studied music?

I was accepted into the prestigious BRITS School, I went to school with Amy Winehouse, Adele and Jessie J. It was a great experience, and amazing training. I then went on to a Musical Theatre degree at Guildford School of Acting. I now get to use my acting and musical theatre experience in the week and teach full time for Dubai Performing Arts – Where I teach singing, musical theatre and drama.

Are you working on any new projects?

I am always dreaming up new and exciting ideas. If I wasn’t so busy I’d be on it more! As a band we are always looking for new ways to grow. This year, is the year for Sound City originals – It’s going to be exciting. So watch this space.

Best partnership or project you have been a part of in Dubai so far?

We were approached by Joe Lee of CODA Create to work on exciting new concepts for several large scale corporate events. The most interesting concept was “Rockaoke” which was essentially karaoke with a live band playing behind the singer. We played several gigs last year at various corporate events and parties and each one was met with great excitement and enthusiasm. Now Joe primarily uses Sound City for any new concepts and ventures as he believes in our professionalism and dedication to ensure everything works smoothly and without a hitch.

Are there any developments for women in that respect?

I am looking to create an all female diva showcase! It is something that I feel would work well in some theatre styled venues in Dubai.

Is there any developments for women in that respect I am looking to create an all female diva showcase! It is something that I feel would work well in some theatre styled venues in Dubai.

Did you have any preconceptions about Dubai’s nightlife scenes before you arrived? How did those perceptions change?

I have been here for 5 years. When I first arrived in Dubai the music scene was small. Its incredible how much it has grown. With Dubai, like most places it takes a while to find your feet. My advice for new musicians entering the Dubai music scene is, firstly, be patient...

There are a lot of other musicians wanting exactly the same thing as you, make it a priority to go and meet other respected and established musicians and bands, your liver may suffer! The industry over here doesn’t really respect people being pretentious, or sneaky!

Be real, be respectful, be realistic – and support each other.

Words by Megan Durnford

THE SPIN DUBAI, APRIL 2017

PAGE 217

ISSUE 57

GUEST LIST INDUSTRY NOW WORTH $4BN

Senior analysts at PricewaterhouseCoopers have released their annual nightlife financial reports, revealing that the worldwide guest list industry is now worth over $4bn. The report examined nightclubs and festivals across the world and gathered information from promoters who will “pop you on the list� and international DJs who have at least 20 spots for random strangers, cabin crew and the rare occasion that someone they know in real life wants to come and see them perform.

The worldwide guest list industry has seen a spike in recent years and can be attributed to dips in the economy and a rise in attractive DJs, over the traditional geeky artists, resulting in large numbers of ladies requesting free entry.

With guest lists costing venues and promoters $4bn a year, people are looking for other ways to generate income, as those that enter via guest list also rarely buy any drinks.

These stories are not true, this is not a real newspaper. This is a parody/fiction/ satire/joke. The Spin is not intended, in any way whatsoever, to be taken as factual.

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What we Ate

ALL YOU CAN EAT DIM SUM @ DOWNTOWN TOKO

Toko’s intimate outdoor garden is dotted with dainty fairy light, lush greenery, cosy sofa’s and lounge chairs, perfect to relax and enjoy a few dozen rounds of delectable dim sum steam baskets.

We were served about 3 different baskets at a time which were stuffed with a variety of fluffy dumplings and steamed buns (of which there is over 20 varieties on the menu). After the first round you can then continue to pick and choose which you want to reorder.

The waiting staff are knowledgable and the manager was also kind enough to check us girls were warm enough, which was incredibly sweet, but after a couple of Chang beers that are included in the deal (3 bottles), we were all feeling pretty warm.

The main attraction was the Zheng Jiao (Truffle, Duck, Mushroom and Lamb, Eggplant) and Har Gao (Shrimp Dumplings), each parcel packed with juicy goodness. I would for sure be back again, as far as dim sum go, these have been the tastiest I’ve dabbled in, in the UAE. All you can eat dim sum at Downtown Toko runs every Tuesday, 7pm to 10pm and AED195 also includes 3 beers or pink lemonade mocktails. Words by Tara Ellis

THE LUCKY BRUNCH @ LUCKY VOICE, GRAND MILLENNIUM HOTEL

Lucky Voice gives off a sophisticated NYC loft vibe with its spacious and modern fit out and uber cool, attentive wait staff and to begin patrons are greeted by the entertaining host Alan J and DJ Mitchell who put on an energetic performance convincing all tables to vote one of their friends to partake in a lip sync battle. While enjoying your drinks you are served a plethora of pub type dishes including chicken wings, croquettes, sliders, calamari, boneless ribs, ceviche and a comical tequila-infused sharing cocktail, presented in a hilarious festive ceramic horse. This brunch is really all about the party vibe but all dishes were incredibly tasty.

After the lip sync battle each table is offered a complimentary hour in the private karaoke pods. All pods contain easy to use touch screen sing-stations and a song list of over 15,000 tracks and partygoers are encouraged to get amongst the hilarious dress-up props and accessories provided. During this hour of power, drinks are discounted and extra food is available at the touch of a button.

The Lucky Brunch is on every Friday from 1-4pm and is priced at AED195 for the soft drinks package, AED295 for house drinks package and AED350 for the sparkling package. Happy Hour is from 4-8pm. For bookings call 800 58259 or email reservations@luckybrunch.ae.

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Eat Sleep Rave Repeat Okku

Stephen Day checks out the new brunch concept from Okku at The H Hotel‌

It’s Friday again, where did the week go! What to do, a city full of brunching opportunities and a day to fill, so much choice and so little time. It’s rare for me to want to return to somewhere, so it must have been exceptional the first time and Okku at the H Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road firmly ticked that box.

Being ushered into the bar area, the first thing that hits you are the large tanks behind it, they are full to the brim with neon blue jelly fish and a stack of crab legs and oysters to start everyone off. We are offered a choice of cocktails, we all plump for the lychee martini, which slides down a treat as more people arrive and Okku fills up.

I’m a big fan of this staging area concept, we can mingle, take our time and not feel hurried along and everyone gets sat down at their table properly, rather than the mad rush I’ve experienced elsewhere. Plus the seafood nibbles and flowing drinks helps.

We sit and our waiter first delivers some bowls of glistening sushi and sashimi, he explains that we can choose as many of the smaller plates from the menu as we want, then when we are ready a main course each from it. We place our first of many orders and start on the fish, each piece is a lovely cut, the salmon was especially tasty, with a delicate grain of fat running through it,

which bought out the flavour.

The ‘starters’ turn up, the classic Okku duck salad, as good as ever, salty, crispy, and fruity but a great balance with the surrounding leaves & radish.

Then some punchy ginger soy chicken arrives, as soft as you could ask for, it just melted in my mouth. A tiger prawn tempura that was light of touch & not swimming in sauce that it lost that seafood kick. We also had some very delightful calamari, not really Japanese in my book, but a welcome addition as it delivered a solid crunch, plus some small chicken yakitori skewers, which were perhaps my favourite as they had little pockets of burn sticky ends that popped in my mouth as I ate through them, divine.

Moving onto the larger plates we decided to order one each and share the lot, so the clichéd black miso cod, robato steak, honey truffle chicken and a glass noodle stir fry. Everything arrives and it packs a flavour, I could eat

a bit more cod but it’s gone in a jiffy as it’s so tasty. The chicken is interesting as its very, very soft and garlicky, not unpleasant, but I’ve just never eaten chicken cooked quite like this. The beef falls away & the noodles soak up all the sauce left in front of me, job done.

A Japanese dessert is hard to pin down, so Okku haven’t really bothered trying to. Instead they offer a chocolate fondant, an apple tart, and large chocolate brownie sundae. Ok I lied a little, they did bring out a creamy smooth green tea tiramisu, I thought it was a thing of beauty but it divided the table. Perhaps that amount of dairy on top of the previous courses was too much for some, but half the table, me included wolfed it down.

There are many positive things to say about the new Okku brunch, it’s a very relaxed & upmarket affair for the price.

Front of house are attentive and whilst some of the food is a bit hit and miss, if you navigate around the classics you wont be disappointed. The price point won’t break the bank either, AED299 for the soft drink package, AED399 for house beverages and AED449 for sparkling grape and cocktails.

Okku is definitely still on my list of places to return to.

Okku, The H Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road, 04 501 8777 facebook.com/okkudxb

WE ARE OPEN MMI ARMADA JLT

Locate us at

TEL NO. 04 425 1701

LOTS OF SPECIAL OFFERS AND GIVEAWAYS IN-STORE

I know I will speak for a lot of you out there, but do you know what really gets my goat? The roads of Dubai. Period. Pretty much everything about them gets my hackles up. If its not the myriad of road changes that have Google maps asking for directions, it’s the hoards of drivers that deem it fit to undercut you at twice the speed of sound just to ensure they make it to the set of lights 2 seconds quicker than you.

From the monkey’s lofty position as the best driver in the jungle, it is easy for me to pass judgement and judge I shall. At least one thing that driving in Dubai has taught me is patience. As the old adage goes “patience is a virtue seldom found in women, never found in men”, it’s perfected in Dubai. Stay safe on the roads people and be kind to your fellow man and apes.

Monkey Out...

The Angry Monkeys’ views are his own, and don’t necessarily reflect the views of Infusion Magazine.