MUSIC • PEOPLE • LIFE
An open love letter to Sven Vath
Get Carter Derrick Carter brings the funk to Mid-week clubbing, Beardyman, Daddy G, Groove Armada, Ferry Corsten and more! infusionmag
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A Note From The Editor
Publisher: Talal Budebs Managing Partner: Charl Chaka, charlchaka@infusion.ae Editor: Andy Buchan andy@infusion.ae Sales Director: Vip Patel Vip@infusion.ae / 050 169 8712 Online Guru: Chris Rayner chris@infusion.ae Contributors: Richard Perez, Stephen Day, Matt Zaharias, Sarah Abel V Design: Gustavo Cordeiro
Mad March is upon us again, and it won’t get much madder than at Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE on Friday March 27 when Sven Vath drops his trademark vinyl techno set. A firm believer that the party begins in the DJ booth, he’s one of the most charismatic DJs in the world, and a big reason behind the rise and rise of techno in the last decade. We sadly couldn’t get an interview with Papa Sven, so we did the next best thing – we wrote him a love letter. That, and all sorts of other fun music and club related stuff can be found further on in this magazine celebrating mad March.
Infusion is published by Milehigh Media, LLC PO Box 53443 – Dubai, UAE Tel/Fax: 04 368 8098 Never miss an issue, get Infusion delivered to your door for just Dhs100 a year. Email info@infusion.ae now!
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Looking Back
What we did Luciano @ Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE
First a confession, I love Luciano. I’ve loved him since the sweaty afternoons in DC-10 to the big room antics at Vagabundos, I even have his remix of Argy’s ‘Love Dose’ as the ring tone on my phone. However he’s had some quieter times as well: his brief cross over into the more commercial side seemed to have a negative effect on his passion but he’s had a word with himself and he’s back bigger and stronger than ever. The proof being one of the best sets I’ve heard him play for a while. We rocked up at BMI around 7.15 to find the queue stretching well into the car park and with a little bit of shuffling entered around 7.40 to see why there was a queue - the place was close to bursting with a vibrant, up for it crowd. From the table wannabes to the fresh-off-the-plane UAE virgins, from the Mancunian holiday makers right up to the cute girl dancing above the beach bar, everyone was in attendance and when Luciano stepped up the place erupted. His set rocked, it rolled and it rumbled with the driving techno sound that the Cadenza boss is known for. It’s unique to him and he looked like he was having a whale of a time delivering tune after tune, relentlessly building and dropping a near 4 hour set. Blue Marlin had better be repairing it all ready for Papa Sven on March 27 as Luciano destroyed the place last week. Stephen Day
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Holi Festival of Colours @ Al Sahra Desert Resort
Our favourite part of the Colour Run isn’t the running, believe it or not, but the bouncing around and throwing of dye to the sounds of a DJ held at the end of the race. Naturally, when we found out that the Holi Festival of Colours was coming to town, which promises the above but minus the running, we jumped at the chance to check it out. It was a bit of a trek to get out to the Al Sahra Desert Resort, and having to wait some time for a bus to shuttle you to the entrance after parking wasn’t improving matters, but once inside the trials of entry were forgotten as we descended into the main stage area. A punchy sound system and flashy visuals in a tiered amphitheatre provided a great arena for the festival, with Mike Saint-Jules laying down some energetic tunes as we arrived. Inflatable slides and other activity stations gave options for those looking to make the most of the evening, and while we caught some grumbles about the drinks line, the crowd was getting into the spirit of things, either throwing colour around or getting blasted with it themselves. Definitely an enjoyable way to spend a Friday night and we’re looking forward to next year’s edition. Matt Zaharias
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Looking Back Reggae Beach Fest @ XL Beach Club
Dubai’s biggest Reggae night returned to Xl Beach Club on Saturday 7th and brought with them a live set from Diana King, known for her big hits ‘Shy Guy’ and ‘Ain’t Nobody’ back in the mid 90s. By 10pm the club was nicely busy with the residents laying down some dubious tracks which included a few UB40 numbers and Peter Andre’s ‘Mysterious Girl’. Not exactly what we were expecting from a Reggae night but the up for it smiling crowd were lapping it up. Diana King came on stage just after 11 and proved she hasn’t lost any of her style and swagger, running through all her big hits while strutting down the catwalk stage waving her Jamaican flag. She kept the crowd engaged and singing along for her 40 minute set which included her re-rubbed ‘Shy Guy’ remix. Reggae Beach fest has certainly hit the right formula and even if the music can be a little on the commercial side it works perfectly. They are back again on the 4th of April with Dancehall General ‘Red Rat’ making his Middle East Debut.
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Looking Back
Groove on the Grass feat. Ida Engberg @ Emirates Golf Course Groove has always been proud to support local talent, and this time Cheh & Maks set the early pace until Warped’s Adam Rahman & GOTG head honcho himself Deian Markov took over duties, working the now bustling sea of people into a mass of happy faces and appreciative noise well into the night. Then a perfect Groove on the Grass moment happened: a figure appeared on stage, his t-shirt black, his hair short and a smile from ear to ear. There was a click, the beat dropped, another click and then sound layered upon sound pumped from the system, a noise so devastatingly good you have no option but to dance. Gaiser had arrived and dance we did. This was no DJ set, as Jon dropped an amazing live set, running through his 10+ years of music on M-nus. Under normal circumstances this alone would have been the end to a spectacular night but we were far from done as Gaiser was ‘just’ the warm up (imagine that). Ida Engberg, along with past Groove on the Grass headliners like Ellen Allien and Anja Scheider, has helped drive and shape techno to where it is today. Dancing nearly as much as the crowd, the Drumcode queen, dropped an on-point 2 hour set, getting the Groove on the Grass 2015 season off to the best possible start. Stephen Day
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Ed Sheeran @ Media City Amphitheatre
Taste of Dubai @ Media City Amphitheatre A festival of eating and drinking was always going to be well received in Dubai, and this gluttonous three day feast has grown and grown in recent years and become a social mainstay in the calendar. And with good reason. Some of the city’s best restaurants and bars are on display, while there are cooking shows, demonstrations, live acts including another excellent Boxtones show and thousands of people drinking away the weekend in the Media City sunshine. Special mention must go to the bustling Jack Daniels area, and The Scene’s Cider Tent, both of which seemed to get busier and blurrier as the day went on. And this wouldn’t be an Infusion review without noting what the DJ was doing, at one point mixing Julio Bashmore into The Stealers, which might just be a world first.
One man, one guitar and 2 microphones vs 11,000 people at a hugely hyped, long sold out gig at Media City. No pressure then, Mr Sheeran, no pressure. Along with his trusted live loop machine, Ed Sheeran delivered a live masterclass. With just his own vocals, then looped as backing vocals, some beatboxing and tapped out beats on his guitar, he put on an act that was so riveting, it was hard to tell what took our attention more – his graceful multi-tasking or the intense tracks that filled the huge space. With no live band to fill the stage, the show was accompanied by a stunning – and sometimes psychedelic – live video stream, while Ryan Keen, Sheeran’s friend and equally adept singer/songwriter, opened the concert in style. Sarah Abel V
Erick Morillo @ Cavalli
Groove on the Grass @ Emirates Golf Course
Hed Kandi @ Nasimi
Superheroes feat. Marshall Jefferson @ Dek on 8
House of Afrika @ Dek on 8
Reggae Beach Fest @ XL
United As Everyone @ Pacha Ibiza Dubai
Watermat @ Cielo
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Looking FORWARD Where we filter out the best things that are coming your way... > Local News > Cover Story > Mid Week Matters > Open Love Letter > Happy Daze > Ferry Corsten >Magic Eight Ball > Gig Guide
Looking Forward
Local News Daddy G at Zero G
DUST have teamed up with Zero Gravity for another barn-storming booking, this time bringing out Massive Attack’s Daddy G for a DJ set on Friday March 27. The night, part of the Turntables on the Gulf sessions, also includes New York DJ Nickodemus and the enigmatic Captain Planet as well as DUST residents on support.
Groove Armada play Eden
It might have just been a few months since Groove Armada were last over here, but the ‘Superstylin’ duo are back for another DJ set, this time at Eden Beach Club on Friday March 27. The previous night meanwhile is a return of their Eden Black night, with Dutch trance star Ferry Corsten dropping a trademark high energy set. Check out his interview further on in the magazine.
Dubfest returns
No, not a Dubai dubstep festival, but rather the city’s largest street theatre experience. A free 10 day event at the Al Ghurair Centre in Deira held from March 19-28, over 35 international acts from 17 countries will be on display, including comedians, fire-eaters, acrobats, live bands and a live circus school.
Eat Sleep Rave Repeat One of our favourite live music acts, beat-boxer and all round lyrical genius Beardyman is back for another show, this time at Zero Gravity on Thursday April 2. Just using his voice, he loops, chops and edits on a series of keyboards, iPads and electronic wizardry, creating anything – and everything – from hip hop to breaks to techhouse. And he supplied the vocals to the Fatboy Slim/Riva Starr hit 'Eat Sleep Rave Repeat,' making him one very talented man.
Boxtones get signed up One of our favourite local bands, The Boxtones have been signed up to a record deal with Universal MENA. The band had a busy 2014, releasing their album In The Pocket Of Clowns (which made it onto our Best Albums of the Year chart), while also opening for the likes of The Who, Lily Allen and Pharrell Williams. Their new single will be out later this year.
Free house party at Q43
Following the success of their David Morales party back in January, Q43 are back at it again this April with US house DJ Todd Terry on the ones and twos on Thursday April 30. A star of the 90s US and UK house scene, with several big crossover hits including ‘Something Going On’ and ‘Keep On Jumping.’ It’s free entry all night, but get down early to bag your dancing spot.
Looking Forward Rumours
Nasimi have confirmed Marlon Roudette on April 3, Robin Schulz on April 16 and Example on May 1. The Magician (right) is playing at Cielo’s first birthday party on Thursday April 9. Deacon Blue (April 16) and The Wailers (May 21) have been confirmed for gigs at The Irish Village. John Newman is playing at the launch of d3 on April 2
McGettigans at the Trade Centre roundabout have turned their upstairs room into a fully fledged, fully licensed pool hall. Time to get our hustle on! Fancy warming up for 30 Seconds To Mars this April? Course you do. So check out marsindubai.com for full details on how to upload your 30 second performance clip. Closing date for entries is Monday, March 23.
We’re loving the city’s thriving art scene, with Art Dubai, World Art Dubai, Design Days, DIFC Art Nights, Alserkal Avenue Galleries Night and the new d3 design district.
Yikes Beatport. What’s with your botched website re-design, you’ve made a decent website totally un-useable. Juno and Traxxsource here we come! Kanye West, as one of the Glastonbury headliners? Awful, awful, awful. Go home Glastonbury, you’re drunk. Whoever makes up subgenres of music is apparently drinking drain cleaner at the moment - Melbourne Bounce, Tropical House and Hyper Pop.
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GET CARTER Derrick Carter is a man who prefers to let his music do the talking, so we’re extremely honoured that the American house star took time out to give a rare interview ahead of his April 3 date at Pacha Ibiza Dubai. We’re very happy to have you back in the city, you’ve been here plenty of times – always had fun and a good reaction? I’ve had my share of fun. Not always a good reaction though. I was called a “loser” because I didn’t play trance once. And a few other things... It’s nearly 30 years since your first EP release with Mark Farina – how does that time feel to you, fast/slow? Does working in clubs make you feel older or younger? 25 years. Don’t make me older than I am! I don’t have a concept of it really. I don’t think about it in that way. Just keeping it moving and trying to make my world a little better. Working in clubs has no real effect on me. It’s a job like any other job really. I go to work, see people that I know, meet new folks, get my scrilla and try to have a good time. I mean, I really like my job and there’s a ton of fun associated with it, but it doesn’t tie in to my age.
If you hadn’t made it in music, what do you think you’d be doing now? I have no idea. I’m virtually unemployable as evidenced by my string of firings prior to actually deciding to make making music my thing. What should good house music sound like? And is there enough good house music around at the moment? It should sound like something that makes you feel good. I’m not going to be anyone’s judge or jury. Like what you want to. Please! But here’s the difference, I will talk a bunch of s*** if you act like an ass about it. Like you have become the only person to sanction what is and what is not good for the musical world at large. You’ve been asked to help write on a couple of big pop productions, including Kylie – did you say yes, what other work have you done like that? I said maybe. Then didn’t. None. I don’t write hit songs or even try to. I just do my thing and if someone wants to get down, we can get down. You’re a big dog fan, and have 6 (we think) - do any fly with you? And do they like house music? I have seven and they stay home with the nanny. To be honest, they never listen to music. I don’t listen to much music around the house and they rarely some into the studio with me. Your derphouse Twitter hashtag was very, very funny (Derrick went on a Twitter rampage, calling out deephouse DJs with the #derphouse hashtag – it quickly went viral). Did you think it would be so popular when you started it? I didn’t start it as anything. It was a good 24hrs. Hope everyone had a laugh or two. You’re playing at Pacha in Dubai, what’s your experience of Pacha around the world, is there something special/different about the club and the brand? I like Pacha. I had fun in Barcelona, always fun during the two residency-ish things in Ibiza, Sydney as well. They do a good line in good parties.
Smokingroove on Derrick Carter As one of the city’s leading DJs, we asked Smokingroove to give us a bit of background and history on one of his favourite DJs… Derrick has always been a fun lovin’ humble guy whenever we’ve met him, he’s always made time for quick chats between tracks or before/after sets. I’ve had the pleasure of spinning with him a couple of times and can honestly say the energy he brings is truly special. Derrick consistently proves you don’t need big room hands-in-the-air-tracks to create a vibe, just love for the music you play, this has been an ethos I’ve followed my entire DJ career thanks to him, DJ Sneak and Mark Farina. Technically he’s always on point, no one can tear up an accapella like Derrick. One memory in particular that springs to mind is a few years back on a trip to London, Derrick decided to do an impromptu party at an undisclosed warehouse in the depths of East London and called it “Derrick Does Disco.” I’m almost sure this was the first one he ever did in Europe. Derrick played an all disco set on CDs and 7” vinyl… Yet again the energy was incredible. Thanks for the Boompty Derrick! Pure Pacha feat. Derrick Carter, Friday April 3, Pacha Ibiza Dubai, 11pm-3am.
Mid-week matters With the weekends rammed with big nights putting on big name DJs, it was only a matter of time before the midweek nights got in on the act. No one could quite have predicted how successful they’d be though, with thousands attending Secret Circle @ The Basement on Monday, sub-culture @ C Club on Tuesdays and Trip Land on Wednesdays. We spoke to Maks from sub-culture and Sam Farsio, Aidin Karami and Big Mo, from Escape-Project who put on Secret Circle and Trip Land, to find out more‌
The city is booming at the moment, and techno sounds are taking over – is this the best you've ever seen the city's club scene? -sub-culture: I’m not sure. Whilst there are some great nights on, during the week and the weekend too, it would seem there is a lot going on. There is a large quantity as opposed to a small amount of real quality. That being said though, the scene is definitely moving gradually in the right direction of good music. -The Trip/Secret Circle: Dubai has had high turn overs music wise quite a few times over the past decade but this seems to be the biggest and fastest changes we have witnessed yet. What made you choose a mid-week night and not a weekend? -sub-culture: As a concept, our night is based on strengthening the local scene. That wouldn’t work on the weekend as the weekend is already jammed with big shot international artists. Before we launched a few weeks ago, we realized there was no real underground night going on Tuesdays and ladies don’t get the best deals. So, we decided to combine the two and give you sub-culture. -The Trip/Secret Circle: There have always been so many options at the weekends, the weekdays can have more exclusivity in terms of the concept and the real followers that only go out to enjoy their time and party hard. And what crowd do you get at your night, who are the midweek ravers? -sub-culture: All sorts of people really. Obviously the one thing they all have in common is that they understand and seek quality music without the usual “flashy-ness” of the UAE’s conventional clubbing scene. The whole concept of mid-week partying is a new thing in the UAE that people will embrace sooner or later.
-The Trip/Secret Circle: We call them the “music worshippers” or “the cool kids” who go out for the love of music and have one goal: to dance and enjoy their time. They are geared up with their dancing shoes, not their Champagne and sparklers. Can you be more experimental with the music as there are less expectations as it's not a weekend night? -sub-culture: We endeavor to push the boundaries of what people are used to hearing here in the UAE with music inspired by techno and minimal artists. However, the fact that we chose a weekday has no bearing on how we or our guest artists will perform. You can always expect to be surprised and entertained. -The Trip/Secret Circle: We believe the expectation of music is a lot higher in the weekdays than weekends since from the customer’s point of view it has to be worth the hangover at work the next day. We have to be super careful with the quality of music, this is how we repay their loyalty. And is this a money making venture, or is it an avenue for your passion and music? -sub-culture: We don’t care about money and it is quite obvious. We don’t charge entrance and we give away lots of drinks for ladies and our guests. sub-culture was established to help address a problem that the UAE’s scene is currently suffering from and that is the common saying of “just a local DJ” who “plays for the crowd”. We established our concept as a platform for the numerous well-educated and gifted musicians in the country to work together on and develop the scene. The scene will never develop if we don’t start working together and moving forward. There are a few DJs here who I think are capable of playing some of the biggest parties in the world but the scene isn’t world renowned just yet. So we hope that subculture can be a good step to help put the scene on the map while never surrendering to mainstream pressures and fashion trends. -The Trip/Secret Circle: This is a money making venture driven by the passion for music.
How would you describe the music you play? And who are your residents/guest DJs? -sub-culture: We play a mixture of tech-house, techno, and minimal without getting too progressive or melodic. My partner in the concept and co-resident of sub-culture, Cheh, is an expert in the techno and minimal realms and can comfortably play before or after any major artist you throw at him. -The Trip/Secret Circle: The kind of underground house music which fits the taste of Dubai crowd best. Do you do anything special or different to entice people down, or is the music/vibe enough for people? -sub-culture: We’re a party based around community. It is also a party based around the art, not the artists. Our guests and loyal followers can feel this when they party with us every Tuesday and keep coming back because of it. There are not many places around town where you can come and hear the creative freedom that we enjoy. I’d like to add that ladies drink for free all night but we haven’t stressed on marketing that along with our message because we don’t want to target the wrong people. -The Trip/Secret Circle: Secret Circle is 100% underground and is purely for the love of music (no show offs allowed). However Trip Land adds a unique experience by the theme and decoration which is set up on the event day and removed after the event. This is hard work but gives us the opportunity to give our customers a new experience as often as we see fit.
Monday: Secret Circle, The Basement, Boutique 7 Hotel, Tecom Tuesday: sub-culture, C Club, Grand Millenium Hotel Wednesday: Trip Land, Fairmont Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road
An open love letter to Sven Vath
Dear Sven, Or should I call you Papa Sven? Either way, let me get to the point. I don’t really like techno. I know, shocking, isn’t it. Everything is techno these days, hipsters have ditched deep house and embraced techno, and there’s literally a techno night on every night of the week in Dubai at the moment. A lot of techno just leaves me cold, though. It’s calculated, it’s full of more bleeps than a Gordon Ramsey out-take and it’s unrelenting, like the Terminator – all cold steel and dead eyes. But for 3 hours when you were here at Trilogy in 2009, I learned to slowly appreciate techno (or maybe that should be good techno). Your set was that age old DJ cliché – a journey. You brought things up in a hazy fuzz of dancefloor dynamics, and let things down so that we could breathe and get ready for the next wave. And, shock, horror! for a techno DJ back then, you looked as if you were enjoying things as much as we were. I now know that you’d probably be enjoying things a lot more in Ibiza, nudge nudge, wink wink ☺ It was the warmth I remember most from that night, though. Amongst the driving beats there was melody, there was soul and – somewhere amongst the sweaty mass of bodies – there was unity on the dancefloor. Thanks to that techno induction 6 years ago, I now like techno a little bit more. I know, hold the front page right! But it has opened up my ears to new sounds, new influences, new DJs, new record labels. You still won’t find me jumping on the techno bandwagon, but that’s probably a good thing as there’s not much room on there at the moment. But you definitely opened my ears and eyes to a new sound, and for that I salute you. Yours sincerely, Andy Buchan Infusion Editor, music lover and non-techno DJ
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Miami house music star Danny Daze is back in the UAE, this time dropping his forwardthinking house/ bass/techno sound at Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE on April 3. We caught up with him to chat Brazil, tennis and being a wedding DJ‌
Happy Daze
Welcome back to Dubai, you were playing just as you'd broken through last time you came here – how have the last few years been for you? They've been great and extremely busy. I've been nonstop since 2008 basically so January I finally took close to a month off. I really needed it, now we're back on the roll. America has had a big surge in dance music in the last few years – has that made it easier or harder for you to play your sound over there? The US is still a bit tough to play to be honest. Although the "maximal EDM" sound has died down a bit, there still aren't many cities in the US that enjoy the more thought provoking music we like to play. Thankfully though, I do see a big change happening where people are digging for deeper music. Europe and England are often praised for their crowds, where's your favourite place to play? And can somewhere like Dubai surprise you on the dancefloor? My favorite spot to play at the moment is Brazil actually, not because the parties are "better" than other places in the world. It's mostly because of how new this sound is to Brazil. It’s great to see the enthusiasm growing with every tour I do out there. Obviously Europe is incredible to play but it really is great to see a new sound developing in a place which previously didn’t have as much of it. Dubai is a great example as well, it's great to be able to play Dubai as I know this sound is pretty new there as well. We hear you're a pretty handy tennis player, any other Djs got good game on court? I've got two buddies I know also play tennis but I've never been able to hit with them. One is Dj Stretch Armstrong, the other is Philipp Gorbachev.
You were quite a versatile DJ when you were younger, playing Proms and other gigs – what did those experiences teach you (apart from not to play Proms again!)? Learning how to read a crowd is a big part of DJing. Knowing when to change the vibe of the party and how much risk to take in a set comes with experience. I've been DJing since 1999 so it’s 16 years already learning how to play with people's expectations, whether a hardcore techno club, or a birthday party at a house. It's all basically the same thing. I'm happy I started really young doing this at weddings, this is probably why some people consider me pretty "versatile." You're known for dropping the tempo during your sets and playing an instrumental, or something downtempo – what made you come up with this idea, and what sort of track works? This really depends on the night and how far left field I feel I can go with the sound. The purpose for doing something like this is to hit the "reset button" on the night. A lot of times, doing something completely unexpected like playing a beat-less track for 5 minutes can really build excitement. Not only that, but the goal with every gig is to have the crowd trust what it is you're doing and this just shows them you’re willing to take them for a ride. We also hear you're branching out into sound design for a clothing brand – that must be a nice contract to creating club music? I used to work in the fashion industry doing this 10 years ago actually. I stopped because I wanted to focus more on my own stuff, but now that I have friends who are designers, I'm happy to do their sound design for runway and videos as it lets me experiment and possibly use some of this music for an upcoming album. And what's big in your sets at the moment, what should people expect when you play Dubai? I’ve been trying out a whole mess of new tracks I have coming out this year. I’ve been experimenting with vocoders again so you might hear a couple weird robots pop out in tracks! Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE feat. Danny Daze, Friday April 3, 1pm-late.
"I hate the fact that the scene has become so expected" Experienced trance legend Ferry Corsten returns to Dubai at Eden Beach Club on March 26. Sam Moult caught up with him to talk music, summer and being on the road
You have a new EP out called ‘Hello World’. Will this be developed into a full album in the future? The idea behind the EP was to find something in between a single and a full album. With either a single or an album you release it, tour for a bit and then it doesn’t stay relevant for very long. With an EP you can release a few songs and then release another EP later on. Hello World Part 2 is scheduled for this summer and Part 3 in November. This way, I get to release tracks regularly and they stay on the radar a lot longer. Part 1 is made up of 5 new tracks and 2 remixes of older classics.
With summer approaching us fast, are there any things that you have to prepare for? This summer we are back in Ibiza for another series of ‘Full On’ shows. Last year we did 16 weeks, this year we are going up to 18 so it’s going to be a long summer in Ibiza. This year it’s going to be a bit better though because I will spend a bit more time on location with my family rather than just flying in to the island and then leaving again the following day. Your Full On shows have really got a unique feel to them. What is the idea behind this? With Full On shows it is always about giving the audience a mix of genres that they might not always encounter. It isn’t limited to trance. We’ve had Audien, Bass Jackers, Adrian Lux and many more guys on the line-ups that really give the events a different feel to them. I hate the fact that the scene has become so expected and it is these shows that bring the unexpected element back. New World Punx with Markus Schulz started in 2013 and has become an international sensation. How do you feel working with Markus? Markus and I have so much fun, whether it’s in the studio or on the road. We’ve known each other for a long time and it is great to work with someone like Markus. I have never met anyone with so much passion and drive for music as him. It’s also nice to perform as New World Punx because when we are solo our fans hold us to a certain sound, but as a duo we can really expand our sound and move across a wide spectrum of music. You are returning back to Dubai to Eden Beach Club. What are you expecting from this upcoming gig? I saw some pictures from Steve Aoki’s show there earlier and the crowd looked great. It seems to be a very good venue. Although I won’t be throwing any cakes, I know that Dubai has a good trance community through Trance Family UAE so I am sure that there will be plenty of fans in the crowd so I will play a mix of classics and newer tunes. Eden Black featuring Ferry Corsten, Thursday March 26, Eden Beach Club, 9pm-3am. Ladies free, men Dhs200.
Magic Eight ball Clique is the new must-hit urban party in Abu Dhabi, held every Wednesday at Eight. We caught up with residents Saif (below left) and DVN (right) to find out what to expect…
Congratulations on your Abu Dhabi residency - how does the UAE capital compare to Dubai in party terms? Saif: I was born and raised in Abu Dhabi so I'm pretty much aware of what the crowd is like here but I find it funny that it completely differs from Dubai. But one thing I know for sure is that Abu Dhabi likes to party hard and when I say hard I mean party like animals! DVN: Abu Dhabi's crowd is a lot more party and dance orientated. They like to get wild, responding well to
‘sing alongs’ and playlists that feature hype-worthy tracks. I would never compare Dubai to the capital. It’s like comparing bouncy castles and jet skis, they’re both fun in different ways! And what's working in your sets at the moment, who and what are you playing? Saif: I don't like to be labeled as an urban DJ as I play anything and everything that makes people moving on the dancefloor. However since Clique Wednesdays at Eight is an urban night expect the finest hip-hop,
RnB and some afrobeats during my set. DVN: It is all about the upbeat, feel-good tunes and tracks that I incorporate within all my sets. Saif - you're a very busy man. Radio 1 residency, a student and gigs in Abu Dhabi. Where do you fit in the time to eat and sleep?! Good question, my mom keeps yelling at me for not sleeping enough but you know what, I like my busy lifestyle. I enjoy entertaining people whether it’s on the radio or my gigs, as long as I can achieve that I'm happy. And what are you studying at the moment? I just graduated from AUD with a degree in Journalism. DVN - as the White Dubai resident, you've got a great residency, where else do you play in the city? In my opinion WHITE Dubai, WHITE Beirut and Eight Abu Dhabi are the best clubs in the region. The management are family and look after me. I’ve chosen to be exclusive to WHITE and Eight to add an element of 'you can only see this show here'. There's been a lot of talk recently on social media about the rise of DJs who haven't had to work hard to get their residencies - have you seen that happening
in the industry? And how did you get your break into Djing? Saif: I'm very well aware of those DJs and I wish them nothing but the best of luck (but please stop buying followers as its very obvious). I've been DJing in the UAE since I was 14 and I got the radio gig at 19. Music to me is the food that you eat 3 times a day and I think this is what makes me get those gigs - passion and dedication to music and my aim to elevate the music scene in the UAE. DVN: I was DJing for 3 years before performing in a club. Coming from a turntable background, the 'art' of DJing was the magnetizing factor, not the fame or money element. I got my break DJing when I convinced a bar owner to let me throw parties for my university basketball team. I paid my tuition with those parties. And which UAE DJs do you look up to in the industry, who's doing it right? Saif: Bliss is one of the DJs I used to listen to on the radio growing up, he calls me "mini Bliss!” I look up to the likes of Jazzy Jeff and Premier! Clique, every Wednesday, Eight, Souk Qaryat Al Berri, 2nd Floor Tables and info: 050 144 6662
ON THE THE RADAR ON RADAR
April 10 Paolo Nutini, Media City Amphitheatre
APRIL 10 30 Seconds To Mars, Trade Centre
April 16 Solomun, Provocateur
April 17 Benoit & Sergio, Level 41
April 10 House of Afrika feat. Black Coffee, Dek on 8
April 24 Tube & Berger, Barasti
April 16 Robin Schulz, Nasimi
April 26 Robbie Williams, Yas Island
For a full list of what’s on, please head to infusion.ae
APRIL 30 Todd Terry, Q43
APRIL 30 Kasabian, Blended, Media City Amphitheatre
MAY 8 Jazzy Jeff, Barasti
MAY 15 Art Department, Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE
MAY 1 Kool and the Gang, Blended, Media City Amphitheatre
MAY 15 Steve Bug, Eden Beach Club
MAY 1 Example, Nasimi
MAY 21 Globalfunk’s 12th birthday feat. Ulterior Motive, The Basement
We’ve re-worked our listings – one-off events will appear in the magazine, for everything else please check infusion.ae for our day-to-day listings. For inclusion, email andy@infusion.ae Pick up a copy from our Infusion Magazine stands at these locations and more across the city Every A+E outlet, Every MMI outlet, Double Decker, Media One, Zero Gravity, 360 club, Casa Latina, Barasti, Pure Sky Lounge, Beatz and Cuts, McGettigans JLT/DWC, Music Room, China White, Nasimi, Story Rooftop, El Fuego, The Basement, Bliss Lounge, Zinc, Pulse, Cinnamon - Raddison, La Terrasse, Fashion Lounge, OcactI, Serafina, Soul Al Bahar, The Scene
THURSDAY 26 Eden Black feat. Ferry Corsten, Eden The EDM night returns, with Dutch trance DJ Ferry Corsten behind the decks. 9pm-late. Karmon & Betoko, XL Club A big double booking, with deep/tech house DJs Karmon and Betoko celebrating XL’s 4th birthday. 10pm-3am.
Shadmehr, Arash, Kamran, Hooman, Emirates Golf Course A big night of live music featuring four established Arabic stars. 7pm, Dhs365. Shibuya feat. Jimpster, The Basement Monthly house night Shibuya returns for more underground sounds, with Freerange head honcho Jimpster behind the decks. 10pm-3am, Dhs100.
Luca Guerrieri, Cielo House and nu-disco from the ‘Harmony’ DJ, which is one of the biggest tracks on dancefloors at the moment. 8pm-late, free. Rick Ross, VIP Room The ‘Hustlin’ star brings his own brand of hip hop and rap to VIP Room. 9pm-late.
Superheroes, Dek on 8 House, bass and garage from the popular bi-weekly night, with Lukas and Simon Reddy
the guest DJs. 6pm-3am, free. Tommy Tiernan, Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium Live comedy from one of Ireland’s favourite comedians. 7pm-late, tickets Dhs175 advance. Velocity feat. Sandy Rivera, Zero Gravity House of all flavours from the Kings of Tomorrow main man, and long-standing house DJ. 8pm-3am, Dhs100 after midnight, ladies free until midnight.
from the Groove Armada duo, best known for their monster hit ‘Superstylin’. 10am-late, Dhs200. House of Afrika feat. Culoe De Song, Dek on 8 Deep house, Afro and Soulinfused techno from the popular South African DJ and producer. 6pm-3am.
Viva Africa feat. Wiz Kid, Domeland Chi The ‘Show You The Money’ star performs live, with support from DJ Kulcha and VDJ Tribe. 9pm2am, Dhs100.
Friday 27 Audio tonic, 360 The residents take control of the stunning JBH venue, with deep house and tech house Above and Below. 4pm-3am, free. Weekly. Flower Power, Pacha Rock, pop and 70s classics from one of the longest running night club brands in the world. 1pm-late, Dhs150. Groove Armada, Eden Beach Club Pumping house and tech-house
International Colour Festival feat. Edward Maya, The 7s Stadium Edward Maya headlines the festival of colour, with local support from Paul Hamilton, Matthew Charles and more. 7pm. Pretty Pink, Barasti Nu-Disco and deep house from 3-6pm from international guest Pretty Pink. Salam Aleikum, Zabeel Park
A free, all ages peace concert featuring Arabian Knightz, Badiaa Bouhrizi, indie-Arabic post-rock band El Morabba3, South African singer/songwriter Zain Bhikha and lots more. 7pm. Sven Vath, Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE Maybe Blue Marlin’s biggest booking, as Sven Vath returns after a long break for a set of (future) techno anthems. 1-11pm.
and Nickodemus. 6pm-3am, free until 10pm, ladies free until midnight, Dhs100 after.
Saturday 28 Bloody Mary Jam, JW Marriott Marquise 9th floor A new monthly live music event with Indian reggae dub sound system Bassfoundation Roots headlining, and some epic Bloody Marys to help ease any hangovers. 2-10pm, free. Piknik Electronik, Sports City More family friendly beats from this afternoon, early evening party, with hotly tipped UK DJ Midland headlining, with a strong local support roster. 1-10pm, Dhs130 in advance. Social, 360 Live music at sunset, with Tristan Bain, Andy Buchan and Megadon Betamax on tune selection after. 4pm-3am.
Techno Friday, The Basement A strong local line including Maks, Cheh, Ejaz and the Bot drop nothing but techno from start to finish. 10pm-3am, free. Turntables on the Gulf, Zero Gravity Massive Attack’s Daddy G headlines this big bash, with support from Captain Planet
Thursday 2 John Newman, d3 Design District British pop and soul singer performs live at the launch of d3, Dubai’s brand new design district. Something Big, Mona Lisa Yacht Dubai Marina Hot drum and bass property Dub Phizix headline, with
support from ANT TC1 and MC Strategy. 10pm-3am, Dhs300 open bar. Velocity feat. Beardyman, Zero Gravity Live beat boxer and musical maestro Beardyman does his amazing thing, with support from Andy Buchan. 6pm-late, Dhs100 after 10pm, ladies free until midnight.
House of Afrika feat. Craig De Sousa, Dek on 8 One of our favourite South African DJs returns to HOA for another set of sun-splashed house, Afro and deep house. 6pm-3am. Marlon Roudette, Nasimi House music from the British/ Caribbean artist, best known for his No.1 hit ‘New Age.’ 4pmlate, ladies free until 7pm. PleasureKraft, Provocateur Tech house and techno from the American/Swedish duo behind new track ‘Troller’. 10pm-3am.
Friday 3 Danny Daze, Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE Forward thinking house, techno and bass music from the Miami DJ and producer. 1-11pm. Derrick Carter, Pacha Ibiza Dubai Pacha gets a Chicago house injection for the night, with vinyl junkie and funk/disco/house DJ Derrick Carter laying it down. 11pm-late.
Audio tonic feat Olivier Giacomotto, 360 A big booking for audio tonic, as Giacomotto makes his Dubai debut, with tech house grooves at the fore. Plus, he’s the latest audio tonic records signing, having just remixed a new track by Raxon. 4pm-3am, free.
Look AND
LISTEN Music be the food of love, so read on...
> Music News > Album reviews > Inspired > Dj Hero > DJ Booth > Music That Matters
Look and Listen
Music News... Aciiiiiiiid!
Acid house is in the news twice this issue. Firstly, big ups to Analog Room’s main man Mehdi who’s in car acid rave video went viral faster than you could say bird flu, as his home-made video of him creating a banging acid tune while driving around Mall of the Emirates clocked up nearly half a million views in just a few days. And you can recreate his machine funk thanks to Acid Machine Beta, a new website which aims to re-create the legendary TB-303. Armed with bass synths, a drum machine and a randomize setting, you’ll be creating acid house before you know it. errozero.co.uk/acid-machine/
Blurred pop lines
Hard lines to Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke who were ordered to pay over $7 million in damages to the family of Marvin Gaye after they were found liable for copyright infringement over their hit ‘Blurred Lines.’ Interestingly, the case could pave the way for further musical disputes, after the judge found that Pharrell and Thicke had stolen the ‘vibe and feel’ of the Marvin Gaye hit ‘Got To Give It Up’, and not the melody or chord progression which was the legal standard of infringement. Don’t feel too sorry for Pharrell and Thick though, as the ‘Blurred Lines’ track made the pair well over $16 million, they’re still laughing to the bank.
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Look and Listen
Album Reviews... Skrillex & Diplo presents Jack U EDM // soundcloud.com/jacku/
This long-touted collaboration between two of EDM’s biggest players is a thrilling take on techno, with intricate, layered synths married to dreamlike harmonies and future-house beats. Nah, only kidding. It’s straight up, rave-making EDM with as many bells, whistles and heart-stopping drops as you’d expect. Launched with a live-streamed 24 hour party, the album follows suit, with 10 tracks of frenetic electro. The production, as you’d imagine, is first class – the snares are crisp and loud, the bass ribcage rattling and the beats monolithic. The list of collaborators, as you’d expect with their contacts network, is just as impressive, with the Missy Elliott and Kiesza collab the pick. And, just to prove that they really do have the Midas touch when it comes to making music, they’ve taken Justin Beiber’s vocals and created a rumbling, skippy but deep track that defies categorization. There’s nothing particularly subtle about Jack U, but for hands up, heads down dance music that proves there’s more to EDM than nuclear drops, this does the job.
Hollaphonic – Personal Space EDM // facebook.com/Hollaphonic
Breaking out of the region as a music act is a skill few have developed in the Middle East so far. But pop-EDM duo Hollaphonic have made it look easy over several years of networking, gigs and almost constant studio time. And the product of that blood, sweat and tears – and some very active social media strategies – is here in the shape of their debut album, Personal Space. That it’s signed to Universal is a success story in its own right, but the 17 track Deluxe album moves beyond that. Pairing Greg Stainer’s polished production and Olly’s raucous ear for the underground, they’ve made an album that brings together pop, EDM and house, with collaborators – including local stars Kevin Murphy and Dia from Juliana Down – adding their own spin. There are more pop songs than you could turn a Dubai FM dial to, while there is some contrast over the course of the album: there are slower numbers (the growly ‘Be Somebody’), deep garage (‘Only Meant For Me’) and bouncy festival favourites (‘I Don’t Want It To End’). It’s a calculated pop assault, and it’s brilliantly executed.
Local music champions White Cube Studios have launched their new TV show concept, which pairs two singers/writers/producers in a studio who have to collaborate on a song within a set time limit. We caught up with them to find out more about the monthly collaboration
Tell us about Inspired at White Cube Studios?
“Inspired” is about the magic of music – specifically the songwriting side. Two (or more) musical artists are invited to the studio for a day of collaborative songwriting. The song is recorded that same day and we’re catching the whole thing on camera! Do the acts know what’s coming? The show is not about watching a well-rehearsed band, with preexisting chemistries and friendships write their next album. Inspired brings together artists who have never met (and frankly if it weren’t for music, they probably wouldn’t get along). In most instances they don’t find out who they’re collaborating with until they’ve made it to White Cube Studios. Next, we push the envelope during the Artist selection process. A blues band knows how to jam with a blues band. Throw in techno and that’s when things get really interesting! Inspired brings together different types of music (e.g. rap meets folk). This brings uncertainty to the table – and it’s amazing to see that uncertainty and conflict unfold into a fluid moving tune. We also look to invite independent artists that live here in the UAE. The last rule is my favorite – the “this needs to happen NOW” rule. There’s no coming back – we record it all today and that’s the song!
And what happened in the pilot episode? We introduced rapper Majeed and singer/songwriter Esther Eden at the studio. They were both a little nervous at first, but once we started talking music, we could tell they clicked! The artists sat down, shared ideas about the song, what the song should be about and what it should sound like. It was really amazing to see the different genres work together so smoothly and fluently. www.youtube.com/whitecubeuae
DJ Heroes Shadi Megallaa Dubai is booming with new nights, new venues and new DJs. But our new regular feature shines a spotlight on the DJs that have been setting the scene long before the SYNC button was even a concept. First up is Ark to Ashes head honcho Shadi Megallaa, and also the man behind the forthcoming vinyl shop set to open later this year‌
First club you played in Dubai?
If my memory serves me correctly I believe it was M-Level at the Hilton Dubai Creek. It was a night called Deep Textures and I played with my friend Kennedy who I played with frequently back in those days. The year was 2000.
First track you played?
There is no way I’m even going to try to remember what it was. It was probably some UK Tech House or West Coast house. Probably something by the likes of Terry Francis, Kenny Hawkes or someone from the Swag Records crew.
Best change in the city’s club scene? It’s not one specific change. I’ve been involved in the music scene in Dubai for a very long time. The change was very gradual and took a lot of time. The change happened over 15 years and is still happening. Except these days it happens on a much faster rate. It took many many years of getting people used to new sounds. You have to remember that back in those days, terrible R’n’b and Hip Hop ruled the lands and places like Cyclone existed.
Worst change in the city’s club scene?
I’d have to say that the worst thing about the music scene here in Dubai is mega clubs that are run by people who have no idea about music culture and are getting involved in it for all the wrong reasons. I’m also not a fan of Dubai’s Champagne & sparkler culture. I’d rather focus on being positive so that’s all I’m going to say about that.
Best club still running from when you started?
None. I was very lucky to be a regular at Terminal/iBO. Unfortunately it isn’t around anymore but its spirit still lives. Analog Room comes closest to that spirit. All you need is four black walls, a bar, a well laid out DJ booth and a killer sound system.
The key to longevity as a DJ is…
The key to longevity differs from person to person. As for myself I would have to say is to always put music and my craft first. It’s very easy to get lost in the deep dark
trenches of nightlife and all the fickle BS that comes with it. Another key for me was to never pay attention to things like awards and all the hype involved in this industry. Another saving grace for me has been my studio. It’s my temple. Also always keep searching, digging and learning. Never let yourself get stagnant. Most importantly, stay away from the politics of the scene and don’t take yourself too seriously. Have fun.
The best way to get gigs is…
Ahhhh, that’s a tricky one. It’s a bit of a catch 22 situation. Unfortunately you need to go out frequently and be visible. This can be very dangerous as you will slowly find yourself focusing on everything other than the music. As for me, I’d rather spend time in the studio or dig for music. The key is to have a balance between going out and supporting your fellow Djs/promoters but also being very focused on your craft. I’ve been DJing for about 18 years and have yet to fully master this art.
Unsung hero?
For me it would have to be Kennedy. He rarely DJs around town these days, but back in the day Kennedy used to play a party at The Cellar at the Dubai Aviation Club every Friday. The party was thrown by another friend of mine, Bong Guerrero. Kennedy laid it down every Friday. The vibe at that party was amazing. I rarely ever made it to my first class in Uni on Saturdays. Unfortunately, in the music scene if you aren’t around you are quickly forgotten. Much respect to Kennedy.
Upcoming gigs March 26th - Analog Room March 28th - Piknik Electronic March 31st - Step Conference
DJ Booth: Sasa Mendone
The Eden Beach Club scene setter and Blue Marlin Ibiza resident is next up in our DJ Booth
One thing you might not know about me is... I’m a good chef of Italian cuisine and I love to cook for people! Typical Italian… My worst ever job was… As a car salesman for 5 years of my life. My favorite ever record is... Burning (MK 14 REMIX) - it reminds me of a beautiful day. DJing is much like... Riding my motorcycle in Ibiza and feeling free. Dubai’s clubbing scene is... Not for everyone. I’m really proud of... My serious attitude. There are a lot of clowns in this industry. What track could you drop in every set? Larry Heard - ‘Deja Vu’ (Musaria Mix). I can’t live without... Music, sunshine and sea. Obviously Eden is perfect for me! My biggest DJ achievement to date is... My biggest highlight is playing at an after party with guests of DC10. That will be an unforgettable day. What is your guiltiest pleasure? Dancing for 12 hours non stop. If you could DJ in any decade which would it be... I’m happy to play in this decade. We have an opportunity to shape the music of the future.. If I could go back-to-back with any other DJ it would be... Kerri Chandler. I’m not a politician but… I follow the rules. soundcloud.com/mendonesasa
Look and Listen
MUSIC THAT MATTERS Send tracks/edits/remixes to andy@infusion.ae
Todd – Electric Days 2 hour live set, spanning disco and funk edits, with classic house vibes thrown in towards the end of the set. Free download. soundcloud.com/stu-todd/ electric-days-270215-pt-1 Greg Funk – 12 Chairs Light-hearted jazz-fronted house track from the DXB producer and DJ, out this May. soundcloud.com/gregfunk/ greg-funk-12-chairs-originalmix-1 Analog Room – Shemroon, Megadon Betamax, Francis Infernal Orchestra Sprawling near 5 hour live mix from Analog Room, spanning house, disco and some properly buzzin’ acid three and a half hours in. Free download. soundcloud.com/analogroom/ analog-rooms-mixlr-1 The Show – Episode 3 Irreverent comedy, random musings and more from David Newsum and Pacha Ibiza Dubai’s Dion Mavath.
soundcloud.com/theshowae/ theshowae-episode-3 maDJam – White Dubai Live 150 minute mix, moving from soulful house edits into deep house territory and finally ending on feel-good EDM. Free download. soundcloud.com/madjam/ livewhite-dubai-fridaymarch-6-2015 Somalie – March Promo Hour long house mix, with plenty of classic house vibes, progressing into deeper, garage bassline territory towards the end. Free download. soundcloud.com/somalie/ march-15-promo-mix A Skillz – Beats Working Volume 4 More hip hop and breaks magic from one of Zero Gravity’s international resident DJs. Free download. soundcloud.com/a-skillz/beatsworking-vol-4
Get Ready for Summer
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Weird News... WEIRD PIC
A police mugshot of a US woman – showing her open-mouthed in apparent shock – has quickly gone viral. Ashley Stabler, 23, appears to have been startled by something off camera as she was brought in by officers in Oklahoma. She was snapped at Tulsa jail after being brought in for allegedly driving without insurance, a suspended licence and improper plates.
Bricking it
Car crime just isn’t clever, but neither it appears are the would-be thiefs. A car thief tried to throw a brick through a car window, only for it to bounce back and knock him clean out. The incident in Drogheda, Ireland, was caught on CCTV. The owner of the Mercedes car, Gerry Brady, who owns the nearby Pheasant pub, came out to investigate and saw the man lying in a pool of his own blood. “When the Gardaí [local police] picked him up, he started claiming that I attacked him. He was still telling them that in the station when I came in with the footage of him getting knocked out by his own brick,” he said. “You should have heard the garda laughing when they saw the video. They were in stitches.
Highest court in the land
More than 100 substances, including ecstasy and ketamine were effectively legalized in Ireland recently for 36 hours. Due to a legal ruling that made the current drug legislation unconstitutional, it took 36 hours for a new law to be ratified, meaning that certain ‘controlled substances and their possession ceased to be an offence.’ Reports that thousands of workers called in sick the following day could not be confirmed.
RESTAURANT 路 SHOW 路 CLUB Souk Madinat Jumeirah 路 RSVP 04 567 0000 www.pacha.ae pachaibizadubai
Just For
Reebok OG Ventilator Fresh from having their own VIP stage at the Red Fest DXB, Reebok are back with a brand new edition of the Ventilator OG in Lime. The trainer brand have gone back to where it all began for this new release, with the OG Lime Colourway first released 25 years ago, and finally getting an official release this year after months of speculation.
$110
Cool
Drum and Bass night Something Big are back in yacht party action on Thursday April 2 with Dub Phizix of ‘Buffalo Charge’ fame, MC Strategy and ANT TC1. Ahead of their Outlook pre-party, we caught up with Dub Phizix and MC Strategy to find who’ll be walking the plank…
Dub Phizix
Mc Strategy
Who’s the coolest person in your phone book?
My mum. Probably the Sultan of Brunei, old drinking buddy. What’s the longest you’ve gone without sleep? Not that long, chillin’ with Dub 31 years. Phizix is like hanging around with a walking valium. Coolest word in the world? Hereyougomatedrinksomebrandy. Dilapidated.
Coolest DJ in the world? one but I’m going with Tony Blackburn. Tough Roc Raida (RIP).
Who’s got the coolest record collection? Tony Blackburn. Got to be John Peel (RIP). Coolest track ever made? The Scorpions, ‘Wind Of Isaac Hayes version of ‘Walk Change.’ On By.’
Dub Phizix vs Mc Strategy Your best dance move is…
drunken Salfordian stagger … not for you. The skank.
What’s your best claim to fame? Snoop Dogg and stealing This interview. Meeting his bottle of brandy.
It’s not big and clever but… Strategy told me to do it and he gets upset if people don’t do what he wants.
Once I took acid in geography class and got suspended for calling the teacher a “f***** maniac” – soz.
What’s your answer to everything? Something. Yeah Gee deffo getmeh safe.
What’s the best insult you could give each other? I don’t need to insult him. He jealous of the people that already has to go round being I’m him. don’t know you. Knob. The verdict: Maybe not a surprise, but it’s the motor-mouthed MC Strategy who takes the honours this issue. Something Big feat. Dub Phizix, ANT TC1, MC Strategy, Thursday April 2, 10pm-3am, Mona Lisa Yacht, Dubai Marina. somethingbigdubai@gmail.com, 056 649 9728, tickets Dhs300 including open bar.
Eat Sleep Rave Repeat PACHA
IBIZA
DUBAI
Launching a club in Dubai is all about balance. Balancing what you’d like to do, with what you can afford to do, balancing what your customers expect and what you can deliver in an ultra-competitive market place. And Pacha Ibiza Dubai is a prime example of that, having to balance huge expectations, their delayed opening, three rooms of music and thousands of clubbers every weekend. They quickly adapted their gameplan – gone is their nu-disco room, with hip hop and RnB instead filling the Red Room void, while big names like Paul Van Dyk and Derrick Carter have been drafted in to give the club traction. And it’s worked, with sell out crowds, increased column inches while – crucially – leaving their main room and rooftop music and food policy intact. And that balancing act is quickly on show as we sit down for dinner, as a bald and exceedingly buff man performs keepyuppies with a glass ball before carefully balancing it on his head and waltzes out of the room. From there, 4 stunning women in full Brazilian regalia strut around flapping their fairy wings to a banging Brazilian house soundtrack. If you’re expecting your meat and 2 veg to come with a side of interpretive dance all night, you can relax. The shows last around 5 minutes and ramp up in frequency until 11pm, so there was plenty of time for us to take in the cocktail menu and dig into the creamy truffle popcorn.
The service throughout is warm and chatty, and our server Riona quickly delivered our first course: tuna and salmon sashimi, a fresh and crunchy mango and papaya salad and a trio of dumplings which quickly became an early dish of the meal contender. With beef, truffle, lobster and vegetable dumplings mixed with a range of sauces including spicy pineapple, they’re only upstaged by the next show. With resident DJ Ejaz controlling the tempo with a warm nu-disco set full of fun basslines and vocals, we’re drawn back to the main stage as the wild-eyed female aerialist contorted and whirled her way to the top of the main room’s cavernous ceiling before dropping within an inch of the carefully faded wooden floor. It was absolutely stunning, with some of the leg bending moves enough to make even Barbie blush. With our jaws handily propped open from the show, we’re then delivered our mains: a delicate Chilean sea bass which dissolved on the fork, a rich and warm chicken curry in coconut sauce and a perfectly cooked side of vegetables. The servings are nicely judged, leaving us looking forward to desert which is sadly the only off note of the evening. The Japanese rice flour dumplings looked amazing. And with blueberry, apple and banana varieties filled with cream, it sounded just as good. But the claggy, doughy texture and bubblegum taste just didn’t hit the spot for us.
As ever during the night, the next bite-size slice of entertainment was never far away. First, the bald keepy-uppie man returned with a 2m wide hula hoop and proceeded to whirl and twirl himself into a spinning vortex, like a giant dirham coin stuck in an eternal loop. Very, very impressive, as was the body-popping juggler who leapt with all the grace of prime-time Michael Jackson. But again the highlight came with the aerialists. This time a double act, it was the worst anti-smoking advert we’ve ever seen as the two impossibly lithe contortionists swapped drags on a cigarette, firstly with their hands and then with their feet craned backwards over their head, as if tendons and cartilage were just mere medical terms. Yeah, smoking is pretty cool when you can do that. With over 150 diners booked in, Pacha was at capacity and come 11, the show ended, and the dancefloor began in earnest. The biggest problem is that you might let your excellent food go cold while you’re engrossed in the stunning shows, but Pacha have neatly balanced the dinner and the shows so you can get the best of both worlds. Pacha Ibiza Dubai, Madinat Jumierah, 8pm-3am, pacha.ae, 04 567 0000 Dinner and show - 5 days a week (Tuesday - Saturday)
MOVIE The Gunman A strong cast deliver as a former Special Forces soldier and military contractor suffering from PTSD tries to reconnect with his long time love, but first must go on the run from London to Barcelona and across Europe in order to clear his name. Classification: 15 Director: Pierre Morel Starring: Javier Bardem, Idris Elba, Sean Penn
Ex Machina
Impressive sci-fi, featuring Hollywood up-and-comer Alicia Vikander. A young programmer is selected to participate in a breakthrough experiment in artificial intelligence by evaluating the human qualities of a breathtaking female A.I. Classification: 15 Director: Alex Garland Starring: Alicia Vikander, Oscar Isaac
PREVIEWS Cake
Jennifer Aniston digs deep for this role as a pill-popping addict in chronic pain who struggles with her own personal tragedy. Classification: PG 13 Director: Daniel Barnz Starring: Jennifer Aniston, Anna Kendrick
Furious 7 That this franchise has reached number 7 says a lot about the state of cinema. But on the plus side, there are plenty scenes shot in the UAE, so plenty of ‘ooh look, there’s our house’ moments. Classification: 15 Director: James Wan Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson
Disclaimer: Film release schedules are subject to change, please check reelcinemas.ae, novocinemas.com and voxcinemas.com for full schedules.
And the award for worst awards goes to... Award season is here again. And once again, it brings with it a tsunami of narcissism, ill-gotten gains, back-slapping and buttsucking (and sometimes a mix of both, I’m not here to judge). Awards are fine. Honestly, they are. Like ‘em, loathe ‘em, whatever – they’re here to stay. And some even go to the right home. But, for example, when your best Urban night nomination has 11 promoters listed, you’re not doing your job – you’re just nominating people so they get excited at your nomination. Just list every nightclub and two-bit promoter and watch your social media stats soar if that’s the reason you’re doing this. And last time I checked, house and techno nights really aren’t alternative, are they. Or have the last 30 years of club culture entirely passed you by while you were downing cocktails and dancing to a Madonna medley at Societe? Oh, and having to buy your own tickets to an event you were nominated for is soooooo Dubai it’s not even funny.
Monkey Out... The Angry Monkeys’ views are his own, and don’t necessarily reflect the views of Infusion Magazine.
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(dj set)
TRENTEMØLLER (live)