TALAL BUDEBS Publisher CHARL CHAKA Managing Partner charlchaka@infusion.ae Sales/marketing magazine@infusion.ae
“We need more songs, man. %^7ing songs, not hooks” Quincy Jones.
Editor editor@infusion.ae PAULA MANGUEIRA Design design@infusion.ae SONIA IGNACIO Operations operations@infusion.ae
Cocoon announce Pacha as their new Ibiza home
CONTRIBUTORS: Stu Todd, Stephen O’Donovan, Cromwell Ojeda. INFUSION IS PUBLISHED BY Milehigh Media, LLC PO Box 53443 – Dubai, UAE Tel/Fax: 04 368 8098
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The new DDJ 1000 has been introduced by Pioneer. We’re like a kid in a candy store! They’ve also released an app for recording DJ mixes to iOS devices. Boom! YouTube is “simplifying things even more” by bringing together an artist’s subscribers under their Official Artist Channel. Bout time. Coco at Media One Hotel are hosting yoga classes on Saturday mornings. Is getting fit part of your new year’s resolution? Well there you go. Introducing El Chiringuito by Night. Dine under the stars with nothing but candlelight, blankets, outdoor heaters, laidback grooves and plenty of love await you and your loved ones every Wednesday and Thursday. We like it Shouts to the industry players supporting INFUSION MAGAZINE. You know who you are. Many thanks.
BLACK LIST
Valentines freakin’ Shmalentines. Really? We still need a day to remind us to love our loved once? Never mind every restaurant in Dubai looking to cash in. We are OVER IT! Is electronic music production becoming too much like a paint by numbers kit? Armin van Buuren and Steve Aoki are to perform on the world’s first zero gravity nightclub on board an astronaut training plane next month. Really man what next? With the opening of Bar Baar, Gotha, Drai’s, 1 OAK and more coming soon… Does the city’s nightlife really need more clubs? Only time will tell. Why are well established companies not paying on time? Send us a “statement of accounts” they say. What about the invoices we’ve been sending for the last 3 months?
Say What?
THE RECIPE’S NEW ALBUM NOW ON VINYL Shouts to local hip heroes, The Recipe whose album is now available on vinyl at Shadi Megalla’s record store, Flip Side. Its a proud moment for the boys and so it should be. Want to support your local artist & record store? Go grab a copy from the store. When Infusion Magazine booked Cypress Hill to perform in Dubai there was only one opening act for us. – The Recipe! We have so much respect for this crew. We salute you gents!
The Recipe (to homegrown success)
WE FULL OF JOKES An oldie, but goodie: Gary Numan is two weeks older then Gary Oldman
DAVID GUETTA SPOTTED AT BASE David Guetta was recently spotted at Dubai’s homegrown club BASE in D3 on Marco Corola’s ‘ Music One’ night.. He joins a long line of celebrity A-listers who have frequented the club such as J-Lo, Tyga, French Montana and Fat Joe. Even boxer Anthony Joshua, and celebrity Chef Gordon Ramsay have dropped by BASE recently. Only in Dubai.
What we did
SUNRISERS BY BE-WILDER & HOUSEofAFRIKA
We were excited to hear when Suzanne Blake from Be- Wilder & HOUSEofAFRIKA joined forces to bring their SUNRISERS concept to Dubai. SUNRISERS went live on Wed, 6th December 2017 at sunrise and powered up the day to a whole new level of awesome for all of those who attended. Hosted at thejamjar in Al Quoz from 6am - 9:30am, SUNRISERS were joined by the KaRavan of Pierre Ravan’s Musical Journey alongside Charl Chaka from HOUSEofAFRIKA & energized the morning sunrisers with their spiritual afro house sound. Everyone danced & played with their hula hoops & flow toys alongside some yoga & meditation or dressed up in their animal gear, whiles they enjoyed a variety of sports games including Calisthenics by Adam Holloway, Peach Series by Jes Body, Flowground Hooping & Capoeira by Fernando Das. They also had a wild art sculpture which was made completely with 100% recycled materials. Check out the video below to see what happened.
MAGDA AT NIGHTVIBES
MATTHEW JONSON & YAYA AT BLUE MARLIN
SUNRISES BY BE-WILDER & HOUSEofAFRIKA
THE LAUGHTER FACTORY PRESENTS THE ‘U EXPATS ARE FUNNY’ TOUR
This not to be missed tour will be starring three very distinct voices. Canada’s most wanted female stand up Allyson June Smyth is impossible not to enjoy. A show full of guaranteed nonstop laughter makes this woman an absolute delight to headline any bill. Not only is she Jason Manford’s favourite new stand up, but he took her on tour to open his shows. In close competition, Ian Coppinger is one of Irelands most respected comics. With never a dull moment in his set, his charm and wit have a zero fail record when it comes to keeping his audiences entertained. Finally Prince Abdi is building a solid reputation on the UK black comedy circuit as the hottest new thing. A comedy rising star to be watched in a small venue while you can still see him at close range. Two more years and we predict he will be playing big theatres. This show will bring you some quirky, unique takes on expat life, that is bound to hit a few raw nerves, as well as their individual style of global humour. The shows will take place at various venues around Dubai from 8 – 16th Feb. CLICK HERE FOR INFO
DETLEF FEBRUARY
09 2018
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MEGA YACHT BRUNCH Lotus one of biggest Commercial Mega-yachts in the world and the largest in the UAE, has launched the first ever brunch to be hosted on a Mega-yacht. Taking place every Friday and Saturday from 1-5pm starting 2nd February 2018, guests will be able to enjoy a unique luxury brunch experience aboard the 500 capacity mega yacht. The luxury yachts features include a 3500 sqft Sun Deck terrace boasting unrivalled views of the Dubai skyline. It also features a fully air conditioned indoor lounge, swimming pool with waterfall and jets, a 200 capacity nightclub, an onboard cinema that seats 60, a VIP Jacuzzi area, 11 bedrooms and five decks. On 16 February, award winning No. 1 Events along with Dane Bowers will be Hosting the Friday brunch, with their RnB and UK Garage flavor. BUY TICKETS
Mega Yacht, coz we don’t do ‘em small in DXB.
NEW YORK NIGHTCLUB COMING TO DXB
New York City hotspot 1 OAK is set to land in Dubai in late-February. Early image renderings suggest we’re in for an edgy, dark look at the nightlife venue at JW Marriott Marquis Business Bay, which will be situated at the former VIP Room. The team behind 1 OAK are promising a big line-up of international superstar artists for the launch night claiming celebrity fans of the top NYC hangout will be travelling to the emirate specifically for the launch. The trendy NYC club with presence across the US, would easily have famous guests like BeyoncÊ, Jay-Z, Katy Perry, Kanye West & Rihanna regularly dropping in, so we looking forward to see who will make an appearance for the launch of the club CLICK HERE FOR INFO
EMMANUEL HEADLINES NEXT DECIBEL
Emmanuel smelling fresh techno in the air
Decibel, one of Dubai’s trusted nights for all things techno are back on Thu 1st March with Emmanuel. The boys have been looking forward since last year to bring down and we can see why. Emmanuel’s unique production style has bewitched the heavyweights of contemporary techno and house, garnering full support across the scene, with the likes of Rodhad, DVS 1, Marcel Dettmann and DJ Deep amongst many others championing his sound. Releasing on labels including Deeply Rooted House, Will & Ink & Enemy Records aswell as his own label, ARTS, Emmanuel has rapidly become a regular on the European techno circuit, with his uncompromising style that he is now synonymous with through his productions and performances alike.
FEB. 1:
PATTERN DRAMA
(TOUCH OF CLASS - ARARAT MASIS)
FEB. 8: KITCHEN CROWD (DISKO'TEK')
FEB. 15: JADE
(C U NXT SAT, THE GRAND FACTORY)
FEB. 22: JONATHAN KASPAR
(PETS RECORDINGS / OBJEKTIVITY)
WE DEEP LIKE THIS
In an ever evolving city like Dubai, party people seek change. The Deep Like crew, always on the hunt to provide new experiences to their followers, has been spreading their party ethos through a consistent migration to new locations. This month they will be hosting their last 4 events at The Backyard, Steigenberger Hotel in Business Bay, the fifth location in 3 years. Ending a year long residency at The Backyard with a host of international, regional, and resident Djs , we highly recommend catching these party owls on a Thursday nights in February. We can’t wait to find out what the next location for Deep Like Thursdayz! will be.
Raise your hand if you farted.
PETE TONG YOUSEF FEBRUARY
16 2018
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WHITE DXB featured in DJ Mag Top 100 Clubs
WHITE Dubai, the only nightlife venue in the MENA region is to classified in DJ Mag¹s prestigious Top 100 Clubs Poll in the world for three consecutive years now. Currently ranking at 26 WHITE Dubai¹s high-ranking placement in the Top 100 World Clubs will continue to leverage Dubai¹s position as a leading hospitality destination.
If you enjoy your time at WHITE Dubai support them as ‘Best Club in DJ Mag¹s annual Top 100 Clubs poll VOTE BY CLICKING HERE INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO VOTE
Bonobo LIVE at the first Groove On The Grass of 2018! Groove on the Grass is on a mission. After having conquered and developing the DJ market over the past 5 years, they are now evolving to host live concerts on their main stage. They’re recently announced their first concert with a special 8 piece band performance by the Grammy-nominated musician, producer, and modern icon Bonobo
Managed by The Artist Network in partnership with JK58, they are presenting a double-city tour for Bonobo who will perform both in Dubai and Beirut, Lebanon. The first stop is on Friday, 23rd February at Emirates Golf Club and the second stop will be on Saturday, 24th February at The Warehouse - Grand Factory. Who is Bonobo? Professionally known as Bonobo, he is a Grammynominated British-born musician & producer & DJ Simon Green. Green’s latest album, Migration, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart this January, is a whirlwind of worldly sounds influenced mostly by his time spent in transit during 2014’s The North Borders Tour. The songs are ripe with Bonobo’s signature style: saturated strings and jazzy drums fronted by melodic Xylo-tones and sultry vocals. The tour not only complements the album’s earthly mood, but also its artwork and accompanying videos.
“We’ve been working on expanding the theme of the [album] artwork: the aesthetic of the desert and the mountains, so it’s a heavy visual show,”
How did the Migration album come together? It came out of this transitory period after the last record. I was living in New York, but honestly, I was touring so much that I wasn’t really living anywhere. I didn’t have a home base for about a year, so I was sketching out all of these ideas in quite unusual spaces. That was the foundation for it really -- living and being in various locations. The album has a lot of ethereal, somewhat softer songs. Was that due to the “transitory” nature of your surroundings and headspace? There were two phases to creating the album. The louder moments, like “Outlier” and “Bambro Koyo Ganda,” actually came from the quiet spaces I was in, like a plane or a bus, when I still had the club ringing in my ears from the night before. And the quieter moments, like “Second Sun” and “Grains,” actually came from when I settled in LA during a more reflective period last
year. I was in a new place and I’d been through some personal stuff and I was What’s the vibe of the new tour like? And how does it compare to The North Borders tour? Firstly, it’s very visual. We’ve been traveling with a lot of video content and it’s all synced. We’ve been working on expanding the theme of the artwork: the aesthetic of the desert and the mountains, so it’s a heavy visual show. And it’s also kind of “through-composed” so it doesn’t stop. In that sense, it’s kind of like a DJ set, where everything is tied together and all flows as one long piece from start to finish. But this tour has the full band. How many people do you have on stage at a time? The core of the band is a 6 piece. But for the bigger shows in London or New York, we could have a 15-piece string section, woodwinds, horns, it just depends on where we are. Interview taken from Billboard CLICK HERE FOR INFO
Bonobo feeling a little blue today.
BUY TICKETS
5 minutes with. . . Groove on the Grass Production Director
Warren Gerard Noronha Infusion Magazine grabbed 5 minutes with one of our favorite people in Dubai to chat all things Groove On The Grass.
Warren & his furry ball jacket
The new season for Groove on the Grass is upon us, what are the ideas for this season? The brand has organically morphed from it’s humble beginnings into a festival given the line-ups we’re curating for Season 6. So far, we’ve seen Nicolas Jaar, Modeselektor and now Bonobo headline what is easily our most eclectic season yet. For our final hoedown in April, The Artist Network is digging deep to close out what will be, one helluva season :) Groove on the Grass is a community event, what activities will be at this year’s event? Being vague will be the tone of this interview as we like to keep our activities part of the audience discovery experience. In the past we’ve had velcro walls, military obstacle courses, surf simulators, twister and even a mechanical camel! We like keeping it fresh and interesting, so expect something different, no matter what.
Can you give us an idea of the acts you looking to bring in 2018? We have a long-standing tradition of keeping our line-ups under wraps till we’re ready for launch. All we can say is that the main stage is being developed as a home for live acts from all corners of the electronic music spectrum and in time, not just electronic music. So yes, the brand will always have room to grow and evolve and we can’t wait to take the journey with our many and loyal supporters. What was the highlight moment from 2017 for you? I think without a doubt, having Royksopp perform to our crowd as it poured down for a good period of time
during the show. It was a win for us because we were weather-proof, as an event and the crowd had an extremely rare chance of dancing at a gig, in the rain, in the UAE. We had some umbrellas and plastic ponchos for the crowd, but people were just so happy to embrace the weather and the experience it offered. There has always been 2 dance floors at Groove on the Grass, will you continue with this in the new season? The two stages have become our signature at GOTG and as long as we feel the line-ups don’t overlap in a manner whereby any one artist is not overshadowed by another, we will maintain that format. There will be times when we feel the event is best experienced as a single stage format, then that’s how we’ll present it. You always support the local scene by booking local DJs, any local DJs that’s doing it for you right now? Dj’s that invest in an eclectic and vibrant sound will always be my favourites. Nasrawi, with whom I began my promoter career along with Vas, will always two of my favs. In the same breath, Liminal Roots (aka Ashwin Menon) and Datdatdat (aka Sedat Karagoz) are DJ’s that push a range of sounds and bring a huge sense of self to their sets. This is most interesting for me as the fact that they are DJ’s and not promoters (well, not yet :)
CALLING ALL DANCE MUSIC LOVERS! As always, the team at Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE delivers top quality events, and this month is no different. Mark your calendars for the month of February as they unleash your eccentricity and underground music love!
“I make music for children. Google me.” Dennis Ferrer
Get ready for a night of endless music antics and mischiefs as Misfts Society presents two talented acts, Dennis Ferrer and Detlef on Friday, February 9th. Dennis Ferrer is a man who needs little introduction. He has been on the forefront of dance music for well over 15 years now, transitioning between styles and influences, always keeping it interesting for club-goers and “heads” alike, which suits Ferrer perfectly as he’s never been big on trying to fit in.
We wonder of Detlef, deadlifts in the gym?
Alongside the house icon, club favorite Detlef, who’s wide scale influence in the scene has landed him among the industry’s giants, is set to take over the terrace with his unique underground vibes. Between these two names, prepare for an education in electronic music! CLICK HERE FOR INFO
A MASTER OF THE SCENE, PETE TONG ARRIVES!
Pete Tong looking polished
The legendary Pete Tong is back on Fri 16th Feb to take total control of the floor. A BBC Radio 1 icon, he brings pure musical history, influence and a mixing ability unlike anyone else. On support is Yousef, the ever-evolving DJ hitting the decks with his multi artistic acid-house approach. This will be musical heaven for house heads. Get in! CLICK HERE FOR INFO
Eating flowers will win you music awards. Fact
DUA LIPA HEADS TO THE UAE FOR THE FIRST TIME
Winner of MTV Europe and NME’s 2017 Best New Act, UK artist Dua Lipa will set ‘New Rules’ at her first solo appearance in the UAE. The UK songstress, who is the most streamed female artist on Spotify in 2017 in UK, will perform hits from her Gold selling first album at the du Forum, Yas Island in Abu Dhabi With 5 million sales worldwide from her one studio album, Dua Lipa is dubbed the next star to hail from the UK, as the only female British national to achieve a No 1 in the country since Adele in 2015. Dua’s name translated means ‘love’ and she is guaranteed to bring just that to the du Forum, Yas Island on Saturday 24th February. CLICK HERE FOR INFO
TOP 5 THINGS YOU DID NOT KNOW ABOUT DUA LIPA • At age 11, UK’s most streamed female artist of 2017 on Spotify was told that her voice was too low and that she simply could not sing. Makes you wonder what dream you gave up on too soon? • Dua Lipa’s favourite singers are Nelly Furtado and Pink. Talk about having kick-ass female role models! • Her father is Kosovan Rockstar Dukagjin Lipa, and we cannot get enough of his Instagram. Not only is he a hottie, he’s also his daughter’s biggest fan! • One thing Dua Lipa cannot live without? Hot sauce. Good thing UAE has plenty of spice-infused venues to choose from during her visit. • The singer and songwriter is part of the honorary ‘dark-pop’ genre, with the likes of Lady Gaga and legendary Duran Duran
BASE PARTNERS WITH THE BPM FESTIVAL
How fast are your Beats per Minute?
BASE is fast becoming the Middle East’s home of house music after the launch of GRND CTRL last month, featuring world renowned techno, deep house, and electronic DJs every Thursday night. Now they’ve partnered with internationally acclaimed dance music festival The BPM Festival, which over the last decade has welcomed hundreds of thousands of dance music fans and top globally renowned artists to the Mexican beaches and Portuguese sands to celebrate electronic music. BASE will host a monthly residency over the next three months in partnership with The BPM Festival, bringing some of the world’s best DJs to Dubai in March and April. With Stacey Pullen & Jesse Calosso rocking BASE in February already, we are looking forward to Carlo Lio B2B with Nathan Barato on March 8th. It’s not often your DJ heroes Carl Cox, Dubfire, Loco Dice and
Marco Carola request you to mix their very music that inspired you in the first place, but that’s exactly what happened to Carlo Lio, shooting him to worldwide recognition as a mixing maestro. With a unique signature style driven by a relentless, hypnotic, techno groove, Carlo Lio has gained international support for his ‘rawthentic’ cosmic sounds.
Carlo Lio will play back-to-back with his long time friend and Rawthentic Label partner, Nathan Barato. Another mainstay of The BPM Festival, Nathan Barato is amongst the most playable and prolific producers in dance music. In other words, he’s not just a DJ that plays all the big parties and music festivals, but he’s also the guy that everyone else is spinning too! Don’t miss this! CLICK HERE FOR INFO
ON THE RADAR
PROK + FITCH THU, 8TH FEB - Q43
RICK ROSS SAT, 17TH FEB - BASE
THE CHAINSMOKERS THU, 8TH FEB - DUBAI MEDIA CITY AMPHITHEATRE
DURAN DURAN WED, 21ST FEB - DUBAI MEDIA CITY AMPHITHEATRE
KESHA FRI, 9TH FEB - DUBAI MEDIA CITY AMPHITHEATRE
JOHN LEGEND THU, 22ND FEB - - DUBAI MEDIA CITY AMPHITHEATRE
GRND CNTRL W/ APOLLONIA THU, 15TH FEB - BASE
EATS EVERYTHING, EAGLES & BUTTERFLIES AND NU FRI, 23RD FEB - BLUE MARLIN
ON THE RADAR
RICKY MARTIN FRI, 23RD FEB - - DUBAI MEDIA CITY AMPHITHEATRE
RONY SEIKALY THU, 5TH APRIL - BASE
FIFTH HARMONY FRI 16TH, MARCH - DU FORUM
ATISH & VINCENT CASANOVA THU, 15TH FEB - NIGHT VIBES
RAG‘N’BONE MAN FRI, 23RD MARCH - DUBAI OPERA
DONETSK OPERA & BALLET FRI, 20TH APRIL - EMIRATES PALACE
BLACK COFFEE THU, 29TH MARCH - BASE
THE BIG BBQ SOCIAL FRI 27TH APRIL - JUMEIRAH CREEKSIDE
THE
‘U EXPATS ARE FUNNY’ TOUR
ALLYSON H T JUNE SMY t mos “Canada’s ale wanted fem act is standup. Th not le is impossib to enjoy!”
PRINCE ABDI
I COPPIAN NGER “O
ne of most re Ireland’s comics spected . Tr storyte ue Irish llin it’s fine g at st.”
“Stand up do esn’ get more glob t al than this, yo u will never laugh harder abou t Somalian pira tes.”
Call us on +971 50 8786 728 or visit us online for tickets and info
www.thelaughterfactory.com
Music News KARL WOLF RELEASES ‘BEST OF’ ALBUM
Karl Wolf scratching that’s itch
Multi-talented producer, songwriter and singer Karl Wolf released his ‘Best Of’ album via Universal Music MENA and is available now on all digital platforms. ‘The Best of Karl Wolf’ packs in no fewer than 21 of his various hits over the years, including perennials like ‘Africa’, ‘Yalla Habibi’, ‘Butterflies’, ‘Ghetto Love’, ‘Maniac Maniac’ and many other favorites! The more recent tracks on the album include ‘Wherever You Go’, ‘Secret’ and the hot new single ‘Illusion’. ‘Illusion’ is Wolf’s newest song, written and composed by himself and Canadian songwriters and producers, Brandon Unis and Jesse Iaconetti (MasterTrak). When asked to describe the track, Wolf said “It’s a song showcasing my evolution, still an RnB song but deeper and slightly darker and sexier than any of my previous work.”
CHRONICLES OF KHAN RELEASES DEBUT SINGLE
Chronicles of Khan is a Dubai-based Multinational Rock Band. Having recently rocked the ‘The Big BBQ Social’ the boys have been busy and released ‘Jokers Ball” as their Debut single from the upcoming EP titled ‘Legacies and Bequests’ This is their first ever official music video and we love it. Like it. Love it. Share it - its all rock n roll.
Chronicles of a band photo shoot
Credit: Orouge
HOLLAPHONIC MAKES A SPACESHIP
Hollaphonic – that’s it boys, its a London thing, innit.
Dubai-based electronic music duo Hollaphonic drop the video for their latest single, pop ear worm “Spaceship”, today. “Spaceship” is the title track from the duo’s recent EP and was recorded at Red Bull Studios, London, during ‘Hollaphonic Homecoming’, their 2016 trip to London, where they teamed up with UK artist Bxrber, who features on two tracks on the EP, “Spaceship” and “Breathe”. Both the music clip and the ‘Making of’ video feature footage of that trip, particularly Hollaphonic’s studio session. “We love when we click with an artist in the studio,” says Hollaphonic MC Olly Wood. “The fact that, this time, we had the foresight to capture it was special. I’ve got so many fond memories of that first meeting with Bxrber – it was a perfect clash of genres and a great blend of personalities.
DJ BOOTH: AAYA
Syrian Born DJ AAYA is currently playing regularly at Deep Like, Kaynouna & El Chiringuito. He shares his views with us on Dubai clubland and what is the most important part of a track….
So who are you? Tell us more, where did it all start for you? I’m originally Syrian, raised between Montreal, Canada and Saudi Arabia & now living in Dubai. I started in 1998 playing Trance in Montreal when trance was good :) Then I discovered PsyTek in 2003 and started producing & playing live shows all around Europe and North America. Moved to Dubai and realized had to slow things down a bit so went from 134BPM to120BPM and now ranging in 115-120BPM range but still maintaining the psychedelic tribal sound wherever I can. What makes a good track? I believe the most important part of a track is its bassline. It has to be punchy and roll. I like to see the crowd stomp more than dance. Whats your favorite part of Dubai’s clubbing scene? It’s still in its infancy compared to the rest of the world. I’m happy to see a huge spectrum of genres and thanks to the local DJs that keep bringing back sounds they hear while on tour/vacation around the globe. They inspire other local DJs to move forward with club sound. What needs some work in the scene? Venues. We need to see more outdoor & indoor venues that are dedicated to a specific sound & last more than one year to maintain its following and loyalty. What style of music you into? Like I mentioned, started from old school trance, to progressive psytek, to oriental organic tribal. I listen to a lot of classical music and ambient dronish sounds
now to get my mind inspired. I also keep an ear out for different sounds from other cultures & genres such as latin, hip hop, oriental, far east & Arabic. My favorite ever record is‌ Shpongle - Once upon the Sea of Blissful Awareness Biggest DJ achievement to date is Finally getting my studio up and running in Dubai after 7 years of moving around! :) Favorite musical era? The creation of the Prodigy in their early days. (MidLate 90s) DJ Hero? I guess I have to say Max Graham. One of the first times I discovered him was at an after hours at ARIA nightclub in Montreal where he played an amazing set. Still to this date, my favorite venue before it closed down in 2005 I believe. It had such a cosy feel to it, well tuned sound system and very happy people :) Check out the music by AAYA: soundcloud.com/aayamuzik
PIONEER UNVEILS NEW DDJ-1000 CONTROLLER
Pioneer has announced details of the DDJ-1000, a new four-channel DJ Controller geared towards utilizing Rekordbox DJs freshly enhanced features. Among the features are high-definition LCD screens on the jog wheels displaying BPM, waveform and more; a new track selection assistant called Related Tracks; 14 Beat FX; an improved Magvel-Fader; and 16 multi-coloured Performance Pads which be be used to deploy loops, samplers, key shift and more. Its layout is modelled on Pioneer’s flagship CDJ and DJM equipment, easing the transition between the different types of equipment.
DDJ-1000 DEDICATED REKORDBOX DJ CONTROLLER
T H E N E W R E KO R D B OX D J E XP E R IE N C E NXS2-style layout in a lightweight, portable body Low-latency jog wheel and crossfader response Customisable, high-definition On Jog Display
Visit
DJCORNER.AE
See the video on
PIONEERDJ.COM
BACKSTAGE with….
Cromwell Ojeda – ready to be fed
Cromwell Ojeda takes us backstage and gets the inside scoop on the live music scene here in the UAE. This issue he gives us the low down on Filipino rock band, Gatilyo. In a couple of days the Dubai based Filipino rock band Gatilyo will kick off their 2 week tour in Manila promoting their Self titled EP. The 2 year old band have been playing in local bars until they were discovered for a distribution deal with one of the Manila’s record label giants Warner Music Philippines. The band recently opened up to a sold out gig at Rocktoberfest 2018 held at Rockys Cafe. Their tour are being produced by the homegrown
Gatilyo being Filipino Rocky
production company, Blacksheep Productions. They have been pioneering the original Filipino music scene since 2008. Radio Manila will be handling the events and activation in Manila. The 2 week bar tour will include shows at Manila’s top venues for live music including Saguijo and Route 196. The tour will also be supported by Manilas top local bands with a wide range of musical styles spread out over the tour schedule.
This is a huge step for the local rock scene here in UAE as we create a bridge to link what we left back home and continue it here in the Dubai live music scene. This activation is just the beginning of the many projects Blacksheep Production and Radio Manila will be activating so watch out for more from them! Gatilyo music is available to stream and purchase on their facebook page CLICK HERE FOR INFO
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MEN’S STAR WARS FASHION COLLECTION LAUNCHED IN MIDDLE EAST
It’s time for the men of the UAE to unleash their inner Jedi with the brand-new Star Wars fashion collection by Dubai-based fashion brand ICONIC. The exclusive Star Wars collection at ICONIC offers unique, stylish items for men with street-style menswear collection features T-shirts, sweatshirts, joggers and jackets, embellished with eye-catching galactic glow prints and Star Wars text.
The Star Wars fashion collection is now available in ICONIC stores across the UAE and KSA.
Food News
TASTE OF DUBAI 2018 IS BACK!
Taste of Dubai 2018 celebrates its 11th year on 8-9th March at the Dubai Media City Amphitheater The festival is a 3 day food extravaganza, with the cityยนs hottest restaurants, world class celebrity chefs, and an incredible line-up of international music. For all food lovers you can come and watch live cooking demonstrations or get hands on and cook along side our famous chefs, as well as learn some culinary top tips. Alternatively you can enjoy listening to fantastic live entertainment; relax and soak up the festival atmosphere in our exclusive VIP area or even enjoy shopping for unique gifts and culinary products. CLICK HERE FOR INFO
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#DXBEXPERIMENTS PRESENTS: THE GARDEN
Dubai’s most Instagrammable winter bar, The Garden launches on 6th February as the second-part of the three-part experimental pop-up series. The quirky outdoor pop-up bar will be creating plant-based cocktails, garnished with the natural botanical surroundings of its temporary home. Enter a lush urban oasis with trees and plants varying from a 100 year old olive tree, chilli, guava, mandarin and lemon, to fragrant herbs and foliage: introducing a unique night out with aromatic flavours and creating exciting tastes at the experimental bar. The Garden pop-up will run for three months February-April and will be open three nights a week starting with “The Potting Shed” on a Tuesday, Wednesdays dedicated to pairing evenings accompanied by live jazz band will be playing along with a host of experimental activities for consumers to get involved in, Thursdays will include a jam-packed agenda for those looking to up their bar game and enjoy an alternative night out. CLICK HERE FOR INFO
Eat Sleep Rave Repeat
The Carnival – Family fun brunch at the Sheraton JBR
As we walked down JBR to the Sheraton Hotel we were not too sure what to expect. The Sheraton hotel, recently under new management and ownership by the Marriott group has introduced a new family brunch to their offerings. As we arrived at the venue we were pleasantly surprised at the separate gated entrance to the right of the hotel making it feel much laid back with easy access to walk in off the street. The brunch area itself has been created to the side of the hotel, not an area we’ve seen before at the Sheraton, an area half the size of a football pitch with an enclosed area separate from the hotel guests and pool area with a horse shoe effect of food and beverage offerings. The seating a mixture of wooden benches and outdoor garden table and chairs makes it feel like a chilled back yard style afternoon party.
The entertainment for both kids and adults was interesting and perfect for family fun. Bouncy castle, kids painting, clowns, stilts made easy for kids to enjoy the day and the adults feel comfortable listening to the singer a pleasantly experience. As we were shown to the table we were warmly welcomed and kindly shown the packages available, 225 Aed for soft and 325 Aed for house beverages. The amount of food on display was great and with ice sculptures and decorations was very appealing. We first tried the seafood section, mussels, prawns, lobster, oysters with salad and freshly baked bread accompanied by a welcomed smoothie made by the fresh juice bar. For us this is a perfect way to start the weekend. After a short rest and taking in the music and the winter sunshine we focused my attentions to the main
course with much to choose from. Fresh cooked fish, Chinese crispy duck pancakes, lots of international dishes and veg such as chili con carne and vegetables, fresh fish, dim sum, sushi, and BBQ area, of chicken, shish touq, beef and lamb was all very appealing and makes you want to try a little of each. Not much room on the desert however difficult to pass by without a freshly made pancake and ice-cream. To top the afternoon off the Sheraton JBR also give us free access to the beach after 4pm to chill and see the sun set. The staff here noticeably were very relaxed, happy and attentive. A good vibe passed down from the management obviously taken through to staff and then inevitably the customers. A good recommendation here not just for families and friends, but for a very relaxing afternoon. Words by Stephen O’Donovan.
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QUOR
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The
RECOVERY
AZURE CLUB, RIXOS HOTEL, JBR
There are fewer days that require recovery more than New Year’s Day and with one of the newest hotels stumbling distance from my apartment a day lounging at their new beach club was too good an opportunity to pass up. With Rixos Premium in JBR playing host to a number of top notch outlets, the Azure Beach Club has a lot to deliver on if it is to live up to its “premium” label. Arriving at the open plan beach club, it was clear that a lot of thought had been put into the design and the execution is spot on. From the well-appointed bar section as you walk in on the right-hand side, to the relaxed lounge area on the far side of the large pool, there is plenty of paces to chill out with a Bloody Mary
or 3 and that is exactly what I done. Just for NYD there was special recovery packages on offer that consisted of unlimited rum coconuts, a range of Bloody Mary’s and beer based cocktails, all served from a small but perfectly formed pop up bar below the main pool area. For me this really hit the spot and kept me more hydrated. Although there seemed to be some teething problems with regards to the speed of service, the overall ambience and quality of the venue was something quite special. Each area seemed to segue effortlessly into the next, and before long you could easily find yourself on the sandy shores of the private beach. For me, this is a sign of a well-executed outlet, where it is not too hard to find your way around and each area is relevant to the next. Another point to make, is that while the music that the DJ was playing was great, it was let down somewhat by the volume and the way that the spacious venue scattered the sound around the various corners of Azure. Unfortunately, this offer was only available on NYD, but the scope for making your own recovery package is huge, from the comfort of the sprawling lounge or the plush pool side sunbeds Azure Beach Club is an excellent option for a lazy day in the sun regardless of what day it is. Word by Stu Todd CLICK HERE FOR INFO