MUSIC • PEOPLE • LIFE
PUT YOUR HANDS UP FOR
Groove on the Grass return, Decibel, Ben UFO, Sonique, VIP Room, Amongst Few, Weslodge, Ministry of Sound and more! infusionmag
infusionmagazine
infusionmagazine
GUEST LIST TALAL BUDEBS Publisher
CHARL CHAKA
Managing Partner charlchaka@infusion.ae
SALES/MARKETING sales@infusion.ae
ANDY BUCHAN
Editor andy@infusion.ae
PAULA MANGUEIRA Design design@infusion.ae
CONTRIBUTORS:
Stephen Day, Ginger S, Dan Fahy, Andy McGirr, Michael McLaren
INFUSION IS PUBLISHED BY
Milehigh Media, LLC PO Box 53443 – Dubai, UAE Tel/Fax: 04 368 8098
OUR PARTNERS
We’re excited to hear about new Abu Dhabi club Hysteria set to launch this September with a terrace set to open a few months later! Ours is a pint of Guinness at the new McGettigans at Madinat Jumeirah, thank you very much. The tourist hot spot just got even more appealing. A big thumbs up to the Analog Room crew (and their band of dedicated clubbers) who turn up week in, week out – no commercial nonsense, just good music on a good sound system for good people. Simple, really. Rival promoters taking a very obvious pop at each other on social media. If you’re going to have beef with someone, at least come out and say it instead of hiding behind your keyboard. UK Olympic Gold diver Chris Mears is now pimping himself out as a DJ? Seriously bruv? Ditch the bad EDM sound, and work your way up the DJ ladder the hard way and then maybe we’ll take a listen. Until then, pike off. The Olympics has ended now - where are we going to get our handball/rowing/velodrome midnight kicks from now?
BLACK LIST
SAY WHAT? OLD JOKES HOME Some of the best one-liners from the recent Edinburgh Festival… “My dad has suggested that I register for a donor card. He’s a man after my own heart” - Masai Graham “I often confuse Americans and Canadians. By using long words” - Gary Delaney “Is it possible to mistake schizophrenia for telepathy, I hear you ask” - Jordan Brookes “Elton John hates ordering Chinese food. Soya seems to be the hardest word” - Phil Nicol
DANCEFLOOR DICTIONARY Deja-hoe :: when you think you’ve come across this particular VIP club hoe before.
MEME CORNER
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WE LOVE McGettigans The Baggot
There’s always been a cry around town that there’s not enough live music in the city. Well, we’re here to tell you there is, and McGettigans JLT are a big part of it this season with their summer line ups. They’ve already hosted cult Irish band Green Little Cars and ex Just Jinjer lead signer Ard Matthews, and host rising star Gavin James on Friday September 16 in the Baggot. Not only that, but they’ve teamed up with long-running indie night Step On who’ll be throwing a series of after parties. Oh, and head down from 5-8pm for their pre-gig package which includes 3 hours of free-flowing drinks for AED199. Happy daze!
Looking Back
What we did
LEVEL SEVEN FEED ME BRUNCH, W HOTEL W Hotel’s creatively titled “Level Seven”, located – you guessed it – on the 7th floor, opened its doors for its first “Feed Me” brunch recently. We headed down to see if it could compete with other high-end brunches across Dubai. We were met with an ultra-chic lobby, whisked into a glittery lift and taken to the restaurant. Unfortunately, the modern theme wasn’t continued and the dated styling made it all look a bit drab. Luckily, the food was much better. The cold starters were a mix of small, well thought-out nibbles and there was a strong Mediterranean theme with fresh seafood, Italian and Spanish standards plus a bonus roast dinner station. The highlight was the Willy Wonka-esque dessert room. A colourful mix of teacup cupcakes, lollipops, sherbets and candy-floss, combined with churros, doughnuts and ice-creams, made it a fun way to end the meal. The brunch was busy with a relaxed vibe, complimented by the live jazz duo. It’s not trying to be Saffron: it’s more of a brunch for couples and families who are looking to enjoy some tasty food and have a sophisticated afternoon with small doses of childlike-fun. Dan Fahy
PLUS MINUS FEAT. ROBERT DIETZ, ON42 We arrived at ON42 to Gabriel Floriani distributing some early melodic treats, diced with some techy moments. Maybe I’m a geek, but Marc Romboy’s ‘Counting Comets’ seemed quite fitting with this weekend’s Perseid shower – remnants of comet Swift Turtle – lighting up the skies above. As the crowd steadily increased, the music picked up nicely with midnight approaching. In what must have been a confident handover, the headliner Robert Dietz took to the controls. What ensued can only be described as a master class in Tech House with wobbling sub bass and skippy hi-hats. We love it when the DJ makes proper time for one last tune – which Mr Dietz did – promptly dropping future classic Kingpin Cartel’s ‘Ghetto’ to a more-thandelighted dance floor. A big finish to a big night. Andy McGirr
Looking Back
DEPARTURE BRUNCH @ DUSTYS As you might expect from the name, this is an airline themed brunch at the DIFC venue, with everything from online reservation (yes, we had packed everything ourselves), boarding passes and – blissfully no screaming babies. We were welcomed by a beautiful air hostess with vodka and pineapple cocktails to kick things off, before receiving a heavy handed vodka and coke – lift off! The A la Carte menu was impressively varied, offering a variety of tasty bites to start, including Lobster Tacos, Chicken Satay, Wagyu Sliders, Rock Shrimp Tempura and Beef Carpaccio. Sticking with the tried and tested airline offering of Fish, Beef or Chicken for the mains, we went for the steak, a small delicate delight, cooked to perfection. After this, I only had space for one desert and headed for the Candy Station, which included a chocolate fondue, cake pops, macaroons, marshmallows, and sweet crudités, truly a taste sensation. The music was a cut above as well, with Phil James dropping headbopping soul, R&B and hip hop classics all afternoon. A great debut flight, and one we’ll be racking up more airmiles on soon! Michael McLaren
DEEP CRATES PIRATE RADIO RINSE OUT SPECIAL @ LAS VEGAS CLUB Deep Crates Cartel have been conserving true hip-hop culture for the past five years, and this week went one step further and infused their sound with jungle and drum and bass beats. Now based at the Las Vegas Club in the Chelsea Hotel in Satwa, the night brought together cheap drinks, a down to earth, non pretentious crowd and even an after party at Ravis (butter chicken, please). With great views of the city, and Woodle, Sya, Dubijad and Lobito in charge of the decks, the party had an authentic underground feel to it. Party-goers that appreciate original break beats mixed with hip-hop and drum and bass need to check out the Deep Crates Cartel and their semi-regular Rinse Out parties. Ginger S
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PLUS MINUS FEAT. ROBERT DIETZ @ ON42
HIP HOP ON AIR @ VIP ROOM
PARADISO @ CAVALLI
CIRQUE LE SOIR
NIGHT VIBES FEAT. LUEN @ TAMANYA TERRACE
Want to learn how to DJ? djfactory@infusion.ae
COVER FEATURE
ONE STEP AHEAD OF THE GAME!
Bursting onto the club scene last year in a blizzard of 80s and 90s beats and classic Arcade action (geek note: did you know each console can play over 1,000 games?), Stereo Arcade quickly became the weekend destination. Now, with a new season beckoning, they’ve powered-up and are launching 2 new midweek nights, introducing new bands into the mix and have spent an entire week re-designing their ultra-cool arcade. Infusion has the exclusive low-down… Mid-Week Affair with KayteK & Co – every Tuesday from the end of September From hard hitting underground house sounds to sunset soundtracks, KayteK has been a big hit on the UAE club scene, and he’s now showcasing another side of his music knowledge with the launch of the Mid-Week Affair focussing on disco, nu-disco and up-lifting house music. After a summer playing all the best joints in Beirut, he’ll be armed to the teeth with mid-week classics. 1 Up Wednesdays with Shef Codes – every Wednesday from the end of September Not only one of our favourite DJs (the Jazzy Jeff off the Middle East?), but also a true gent, Shef delivers wherever he plays – and he’s hugely in demand, with gigs every night of the week. 1 Up Wednesdays will be something a little different: yes, there’ll be his usual smooth blend of RnB and Hip Hop, but it’ll be cunningly spliced with some rock and pop, giving the night a unique sonic identity. Y2K Party with Dean Curtis – every Thursday We recently experienced the power of Dean Curtis first hand: even before midnight, the club was rammed (and we mean rammed), and Dean was leading a merry dance of 90s and early 2000s hits. Brilliantly mixed – Eric Prydz’s Pjano was a welcome blast from the past – it’s full of party people all going in hard. 80s Party with Rodge – every Friday An all day party, you can start at Stereo Arcade with the classic indie sounds of the Late Late Brunch with Stereo Arcade in the Pub – open bar, unlimited classics and 2 items from the menu (duck sliders FTW) is about as good as party brunching gets. From there, Rodge takes over in the club from 10pm, with lines literally starting as soon as he starts. A true icon in Beirut where he founded Mix FM and has
COVER FEATURE been resident at BO18, his Fridays at Stereo Arcade are a riot of Technicolor 80s hits, seamlessly mixed to a nostalgia happy crowd. Check out the next issue of Infusion Magazine which has a big 4 page interview with Rodge. The Pub: Alongside their excellent resident cover bands – JetLag every Tuesday, VHS every Thursday and Sound City every Friday – Stereo Arcade have signed up Jay Wud to play live every Wednesday night from September 7. With 2 albums already to his name, and opening gigs for the likes of Mötley Crüe, Guns’n’Roses, Robert Plant and Aerosmith, he’s one of the best established names in the region, making this something of a coup for the JBR club. The Arcade: If you’re not in the club, or the pub, you’ll be spending the rest of the time at the club’s entrance hall and arcade room (well, that is unless you hang out in the toilets, which have a revolving playlist of 600 synth classics on loop – Mororder heaven!). They’ve given the entire room a head-to-toe rebrand, with new glow-in-the-dark décor, ultra cool wall stencils and of course the same amazing range of arcade games. See you on Thursday night by Street Fighter for a winner takes all duel…
Stereo Arcade, Double Tree Hilton, JBR, reservations 800-STEREO Facebook and Instagram @stereoarcade
ails t k c Co
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pureskylounge
THURSDAY- SEPTEMBER 1
DECIBEL GET LOUDER
THURSDAY - SEPTEMBER 1
After an impressive opening season, Decibel are back for another series of monthly parties at ON42 featuring a host of up-and-coming tech-house DJs, including some of Elrow’s finest DJs. Their comeback party features Spanish DJ and producer George Privatti How do you make each show different and special? The most important thing is the people in the club. They are the energy of the party. You've released on some big labels including Toolroom – who are you still aiming for, who would you most like to release on? I have released on Toolroom, which is one of the best labels, but nowadays there are a lot of labels which I would like release on it. But it’s difficult to release on great labels as there is a lot of competition, there are a lot of great producers all trying to be on the same labels. Elrow have had a great summer – have you been travelling with the brand, where have you been playing? Yes Elrow have had a good summer, the brand is part of some of the best festivals around the world, I'm really happy to be a part of this, it’s like a dream for me. This summer I have been playing at Aquasella Festival, Platja Electronic Festival, Lovebox and several weekends at Space Ibiza with the Elrow party.
THURSDAY - SEPTEMBER 1
What's the best advice you've received about your career? I have my own advice for myself - just work and enjoy what I do, then when you transmit good vibes, the people receive this energy. What have you heard about the Decibel party in Dubai? My partners from Elrow have told me about the good club and crew – they said they have a really powerful dancefloor. Technology has changed the DJ and production game so much... Technology has changed the game completely. It’s now more important to be a great producer. What makes a good party for you, what do you need? For me it's easy, just the good environment with the crew on the dancefloor, the connection between the DJ, music and people who are there.
Decibel feat. George Privatti, Friday September 1, ON42, 9pm-3am,100 AED, ladies free before midnight
THURSDAY - SEPTEMBER 1 SONIQUE PLAYS LIVE AT TRIBECA
Hip JBR bar Tribeca have booked Sonique for a live show on Thursday September 1. Best known for her classic 90s house sound – including big hit ‘It Feels So Good’ – she’ll be singing live as well as DJing. A Brit Award winner in 2001, she was also the vocalist on two classic S’Express singles. Plus, head down between 5:29pm and 8:29pm to take advantage of the Exit 29 offers including the organic tapas menu and selected drinks for just AED29.
INDUSTRIAL AVENUE LAUNCH NEW NIGHTS
One of the best hidden venues in the UAE, Industrial Avenue at the Westin Hotel have launched a new series of weekend parties. Thursdays will be soundtracked by Urban Hustle, with Just Lance playing a classic mix of up-front R&B, hip hop, dubstep and UK Garage, while Fridays host Elektric Lollipop dedicated to playing the best boogie down, funk and disco around. Both events are free all night, with doors open from 10pm.
MEL DEBARGE PLAYS VIP ROOM
Hugo Boss, Calvin Klein, Nike, Missy Elliott and Vogue – just some of the institutions that New York DJ Mel DeBarge has played for across his illustrious career. And you can catch the versatile DJ known for playing everything from hip hop to rock, soul, disco, funk and reggae at VIP Room’s Hip Hop On Air night on Thursday September 1.
FRIDAY - SEPTEMBER 2 YALUMBA IS THE ONE AND ONLY!
Renowned brunch hot spot Yalumba are going big for their September 2 party as they’ve pulled in 3 classic 90s acts for their Now That’s What I Call Brunch retro party. Chesney Hawkes is the main attraction thanks to his pop anthem ‘The One And Only Live,’ while No Mercy and Rozalla (behind 90s hit ‘Everybody Wants To Be Free’) round off the line up. DJ support comes from Tim Cheddar, who’ll be dusting off his rollerskates to close out the party in cheesy retro style. The brunch takes place in the Great Ballroom at Le Meridien Dubai from 1-4pm, with happy hours from 4-7pm. Tickets are AED495 from Platinumlist.net.
PLUS MINUS FEAT. KARMON
It’s been a superb summer series for the Plus Minus crew, and they’re going out for a biggie as they welcome down Diynamic signing Karmon to play their ON42 party on Friday September 2. Since bursting onto the scene in 2012 with his melodic, bass heavy house sound, he’s been an in-demand DJ, touring with label head Solomun, playing Brazil, Argentina, Holland, Germany and France in the last few months. Doors open from 9pm at the Media One Hotel venue, with tickets available from Platinumlist.net.
THURSDAY - SEPTEMBER 8 MUSIC FROM ANOTHER UNIVERSE: BEN UFO PLAYS ANALOG ROOM
It’s shaping up to be a big season for Analog Room, and fittingly they have one of their biggest bookings yet as Ben UFO makes his Middle East debut on Thursday September 8. The London DJ will be bringing his trademark bass-heavy house, techno and challenging electronic sound to Story Rooftop’s super-sized DJ booth: expect plenty of upfront Hessle Audio cuts from the Rinse FM DJ. Doors open at 10pm, with entry AED100 after midnight.
NEWS GROOVE ON THE GRASS RETURN WITH 6 DJ LINE UP!
Award-winning electronic festival Groove on the Grass are back with a bang after their summer hiatus with a 6 artist line up on September 23. Techno duo Simian Mobile Disco are the main act, returning to Dubai for the first time in 4 years. Comprised of James Ford and Jas Shaw, the duo have been around since 2003, putting out a series of diverse albums and Eps and gaining recognition as producers – so much so, that James Ford is a highly sought after man, producing albums for Florence & The Machine and Foals last year. Support at the Emirates Golf Course festival comes from acid-techno guru Josh Wink, tech-house star Radio Slave and The Element, while Clockwork & Avatism will play a live set with Max Cooper also making his UAE debut. Tickets for the event start at AED180 and we recommend getting in there early – a line up like this will sell out in no time!
ON THE RADAR
SEPTEMBER 15
HIP HOP ON AIR FEAT. TIMATI VIP Room
SEPTEMBER 23
OCTOBER 13
DECIBEL FEAT. D-UNITY ON42
OCTOBER 14
GROOVE ON THE GRASS FEAT. SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO
Emirates Golf Course
SA BRAAI DAY FEAT. AKING Emirates Golf Course
OCTOBER 6
OCTOBER 28
OCTOBER 7
OCTOBER 28
MADNESS Dubai Tennis Stadium
ZAYN Autism Rocks Arena
MAJOR LAZER, Autism Rocks
ADRIATIQUE Provocateur
ON THE RADAR
NOVEMBER 3
GROOVE ON THE GRASS FEAT. SCUBA, Emirates Golf Course
NOVEMBER 4
NOVEMBER 12 MIGUEL CAMPBELL, Zero Gravity
NOVEMBER 25
KRAFTY KUTS Zero Gravity
CHEMICAL BROTHERS, du Arena
NOVEMBER 11
NOVEMBER 25
NOVEMBER 11
NOVEMBER 27
SENSATION, Bab Al Shams
DECIBEL FEAT. MATT SASSARI, ON42
ART DEPARTMENT Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE
RIHANNA du Arena
THE BIG INTERVIEW
How long has Cavalli been running, and what have been the toughest challenges you've faced? Cavalli Club Dubai has been running for 7 years since its launch in 2009, it has become one of Dubai’s most glamorous and luxurious venues. The most challenging task for me is continuously and strategically maintaining our position in such a competitive market as we have some very fierce and tough competition.
We’ve talked to the DJs, the bands and the promoters, but what about the big dogs, the General Managers who make sure the club and party run as smoothly as possible? We caught up with Cavalli’s main man Hayan Abou Assali to talk Jennifer Lopez, the Russian recession and staying one step ahead of the competition
What qualifications do you need to do what you do? Passion, dedication, innovation, continuously thinking out of the box. As well as complete dedication to the brand, your staff members and team. How has the recession in Russia over the last few years affected your business? And do you feel a slowdown in business in Dubai as a whole this year? Actually we have seen significantly reduced number of the big Russian spenders but the normal Russian tourists still have Cavalli Club Dubai as their first destination to visit. To be honest, we don’t feel that there is a slowdown of business in Dubai since we have a very strong and reputable brand and we have been leading the night life market since we first opened.
How involved do you get with the music – have you hired and fired DJs, do you request your favorite tunes? I am involved 100% when it comes to selecting talent and the type of music we play in the venue. Cavalli Club Dubai opens 7 night per week so we need to be selective with our music. We have DJs who can play different genres of music like R&B, deep house, commercial, EDM and open format. We do sometimes host private parties in our Blasé private room where we can accommodate all guest’s requests, be it a private DJ with dedicated services, a bar team to host the party, or additional security when required.
And what are your favorite tunes? Anything by Avicii, Pharrell Williams, Enrique Eglesias, Wiz khalifa and the music of Yanni. What did you make of the Ramadan drinking rule this year (venues could sell alcohol during the day for the first time ever)? And what do you think will happen as Ramadan starts getting nearer peak season? Will clubs and bars be allowed to have DJs and bands? Actually every year during Ramadan we close for renovation and we plan our season ahead and in my personal opinion when Ramadan will get closer to
When you launched, the clubbing scene was very different in the city – now there are so many different competing venues and brands, how do you stay relevant in that scene? It is true nowadays we have more competition and a lot of brands, however we believe in our dedicated team and we always check what is going on in other countries in the nightlife scene. We don’t copy other brands, they usually copy us! We develop different concepts for each night, bring big talent in on a weekly basis, and work closely with our Chef to maintain our food quality. winter, I think we will close out of respect for the country. Summertime is always a challenge when running a nightclub where the majority of our guests are tourists and they avoid visiting UAE during the hotter months. Who have been your biggest spenders in Cavalli? There have been some receipts from the venue that have gone viral with bills into hundreds of thousands of dirhams. We have big spenders from all around the world and we take our guests privacy very seriously, we do not publish customers’ bills online and if they occur online they are done so via the guest, an associate or friend.
What's been the best night you've had in Cavalli? And what are you most excited about for the coming season? I would say every night has its identity and when you say ‘big’ it could be either financially, marketing wise or the one that creates a buzz in town. But I would say when we have sold almost 450 bottles of premium champagne in one night, or when the biggest rose champagne bottle in the world was sold at Cavalli. In terms of marketing when you host 1800 people in one night with big artists like Trey Songz, Jennifer Lopez, Jay Sean, Akon or Paris Hilton and a lot of famous celebrities you know it’s going to be a great night!
Soundstage ESTHER EDEN Driven teenage pop star Esther has shared the stage with Jessie J infront of 10,000 people and been signed to Universal Music MENA. Not bad for a 17 year old!
My first musical influence was… Ed Sheeran. When I got my first guitar I used to listen to his Addition album and I just loved his lyrical mastery and the kind of music he produced. The last pop star I liked was… Borns - one of my favourite of his songs would have to be ‘Fool.’ My sound is best described as… My acoustic performances are very folksy but my produced music leans towards pop. Best piece of advice you’ve received? The grass is always greener where you water it! What’s your musical guilty pleasure? Selena Gomez – ‘Can’t Keep My Hands To Myself’. My favourite line is ‘I mean I could but why would I want to…’ The best band in Dubai is… Imbue - I love their unique sound! Best claim to fame? Jessie J inviting me to perform for her concert here in Dubai when I was just sixteen. My musical motto is… If you love it - you just got to do it! Best lyrics of all time? ‘I still fall on my face sometimes, and I can’t colour inside the lines coz i’m perfectly incomplete - I’m still working on my masterpiece and I, I want to hang with the greats, got a way to go, but it’s worth the wait. No, you haven’t seen the best of me - I’m still working on my masterpiece.’ It’s ‘Masterpiece’ by Jessie J, I feel I can relate to this song the most! www.esthereden.com
TECH TALK Ministry of Sound Audio M Plus
We put the new Ministry of Sound Wi-Fi speaker to the test in the Infusion DJ Factory Renowned London club and global brand Ministry of Sound have long branched out from just clubbing – they run record labels, have more merchandise than you can shake a glow stick at, and even ran their own nightlife magazine for several years. They’ve now brought out the Audio M Plus, a high end portable speaker that incorporates Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Wirelessly connecting to your home network, you manage the speaker via an intuitive app that even lets you link multiple devices (making it more of an in-home club set up). You can even play different music to each speaker, perfect for those looking to mix up the music. The sound is clear with well defined bass and doesn’t distort at full volume – a big plus. The design is simple but classic with a circular, matt grey design. The sound is very directed, so location and angle are key if you’re just using one unit. The battery life is good (a full re-charge takes 2 hours), with our session lasting 3 hours with no sign of the battery power dwindling. Powerful, well built and easy to use, the Audio M Plus comes highly recommended for at home use, or after party action.
DJ BOOTH: MICHKA
Cavalli Club resident DJ Mickha is next up, an underground house DJ who’s a producer with a growing reputation One thing you might not know about me is... I have a big heart! My worst ever job was… A morning job.
DJing is much like... A connection between the DJ and the crowd. You are the key to their night – good music, good vibes, happy customers! Dubai’s clubbing scene is... Growing! And especially the underground and house music scene. I’m really proud of... My family, friends who are always around me and supported me to reach where I’m now! And of course I’m proud of myself as I’ve been through a lot and always working so hard. What track could you drop in every set? Guy Gerber - Timing, Ame - Rej and Oxia - Dominos. I can’t live without... Adele, my daughter! My biggest DJ achievement to date is... Being a big part of growing the underground and house music scene in the city! If you could DJ in any decade which would it be... 2050 because I’ll DJ until my ears stop working! If I could go back-to-back with any other DJ it would be... There are too many but Dixon, Solomun, Maceo Plex. I’m not a politician but… I’m an entertainer …. I drag people to a place away from politics (which is a headache!) where there is peace, love, happiness and good vibes only! soundcloud.com/michkamusic
Weird News HEADLINE OF THE WEEK
‘Tramps Against Trump’ Will Send You Nudes If You Vote For Anyone But Him This is the true story of a group of anti-Trump campaigners who will send you nude photos in return for votes against The Donald. Makes sense to us.
WEIRD PIC A caught in the moment image of the Redneck Olympics, where proud rednecks do battle in proud sports like bobbing for pig’s feet, the greased watermelon haul and toilet seat horeshoes. Keep it up, ‘Murica.
PRISON AIRBNB
Prison. A life of turgid existence punctuated by shiv-sharpening and episodes of Orange is the New Black? Well, not if you’re Jarvis Chimenes Pavao, one of South America’s most dangerous drug traffickers serving an 8 year sentence in Paraguay. His cell – well, three room apartment with en-suite – included air conditioning, a flatscreen TV and a DVD collection including a TV series on Pablo Escobar. He would also rent out his rooms on occasion, charging over $1000 for a week – with those sort of prices, we think he’d do well as a real estate agent in the UAE…
THE SPIN AUGUST 2016
PAGE 217
ISSUE 45
DUBAI CLUB BOOKING TODDLERS TO STAY ONE STEP AHEAD OF ‘THE GAME’
In an ever competitive market, it’s harder and harder for clubs to stand out. And with the clued up Dubai club crowd looking to get to the new sensations first, promoters have had to step up their game to compete. One promoter, Hugh Jarse, has started booking underground Berlin toddlers, one of whom has just released his first slice of hard-to-find wax. The 12” single entitled ‘Humpty Dumpty (The After Hours Edit)’, comes with its own hand painted artwork of a cat, and consists of a repetitive 4/4 beat and snatches of melody that, brilliantly, sound like a Casio keyboard set to demo parody. It’s had hipsters in Berlin falling over themselves to book the stillin-nappies-youth, but Hugh Jarse has given Lickle Tommy his first international gig. ‘The techno promoters and crowd in Dubai are always looking for the next hit, and I’ve found just that. We’ll have to get a potty in for the gig, but that’s not that uncommon among a lot of the more hardcore caners so we can accommodate it quite easily. Ricardo Villalobos actually wears an adult diaper, so this should be relatively easy.’ *These stories are not true, this is not a real newspaper. This is a parody/fiction/satire/joke. The Spin is not intended, in any way whatsoever, to be taken as factual.
COOLSTUFF we want
Amongst Few
Homegrown fashion label Amongst Few have been turning heads for several years now thanks to their streamlined offering of classic pieces, and their new batch of designs are already Infusion wardrobe favourites. Several of their T-shirts have already sold out (always a good sign), but we’re digging the Stay Low and Keep Firing range and the Icons T-shirt. All of them are made from 100% Peruvian cotton and fit like a glove. Check out their Snapbacks and hoodies as well for later in the season, plus register online and you get 10% off your order. It’s easy to shop local when it’s this good. www.amongstfew.com
JUST FOR
ADIDAS ORIGINALS TUBULAR X PRIMEKNIT “SCARLET & WHITE”
Now a cult trainer, adidas Originals have painted the town red with their new Tubular release. With a full colour blocked colour scheme and white base, the kicks feature a primeknit upper and the X overlay finished in suede, with a two-tone mesh upper. Yours now from Sneaker Politics from $160.
Eat Sleep Rave Repeat Weslodge Saloon
Stephen Day channels his inner lumberjack as he tries out new Canadian-themed restaurant and lounge Weslodge…
We jumped in the cab, ‘JW Marriot please Mr Driver!’ ‘Which one?’ was the reply, ‘How many are there?’ ‘Well technically 4, if you count the one in Sharjah’. Imagine that, not just competing with all the F&B in the city, but also all the outlets in the same hotel chain. Tough. Luckily for this new Canadian kid on the block, they have prime space on the 68th floor of the JW Marquis on SZR. The feel to the Weslodge Saloon is relaxed, refined and spacious:
well they do have a whole floor to themselves, so it’s no surprise. All wood, light bulbs and picture frames, it’s very modern saloon, very Dubai. We sat at the bar and took in the atmosphere. It was still relatively early but it was the perfect hour for a cocktail (let’s be honest, when isn’t it?). The Trolleycar was light but deep, with the apple brandy dancing off my tongue and the Rhubarb Pie hit its mark for Valerie, with the Amaretto foam cutting perfectly through the sour note of the infused vodka.
We moved to a table with possibly one of the best views of the city. It’s unhindered for miles, apart from the obvious Burj Khalifa, but even that looked relatively small from this height, with the dancing fountains twinkling in the distance. The menu is divided into the usual suspects; a mixture of cold, hot, big plates, small plates, you say tomato, I say ... etc. I want to get to the essence of this place and I quickly spotted a way how to, as we tucked into classic Canadian starter ‘Poutine’. For the uninitiated, Poutine is to Canadians as Fish & Chips is to the British or Hummus is to the Lebanese, it’s deeply entrenched in their psyche and their bellies. Broken down
into its constituent parts on paper it looks a little dull: fries, gravy and cheese curds. It’s a comfort thing, everyone has a different take on it and here the curds have been replaced with chunks of lobster. It arrived soft and gooey with a gentle hit of tarragon. It’s not a fancy dish but it’s exactly what I wanted to find in an establishment like this, something different and something that will make people go. We accompanied it with a wedge salad that was crisp and fresh, plus a perfectly spiced tuna ceviche with sesame crisp. The main course selection at Weslodge is plentiful. From plates of meat, fish and poultry to a detailed steak section offering all sorts of cuts, including some lesser know ones
cauliflower, but if simple food can do that, then they’re doing something very right. We ended with a fully homemade Smores, all fluffy from the marshmallow; I’m informed by Rob the Manager even the Gram cracker base is made in house and the dark chocolate runs out as it’s demolished by us both. This place is lively and vibrant: by the time we’d left, the place is heaving. The Smores act as a good analogy. Weslodge is multi layered, some sweet, some bitter, some crunchy, all the elements separately are very nice, but bring them all together and it’s a recipe that will a firm favourite for years to come. Weslodge Saloon, Tower B, 68th floor, JW Marriott Marquis, Business Bay, Dubai, weslodge.ae
like an 8 Oz Oyster Blade, which we picked. Cooked correctly, it’s just as tasty as any fillet or rib eye, and whoever was cooking knew how to make it sing as it had a beautiful sear and was dripping in flavour. I’m sure they will hate me for writing this, but forget their 32 Oz Porterhouse, give me this any day of the week. We also chose a whole Branzino that flaked on the fork, working excellently with the subtle jalapeño relish next to it. We also ordered a side of roasted cauliflower. As much as we enjoyed everything so far, this took things to another level. It was creamy, with spicy florets and buttermilk. It fell apart and made me smile. I know, it’s just
Faking the funk Do you know what sucks? Nope, not the entire cast and crew of the York Hotel, but lowdown, pond-dwelling scummers that buy Soundcloud followers. I can just about stomach people buying fake Twitter and Instragam followers (oh, the naming and shaming I could do), but messing about with music is something very sacred. So imagine my amazement when a local producer hawked round his latest track, and it had a startling quarter of a million plays. In Soundcloud terms, that’s a sh*t load. So, you’d imagine there’d be lots of comments, re-posts and online love for said track. 5. There were 5 comments. And yet his previous tracks, with much a much more realistic 3,000 plays, had 30 comments and dozens of reposts. So, what are we to conclude from this episode, readers? It’s either a crap track, or he’s bought quarter of a million plays. In this instance, we’re going with both.
Monkey Out... The Angry Monkeys’ views are his own, and don’t necessarily reflect the views of Infusion Magazine.