MUSIC • PEOPLE • LIFE
RETURN WITH MAGDA,AGORIA,
MANO LE TOUGH, DJ HELL, AND MORE! Brian Wilson, Louie Vega, Jazzy Jeff, Guns'n'Roses, Luciano, Major Lazer, Cirque Le Soir and more! infusionmag
infusionmagazine
infusionmagazine
THURSDAY 27/10
DJ BROOKLYN & DJ ADAM J
+971 4 888 3308 | +971 50 738 1388 ARMANI HOTEL DUBAI | BURJ KHALIFA | UAE
GUEST LIST TALAL BUDEBS Publisher
CHARL CHAKA
Managing Partner charlchaka@infusion.ae
FRAK FU
sales/marketing sales@infusion.ae
ANDY BUCHAN
Editor andy@infusion.ae
Obviously, not ones to crow about our own aceness, but the recent #BRAAIDAYDXB was pretty ace – and the next one might be a bit sooner than expected!
VIP Room have confirmed they’ve booked Luciano for Halloween – good music is everywhere in clubland, happy days!
PAULA MANGUEIRA Design design@infusion.ae
CONTRIBUTORS:
Frak Fu, Sam Moult, Sonia, Neil Henderson, Stephen Day, Dan Fahy, Ginger S
Good news radio fans: audio tonic are back on the airwaves in the UAE from Thursday October 27 at 10pm for a 2 hour show on Dance FM, 97.8.
INFUSION IS PUBLISHED BY
Milehigh Media, LLC PO Box 53443 – Dubai, UAE Tel/Fax: 04 368 8098
OUR PARTNERS
Social media reducing our attention span to that of a peanut. Damnit!
There’s so much good TV on at the moment – Westworld, The Get Down, Flea Bag, The Night Of – that we’re almost tempted to stay in and binge watch Netflix all weekend. Almost!
People who read our Spin stories and think they’re true (despite the disclaimers!) There’s a Darwinism award with your name on it.
BLACK LIST
SAY WHAT? OLD JOKES HOME I recently bought some shoes from a drug dealer. I’m not sure what he’s laced them with but I’ve been tripping all day.
RUMOURS Terry Francis, the ex – or hopefully current Fabric resident if they win their appeal – is confirmed for a show at Night Vibes on November 4.
Ibiza bar El Chiringuito is set to open in the UAE in the new year, with several high profile DJ bookings to be announced.
DANCEFLOOR DICTIONARY Black A-holes: Techno DJs, promoters and purists who dress in all black and have zero personality.
MEME CORNER
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WE LOVE MAD On Yas Island
Superclubs used to be all the rage, didn’t they? How times change! Clubbers now favour smaller, more intimate venues that offer a more personalized experience than hulking expanses of strobe-lit wastelands dripping in WKD-lite sweat. But there is still one Superclub ruling the roost in Abu Dhabi. The biggest indoor venue in the UAE, MAD on Yas Island has had its graffiti-adorned doors open for a year, and celebrates its first birthday on November 3 when US rapper Fat Joe headlines. With a stunning coliseum feel thanks to circular design and the runway that juts out from below the DJ Booth, the club boasts a stunning lighting and sound system, 360 degree projection mapping and huge eye-popping LED screens. Their signature night URBN on Fridays is our pick, but just wait until the club becomes the centre of the action on the F1 weekend – the line up is impressive!
facebook.com/MadOnYasIsland/
ELEMENTS / DUBAI
October 28th 2016 Presents:
FRIGHT NIGHTSWIM @
Mat.Joe (Exploited // GER) Rich Showell // Jason Dodds
WET DECK // W HOTEL // AL HABTOOR CITY. Every Friday from 4pm till late. DRESS CODE: Swim // dance // do both. RESERVATIONS: +971 (4) 436 6666 GUESTLIST: guestlist@audiotonic.net
NOVEMBER LINEUP Presents:
NIGHTSWIM @ 11/04/2016
11/11/2016
LEON VYNEHALL
M.A.N.D.Y.
(Running Back // UK)
(Get Physical Music // GER)
Arcade 82 (LIVE) Jonny Thornhill Megadon Betamax
Michael Robert JC Pinto
11/18/2016
11/25/2016
RAXON
GRAND PRIX SPECIAL
ABU DHABI
(Ellum // EGY)
Jason Dodds Rich Showell WET DECK // W HOTEL // AL HABTOOR CITY. Every Friday from 4pm till late. DRESS CODE: Swim // dance // do both. RESERVATIONS: +971 (4) 436 6666 GUESTLIST: guestlist@audiotonic.net
What we did ONE BIG FRIDAY @ ZERO GRAVITY Photo credit: Neil Henderson
It is truly a fine thing to hear the sweet sounds of pulsating trance ripple over a heaving throng, hands in the air reaching for the lasers and loving every drop and beat of what Mr Paul Van Dyk is dishing out. Support came from the supreme Chris Metcalfe with a poised and slick warm-up, before Paul – somewhat miraculously recovered after breaking several bones in a coma-inducing fall in the summer – returned to the Zero Gravity decks. He didn’t hold back, launching in with rollers and harmonic breakdowns from the off, a particular roar raised for Giuseppe Ottaviani’s driving uplifting take on Paul’s “Lights” in collaboration with Sue McLaren. Amidst the fresher, demanding basslines and breakdowns there were hints of his iconic, angelic classics – a very welcome return to DJing in the UAE PVD, and One very Big Friday indeed. Neil Henderson Up next: Louie Vega, October 28
BATTLE OF THE DJ’S @ 360
With a grand prize a one year DJ residency contract to spin at 360, it’s no surprise over 20 DJs submitted their mixes, with 5 selected to showcase their skills infront of international Hip-hop DJ Shortee Blitz, Frak Fu from Infusion Magazine, along with current resident Rone Jaxx. Judges were scoring DJs based on track selection, mixing, risk, crowd engagement and technical ability, with 30 minutes per DJ. After a tough battle, the clear winner was DJ Flippside, only a professional DJ for a short period of time. Playing a mix of funk, RnB, soul and hip hop, he even dropped Lil Wayne’s ‘Make It Rain’ which prompted some of the crowd to bust out umbrellas and start dancing, a neat touch. With the confidence and capability to engage the crowd, and happy to take risks, he dropped a wide range of music to accommodate everyone’s needs. Ginger S
Photo credit: Neil Henderson
NIGHTSWIM FT. JUNIOR SANCHEZ @ THE WET DECK Now based in 3 cities, it’s fantastic to see such a successful homegrown endeavour like Audio Tonic go from strength to strength. Tonight’s launch at the pristinely polished W Hotel’s Wet Deck is a perfect progression from 360, featuring an open air pool alongside a welcoming dance floor and DJ booth taken care of this evening by the legendary Junior Sanchez. Sanchez stacked up classics alongside fresh cuts following a live set from hyped live electronic duo Arcade 82. As the humidity has begun to pleasantly seep into a cool dry warmth, the Wet Deck is your new best bet for a sultry and sophisticated night’s clubbing this season... Neil Henderson Up next: Leon Vynehall, November 4
MADNESS @ DUBAI DUTY FREE TENNIS STADIUM
When we found out that British ska sensation Madness were coming to town our nostalgia metres picked up. Growing up in a British household meant that you had almost certainly come across tunes such as ‘House of Fun’ and ‘Baggy Trousers’ at some point. It was only when walking into the Dubai Tennis Stadium that we began to feel just how big Madness really were. The ‘older’ population of British-Dubai was out in force for a night that was to be one of the best golden-oldie performances I have seen. As soon as the impressive stage began to light up all eyes were on the band who, despite being on the crest of 60 years of age, sounded every bit as good as the studio recordings from their heyday. A slow start with a few new songs sandwiched in between was capped off wonderfully by the big hits from the early 80s including a rendition of ‘Our House’ that included (without asking) 95% of the crowd too. The final song, ‘It Must Be Love’ signalled the end of the evening but the energy of the crowd hadn’t died down despite security coming in to clear the floor. The crowd bounced and jumped all night long, even in the seats, so whilst I’m proud of my generation’s stamina, the Saga tours guests aren’t ready to stop partying yet! Sam Moult
SUBB-AN & TALE OF US @ BLUE MARLIN IBIZA UAE Photo credit: Neil Henderson
Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE’s season got off to a suitably strong start with the likes of Moudaber, Schneider, Dope and Cassy in September, and October’s offerings kicked off with the delights of Subb-An and the eclectically endowed barons of techno Tale of Us. Inimitable and unpredictable, they are responsible for some of the scene’s defining releases. They brought their blend of BPM-hopping emotion-laced techno to the masses at Blue Marlin, leaving the sandy playpit a sinewy shuddering mess of clubbers in their speaker-wake. Neil Henderson Up next: Burning Beach feat. Magdalena October 28, Loco ice November 4
#BRAAIDAYDXB @ EMIRATES GOLF CLUB
D-UNITY @ DECIBEL
TIGER SESSIONS WITH HABISCHMAN @PURE SKY LOUNGE
YASALAM PRESENTS Exclusively for #AbuDhabiGP Race Ticket Holders
, Yas Island
FRI 25 NOV
SAT 26 NOV
SUN 27 NOV
The season’s unmissable festival yasalam.ae
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THURSDAY - OCTOBER 27 AKUFEN PLAYS ANALOG ROOM
Akufen’s level of collage genius lie on a different plane – he doesn’t just sample, he cherry picks half second blips of adverts, pop songs, classical music, even talk show host nonsense to create house music. Bizarre sounding, but 100% true – and anyone who’s danced to his classic 2002 track ‘Deck The House’ will know the immediate power of it. Deeply funky, and not at all disjointed as you’d imagine, his Magpie music is glued together by a pounding 4/4 and evolving melodies. So bravo to Analog Room – once more – for bravely booking the Canadian DJ and producer to play their Story Rooftop home on Thursday October 27. This should be a bit special indeed.
GIG GUIDE
The Night of the Living Dead Disco, Nasimi Juicy M headlines this ghoulish house party as the beach club is transformed into a Zombie-only zone. Ladies free before 9pm, AED100.
FRIDAY - OCTOBER 28 MAJOR HALLOWEEN!
Halloween, a time for all the freaks and geeks to come out – and if we were either (ah, who are we kidding), we’d be front and central at the Autism Rocks Arena for this 117 gig on Friday October 28. Not only would Major Lazer get us ‘Pon De Floor’ with their partystarting brand of beats and rhymes, but local heroes Hollaphonic are also on hand to close out the show. And for those 90s pop heads amongst us, All Saints have reformed (not just for this show, we hope) and will be doing their sugar-coated thing on stage. Tickets start from AED350 from Platinumlist.net
FRIDAY - OCTOBER 28 MASTERS AT SUNSET
There’s a lot to admire about Zero Gravity’s booking policy this season – not only have they gone all out with some seriously big bookings, they’ve also gone about it very sensibly. Like booking Masters at Work star Louie Vega to play a 3 hour session to soundtrack the sunset on Friday October 28 – sounds ace, doesn’t it? Expect soulfuric re-works, hands-in-the-air moments and 3 hours of audio bliss from a true house music legend. Oh, and it’s free entry until 10pm and until midnight for ladies.
FRIDAY - OCTOBER 28 GET JAZZY WITH JEFF
Back once again (like the Renegade Master), Jazzy Jeff is pretty much a resident DJ for Barasti which is about as cool as things can get. Returning once more to take over proceedings for their Halloween party on Friday October 28, expect the unexpected from the crowd-pleasing DJ and his deckstrous approach, including, just maybe, perhaps a guest MC slot from the Fresh Prince? Either way, we just hope someone has dressed up as Carlton Banks for the show. Entry is free and the night starts from 6pm.
Brian Wilson
presents Pet Sounds Along with rare cuts & greatest hits performing with special guests
Al Jardine & Blondie Chaplin
Thursday 3rd November 2016 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium Doors at 7PM & Show at 9PM Tickets AED 225 Seated AED 250 Standing
Contact - +971 4 239 5000 - www.theirishvillage.com Strictly 21 years and above
@TheIrishVillageDubi
FRIDAY - OCTOBER 28 LIFE’S A BEACH
In perfect timing for the beautiful winter weather, there’s a new beach club on the palm. Breeze, situated at Club Vista Mare, is aiming to be the chillest most relaxed beach club in the city. With a beach shack feel, the venue boasts 4 live cooking stations, 2 bars and several of our favourite local DJs including Jon Besant and Billie Clements playing deep, chilled beach-side classics. Get down for the Breeze brunch on Fridays (AED395), or their 4-7pm happy hours every day including 2-for-1 on selected cocktails.
GIG GUIDE
Nightswim feat. Matt.Joe, Audio Tonic, W Hotel Audio Tonic invite back German house stars Matt.Joe for another session of groove-laden house music at their ultra cool new home, the Wet Deck. 4pm-2am, free entry Adriatique, Provocateur Another quality booking at Provocateur, as Diynamic signings Adriatique bring their cool deep house sound to Provocateur’s Funktion 1 sound system. 10pm-3am Tom Swoon, XL Candypants team up with XL again for a huge brunch and after party, with rising star Tom Swoon on deck duty at XL. Brunch after party from 4pm. Burning Beach feat. Magdalena, Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE German techno darling Magdalena returns to Blue Marlin, with support from Brooklyn-based duo Bedouin. 1pm-11pm.
MONDAY - OCTOBER 31 LUCIANO RINGS IN HALLOWEEN!
That’s right, ghoulish house lovers, Circoloco, Vagabundos and DC10 DJ Luciano is playing in Dubai on a Monday night – bonkers but brilliant. He’ll be taking over the VIP Room doors for the first in their series of VRUnderground parties, and will be dropping some of the finest house and techno known to clubbing man. Doors open from 9pm, and the dress code is Obscene Halloween.
GIG GUIDE
Monday Night Massacre, Zinc Greg Stainer and Richie D head up this Halloween party with prizes for the best dressed and free selected drinks for ladies until midnight. 10pm-3am, AED100 men after 11pm.
BRIAN WILSON
IN HIS OWN WORD
Outrageously talented, the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson takes to the stage on Thursday November 3 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Pet Sounds, one of the greatest records known to man. We trawled his past interviews to find his best quotes from a life that’s hit true highs and lows… “I think I need the demons in order to write, but the demons have gone. It bothers me a lot. I've tried and tried, but I just can't seem to find a melody.” “I'm just a shy and retreating kind of person. Sometimes I get in a real talkative mood - but not very often.” “You know, Rolling Stones songs all sound kind of the same.” “Every now and then I hear voices in my head, but not very clear. I can't understand what they are saying. It's a mental illness. I have been diagnosed as a manic depressive.” “The Beach Boys have always been a part of the 60s spectrum, with The Beatles and that kind of thing. They were a part of the music business like everyone else. And they did quite well as a singing group, and I finished a lot of good records, and I'm very proud of them.” “I think in terms of emotions. And feelings. So sometimes what I say may not always be clear. But creatively, there's a lot to be said for that way of thinking.” “I always do get a little bit paranoid when I get a lot of attention. But I get used to it.” “First of all, I want people to understand that I'm here to create for them. To create music for people so they'll know that I'm a source of love. And they can depend on my name.”
Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium on Thursday 3rd November 2016, tickets from AED225 from Platinumlist. net. Doors open 7pm, show starts 9pm.
THURSDAY - NOVEMBER 3 SCUBA DIVING!
Sister night to Groove on the Grass, Focus is back in action with UK techno stalwart Scuba making his Middle East debut at ON42 at the Media One Hotel on Thursday November 3. The boss man of Hotflush Recordings, home to scenesters like Mount Kimbie, Joy Orbison and Benga, he’s also behind the new Fabric London mix and playing this show to help raise awareness for the club’s closure under the #saveourculture initiative. Support on the night comes from Deian and Maks playing a special back-to-back set, the icing on this forward thinking techno cake. Tickets are AED100 and doors open from 10pm.
THURSDAY - NOVEMBER 3 PLAY TIME!
Infusion Events are back in the game after a summer of planning, and have taken over ultra-cool venue Velocity on Thursday and Friday nights with our Play party. Playing nothing but the funkiest hip hop classics and funk anthems, the music will come courtesy of residents Schooly, Frak Fu and Elaouad, with free entry all night from 10pm. Plus, 30% discount for FACE card holders.
FRIDAY - NOVEMBER 4 BIG FRIDAY FEAT.WITH ERICK MORILLO ONE ONE BIG FRIDAY RETURNS ERICK MORILLO
Once a striding colossus across dance music and head of leading label Subliminal, things started to go downhill very quickly for Erick Morillo due to his drug use. But now clean, he’s back to his best and playing Zero Gravity as part of his comeback tour. Expect deep, tough house music cuts from the US master DJ, and one we’re very glad to see back in action. And as it’s a One Big Friday event, you also get the bonus of seeing Ibiza duo the Mambo Brothers in action, plus A Skillz and Krafty Kuts return with more breakbeat/hip hop/ party tunes than you can shake a glowstick at. Entry is free before 6pm, and AED150 after.
FRIDAY - NOVEMBER 4 NIGHTSWIM FEAT. LEON VYNEHALL, AUDIO TONIC, W HOTEL
One of the most hyped UK DJs and producers at the moment, Audio Tonic have been lucky enough to land this UAE debut as ‘Butterflies’ producer Vynehall drops by to play the Wetdeck at the W Hotel on Friday November 4. With an 8 gig tour of the US proceeding his gig, Vynehall should be nicely warmed up for the UAE crowd – if you’re not aware of him, check out his stunning BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix from earlier this year to here his sultry, eclectic house sounds in action. Entry is free and the party runs from 4pm-2am.
FRIDAY - NOVEMBER 4 ZINC + WOOKIE = SOMETHING BIG!
Since launching 4 years ago, bass night Something Big haven’t disappointed with their line ups which have always edged on the larger side of large. And their 4th birthday on Friday November 4 is more of the same winning formula as they pair up bass warrior DJ Zinc (pictured) and UK Garage act Wookie at their Story Rooftop home, with support from local bass-monger Rutherford. Tickets for this two-pronged bass assault are just AED100 on the door, with doors open from 10pm.
FRIDAY - NOVEMBER 4 BLUE MARLIN’S BIG NOVEMBER LINE UP!
With the perfect beach party weather comes a typically big Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE line up as they kick off with a Used and Abused party on November 4 featuring Locodice and Calloway, before Jackmaster returns on November 11 alongside techno goldenboy Joseph Capriati. Famed German techno night Cocoon then do the honours with Illario Alicante and Markus Fix on November 25 before the really big one – a Circoloco party featuring Jamie Jones, Kerri Chandler and Art Department. Ooft!
GIG GUIDE
Sunstroke feat. Grant Nelson, 360 Funky house outfit Sunstroke return for more vocal house action with regular international guest Grant Nelson heading up the tunes. 4pm-3am, free entry. Nora En Pure, Barasti South African DJ and producer Nora En Pure returns to the UAE for more sun-drenched vocal deep house, this time headlining at Barasti as part of their Sugar Beach parties. 3pm-late, free entry Plus Minus feat. Rodriguez Jnr, ON42 Cool as techno cucumbers night Plus Minus return with a live set from Mobilee Records’ Rodriguez Jnr and his Visualized show. 9pm-3am.
COVER FEATURE
TECHNO
TAKEOVER
AFTER THE HUGE SUCCESS OF THEIR 2015 TAKEOVER, GROOVE ON THE GRASS AND RED BULL MUSIC ACADEMY REUNITE FOR THE SEASON’S SECOND INSTALMENT OF DUBAI’S FAVOURITE HOMEGROWN MUSIC FESTIVAL. AND IT’S A BIGGIE, AS TECHNO GIANTS MAGDA AND DJ HELL ARE PAIRED WITH REGIONAL DEBUTS FOR AGORIA AND MANO LE TOUGH. HERE’S WHAT TO EXPECT ON NOVEMBER 18…
Agoria
Hooked on dance music after hearing Inner City’s ‘Good Life,’ French DJ, producer, festival compere and record label boss Agoria has gone from strength to strength since releasing his first record in 1999. While other French acts like Daft Punk and Justice have mined the disco/ house route, Agoria has always been fiercely loyal to his deep, stripped back, melodic techno sound, and has recently released on cult labels like Innervisions and Kompakt.
Magda
You know you’re doing something very, very right when you’ve compiled mix CDs for Balance and Fabric, remixed Depeche Mode and Plastikman and have up-coming gigs in Italy, Morocco, Holland and Spain before returning to the UAE. Polish born and raised in Detroit, Magda’s first big break came when she was hand-picked to be Richie Hawtin’s warm up act on his tour in 1998, and has since criss-crossed the world with her 80s influenced techno sound, and returns for Groove on the Grass after her 2015 performance.
DJ Hell
Another well established techno veteran, DJ Hell hails from Germany and has been pushing his artistic take on techno for over 3 decades. Known for pulling together disparate corners of the musical universe, his label DeeJay Gigolo has released over 300 records, including tracks from Miss Kittin and Phil Kieran.
Mathias Aguayo
A musical counter point to the firebrand techno of Agoria, Magda and DJ Hell, Kompakt signing Aguayo channels the more melodic and deep end of the musical spectrum. The Chilean-German producer is known for his live vocals and melodic expositions.
Nastia
Dance music backgrounds don’t get much more impressive than helping run Kazantip, a 3 week long party on the Crimean Peninsula that at its peak drew over 100,000 revellers to its all day/night/month parties. Nastia worked behind the scenes – and on the decks – at this cult party for 5 years, forging her own distinctive driving sound before leaving to work at KISS FM Ukraine, one of the most popular FM stations in Europe.
Mano Le Tough
When Tale of Us reworked Mano Le Tough’s ‘Primative People’ into a dark, whirling vortex of moody techno, they unleashed a new genre of music, one that’s been imitated and copied but rarely bettered since that 2014 release. Le Tough, an Irishman who found his musical way through Berlin and now Zurich, is a cult underground figure thanks to his work on Permanent Vacation and Life and Death, and will bring his strong, forward-thinking house and techno sound to the UAE for just the second time. RBMA presents Groove on the Grass, Friday November 18, Emirates Golf Club, 5pm-3am, tickets via Platinumlist
SATURDAY - NOVEMBER 5 KOLOMBO PLAYS URBAN OASIS
Fresh from their successful launch party with Sander Kleinenberg, the UrbanOasis party brunch continues with its strong bookings as Anna Tur (October 29) and Kolombo (November 5) bring their house sounds to Andreea’s at the Habtoor Grand. Doors open at 9am, with the brunch kicking off early afternoon with tapas style sushi and Mediterranean bites brunch just AED295 or AED395 for the Sparkling option. Not only that, but there’ll be live entertainment and percussion throughout the day, Info@andreeas.ae
GIG GUIDE
Paul Woolford, Zero Gravity Zero Gravity’s Saturday pool party goes from strength to strength as Paul Woolford – one of the hottest house producers of the last few years – brings his signature beats to the Marina to close the weekend in style. 4.30pm-late. Boney M, Hard Rock Café Disco legends Boney M play live at Hard Rock Café, running through classic tracks like ‘Daddy Cool’ and ‘Rasputin.’ 7pm, AED195.
DJ ZINC WOOKIE +Local support
Rutherford Friday - 4 - November Story Rooftop Lounge Info: somethingbigdubai@gmail.com
FLASH ANNOUNCE YASALAM DATES
It’s the highlight of the music year for many, with Abu Dhabi becoming party central as dozens of bands, DJs and artists congregate around the Formula 1 circus. And Flash have announced that they’ll again be hosting the Beats on the Beach dates as they take over the Abu Dhabi cornice for 3 nights of music. Featuring a winning mix of local and regional Emirati, Arab, Western and Filipino talent, alongside 3 soon-to-be-announced international acts, they’ll also be presenting the winner of the Emerging Talent Competition on stage. www.yasalam.ae
GUNS’N’ROSES PLAY DUBAI!
It’s the news rockers in the Middle East were waiting for – reformed rock band Guns’n’Roses have confirmed that they’re coming to Dubai to play the Autism Rocks arena on March 3. With Slash and Axl back in the groove after 23 years of hurt, they’ll be running through classics like ‘November Rain’ and ‘Sweet Child O’Mine’ infront of 30,000 fans. Pre-registration for tickets via www.117live. com.
ON THE RADAR
NOVEMBER 10
NOVEMBER 11
DECIBEL FEAT. MATT SASSARI ON42
NIGHTSWIM FEAT. M.A.N.D.Y AUDIO TONIC, W Hotel
NOVEMBER 11
NOVEMBER 12
SENSATION Bab Al Shams
NOVEMBER 11
PARTY IN THE PARK FEAT. KAISER CHIEFS
Media City
NOVEMBER 11 JOSEPH CAPRIATI Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE
MIGUEL CAMPBELL Zero Gravity
NOVEMBER 12
CUTS ABOVE FEAT. BILL BREWSTER Tamanya Terrace
NOVEMBER 17
PENDULUM DJ SET Nasimi Full Moon Party
ON THE RADAR
NOVEMBER 18
GROOVE ON THE GRASS FEAT. MAGDA
Emirates Golf Course
NOVEMBER 18 CLAPTONE Zero Gravity
NOVEMBER 18-19
NOVEMBER 24 EZ Zero Gravity
NOVEMBER 25
CIRCOLOCO FEAT. JAMIE JONES Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE
NOVEMBER 25
SOLE DXB FEAT. SKEPTA, DAM FUNK AND MORE
D3
CHEMICAL BROTHERS du Arena Yas Island
NOVEMBER 24
NOVEMBER 26
THE STRANGLERS Irish Village
LIONEL RICHIE du Arena Yas Island
LOCO DICE CALEB CALLOWAY
NOVEMBER
04 2016
USED + ABUSED
Soundstage BIG HASS Renowned hip hop radio host Big Hass behind Saudi’s first ever urban show talks us through his love of jazz, Michael Jackson and interviewing LL Cool J
My first musical influence was… John Coltrane. I was born and raised in Saudi with no knowledge about music, then we moved to Sharjah and this is when I fell in love with music and basketball. I heard a lot of music but when I heard “Blue Train” by Coltrane, I was immediately sucked in to that culture and from there the rest is history… The last pop star I liked was… The King, Michael Jackson. It wouldn’t be fair not to say him, he was someone that impacted a lot of people. Michael is a reason why a lot of artists see the light and for that I love him! My sound is best described as… Dedicated. I have been dedicated to my craft, been dedicated to showing the true essence of Hip Hop culture, been dedicated to supporting local talent and proving they can get air play on the radio. Best piece of advice you’ve received? Be Real. Being real means staying true to your own beliefs. No matter what, going against the current if need be. I do it but reminding myself that I have a platform and a responsibility to use my platform to enhance the youth and make a positive impact on the society and my community. Best gig you’ve played? Interviewing LL Cool J was a highlight! He said during our interview “thank you for welcoming me into your culture, as a leader in my culture, I am honored to connect with you and learn more about your culture.” What stands out was that he is a leader and a hardcore rapper and he gave me respect which is something local artists don’t sometime do. So he gave credit where credit is duo and that’s dope. The best band in Dubai is… Abri & The Funk Radius. My musical motto is… Be authentic. Best lyrics of all time? “I belong to my name, thats the only set I claim, I ain’t bothered by the politics of fame,” Oddisee. revoltradio.blogspot.ae
Meet the GM! In the second of our new series looking behind the scenes at some of the city’s longest running clubs, we get up close and personal with Richard Jenman, the GM of Cirque Le Soir.
What were your previous jobs? Having worked in Hospitality for so long, I’ve pretty much done every role and job within it from the ground up… What does being GM of a nightclub entail on a day to day basis? Lots of messages, phone calls, meetings, loud music and lack of sleep. What changes have you brought into the club during your career?
I designed and oversaw a complete venue refurbishment and sound upgrade as well as introduced regular international DJ Talent into the Cirque Dubai offering to name a few. And what changes have you seen in Dubai’s club scene in recent times? There are certainly more clubs around, which in turn has led to a more competitive nature between us all. I don’t particularly think this is a bad thing as it keeps us all on our toes and ultimately ensures we all strive to offer the best product to our guests. How hard is it to stay relevant in the UAE club market with so much competition? It’s always been hard, it’s the nature of the industry and it will never change. There are always going to be winners and losers. If you have your strategy and the right team in place you’ll stay ahead.
How much of your clientele is repeat custom, and how much is made up of tourists? It’s hard to say, we’re fortunate enough to have a large amount of loyal regulars and repeat guests as well as tourist visitors. What’s your busiest night of the week? Monday’s award winning HipHop Chic is our most popular night, but CARTEL on a Wednesday is not far behind. And who’s your favourite circus entertainer? We have an incredibly talented team of performers, from giants, midgets, clowns, contortionists and dancers - our Legendary Ringmaster has been one of the longest running entertainers and he really gets the crowd going! I don’t have favourites but he is part of the furniture!
What’s your musical mandate? Play what the people want and ensure they come back for more. And how effective are international DJs to your club, or do home-grown DJs work just as well? We’ve been very selective with our international DJs and they’ve all done really well for us, equally there are some home grown names that hit the mark too. How do you market yourself in 2016 – how important are print, radio and online and how do you utilize them? Our campaigns are visually stunning and look fantastic in print, but we are selective about where we advertise to target the right audience. In my opinion, within this industry, the best way to market a brand is via social media, it allows customers to be more interactive with the brand. Our Social media page grows daily and we are very current in the market with our posts. If something is trending, we will jump on it and incorporate the Cirque brand somehow. Cirque Le Soir, Fairmont Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road, 050 995 5400 facebook.com/ CirqueLeSoirDubai/
TECH TALK Bose QuietComfort 35
Bose Quiet comfort 35 headphones. That’s exactly what they are, quiet and comfortable. It only takes a few minutes to understand why these headphones are among the best on the market when it
comes to noise cancelling and comfort. You can easily wear them all day without any fatigue or discomfort. They engulf your ear and enclose you in a sound bubble as soon as you switch them on. Don’t be surprised if co-workers start dancing to get your attention because words/ speech simply won’t go through. The sound is clear yet the bass is subtle, not overpowering like some other brands. Some have described the design to be a bit bland, but we like it as the matte black finish makes it look classic and timeless. It’s lightweight and sturdy which you’d expect from a high-quality brand. The battery life is quite impressive when running on Bluetooth. Should you test the limits and run out though, you can still use them plugged in with the old fashion jack. The headphones come with every option you can think of: carry case, airplane jack, regular audio cable, USB cable (although it is extremely short and can make it awkward to re-charge depending on where you plug it in). They even thought of NFC devices for easy pairing. These lovely headphones will set you back 1,449 AED which is not necessarily cheap, but quality comes at a price.
DJ BOOTH: CN WILLIAMS
Tribeca resident and globetrotting DJ, producer and record label owner CN Williams – or Clifford to his Mum – talks us through his impressive DJ career One thing you might not know about me is... That I’m founder and owner of the ‘Reel House Group’ and was also the marketing manager for NSYNC, R Kelly, Britney Spears, Steps , De La Soul , Justin Timberlake, Backstreet Boys, A Tribe Called Quest, as well as releasing independent records such as ‘It’s a London Thang’, Sweet Like Chocolate, and a whole heap of now 90s classics!
My worst ever job was… I’ve had a string of bad jobs in my youth but the worst job by far, although it was to help me finance and open my first record shop, was working on a building site as a roof tiler, which was hard graft even at such a young age! DJing is much like... Telling a story, one of those stories you never want to end, to create and set the atmosphere whilst bringing people together. Dubai’s clubbing scene is... One of the best in the world! I have travelled a lot as a DJ and also ultimately as a clubber and there is nowhere else that every single night of the week the city comes alive and caters for every musical taste with such a strong set of loyal clubbers. Dubai hits that No.1 spot! I’m really proud of... I’m really proud of both my residencies here in Dubai, Tribeca and 360, and extremely proud of the awards we have picked up in such a short time. My biggest DJ achievement to date is... I will never forget playing at Escape Festival in Wales, UK between Graeme Park and Erick Morillo to a ten thousand people arena, and seeing my Mum and Aunt front and centre with their hands in the air! What is your guiltiest pleasure? Well it has to be my obsession with Disco, credible or cheesy I love it all, from collecting the Sal Soul and West End records catalogues to blasting Anita Ward early Sunday morning. If you could DJ in any decade which would it be... For me it would have to be the seventies with the explosion of the DJ as an art form, the New York block parties with DJ Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash to early House / Disco clubs such as Paradise Garage, Warehouse and Studio 54. If I could go back-to-back with any other DJ it would be... Franke Knuckles! I’m not one to do back to back sets as I feel you have to have a certain je ne sais quoi, although I do have this with Jack Woodcock here in Dubai and you catch us back to back some Saturdays at 360! I’m not a politician but… If House is a nation I want to be president!
soundcloud.com/cnwilliams
THE SPIN OCTOBER 2016
PAGE 217
ISSUE 48
EMIRATES FIRST AIRLINE TO HAVE IN-FLIGHT DJS
Leaders of the aviation community, Emirates have once more led the way and will now be boasting in-flight DJ sets from some of the world’s finest spinners. Hosted in the First Class bar, flyers will be able to relax to the soothing house, EDM and techno sounds mixed by some of the world’s finest. DJs including Aeroplane, Above and Beyond and Flight Facilities have been tipped as early DJ headliners. But some have criticized the plan, claiming on long haul flights at altitude there could be a distinct ‘lack of atmosphere for the DJs.’ Emirates spokesman Ray Von, however, said the move would ‘allow them to cash in on the DJ and dance music craze,’ and that they’d ‘already approached Jennifer Aniston and David Guetta to appear in a promotional video.’ *These stories are not true, this is not a real newspaper. This is a parody/fiction/satire/joke. The Spin is not intended, in any way whatsoever, to be taken as factual.
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Weird News WHEN WILL I BE FAMOUS? How to become famous in 2016 and bag your own record deal? Well, if you’re an 80 year old Grandpa, get your video of you doing carpool karaoke to go viral (we’re talking 40 million views viral) and you too could be getting a record deal. Former entertainer Ted McDermott, who suffers from severe dementia, had his cover of Frank Sinatra’s ‘You Make Me Feel So Young’ signed up with the AED500,000 proceeds being donated to the Alzheimer’s society.
HEADLINE OF THE WEEK Sad Animal Facts: Mice can sense sadness in other mice, gorillas get colds and zebras can’t sleep alone Apparently, all true according to a new book on animal facts
DIG YOUR OWN HOLE If ever there was an argument not to listen to the voices in your head, it’s this man. After apparently getting a vision from God 18 years ago, he’s since dug the same hole every day, starting his excavation in El Salvador at 3am each morning as he digs out 90 pounds of rock, stones and debris. We’re betting he’s set up a luxury man cage at the end of the tunnel with a beer fridge, HDTV and a table football…
Mick Ferry
Dave Fulton
Wed 9 Nov Thu 10 Nov Fri 11 Nov Mon 14 Nov Tue 15 Nov Wed 16 Nov Thu 17 Nov
8pm
Ticket AED 140 / QR 140. Over 21’s Only
Alistair Barrie
Buy your tickets now !
www.thelaughterfactory.com call : +971 50 8786 728
Infusion’s Cryptic Crossword
Our annual Crossword returns, can you decipher these DXB DJs, clubs and club nights?
Across 7
Happiest hip hop DJ in Dubai
9
Weightless clubbing
11 Where Batman and Robin go clubbing 13 Mote-ly crew 14 A covert night with no end 15 Never second best urban night
Down 1
Low end 9-5 with a kiss
2
Refreshment for your ears
3
Party at a disobedient domicile
4
Loud Iberian DJs
5
Pac-Man not in Mono
6
The 747 of funky house Djs
8
Dance music equation
10 The opposite of black 12 Techno DJ who doesn’t O U anything
9
4
15
2
1
14 5
6
11 7 3
12 10
13 8
Across: 7 DJ Bliss, 9 Zero Gravity, 11 Superheroes, 13 DUST, 14 Secret Circle, 15 No.1 Fridays Down: 1 Bassworx, 2 audio tonic, 3 Bad House Party, 4 Decibel, 5 Stereo Arcade, 6 Jon Besant, 8 Plus Minus, 10 White, 12 Deian
What we ate
BLUES BRUNCH @ FIREBIRD
The Four Seasons DIFC recently launched their Thursday evening, blues-themed brunch (complete with swing band!), in their celebrity chef-endorsed diner “Firebird”. The wife and I put on our dancing shoes and headed over to bust out our best Vincent Vega and Mia moves. The restaurant definitely has the traditional diner vibe – tiled flooring, red, white and chrome furniture, plenty of booths (albeit with the typical Four Seasons sheen), all which are complimented nicely by funky car sculptures sticking out from the wall and a terrace complete with vintage jukebox. The menu is a sharing concept, with each couple selecting 3 appetizers, 3 mains and a selection of desserts to finish. The food absolutely hit the brief when it comes to diner food; ribs, wings and sliders all feature with the odd surprise that’s to be expected from a Michelin-starred chef, such as the fois gras doughnuts. The band were pleasant, but not quite as swinging as I’d have hoped for (how can a swing band not have a drummer!), the service was a little sluggish and some of the dishes arrived cold, but I put it down to “first night nerves”. With its prime location in the heart of DIFC, I expect it to be a very popular destination for workers to let their hair down after a hard week’s work. Dan Fahy
JW MARRIOT T® MARQUIS DUBAI
Italian Festivities
at the world’s tallest hotel. Experience authentic tastes of Italy at JW Marriott Marquis Dubai throughout the month of November. ITALIAN SUMMIT GALA RECEPTION - 12 NOVEMBER MICHELIN STAR GUEST CHEF MARIA GRAZIA SONCINI SATURDAY FAMILY LUNCH AT POSITANO WHITE AND BLACK TRUFFLE MENU AT POSITANO OUTDOOR BBQ AT POSITANO For more information call +971 4 414 3000 or email jwmmrr@marriott.com
JW Marriott Marquis Dubai | Sheikh Zayed Road, Business Bay T +971 4 414 0000 | jwmarriottmarquisdubailife.com
OKTOBERFEST @ DUBAI SPORTS CITY
It’s often quite rare that you go to an event in Dubai and feel that there has been a real, visible improvement, but fortunately, our most recent visit to Sports City’s interpretation of the famed German festival, Oktoberfest, did provide that. This year was my second visit to the Sports City indoor arena in my attempt to scout out some quality beer, tasty sausages (easy, boys) and swanky lederhosen. There’s not much that you actually need to advertise when those three things are on the menu, and it was pretty clear just by how packed it was. I arrived at about 9pm and the venue was already
busy (and looked like it had been for a while too) and Oktoberfest truly is an event where ‘the more, the merrier’ is 100% true. The band were in full swing and the long benches were buckling under pressure. Although the ticketing and money counter flow could have been better, simply using half of the full size of the arena made a huge difference. The atmosphere and entertainment was crammed into a smaller area (still pretty big, hosting what must have been about 3,000 people) and the result was clear. By the time I left at 1am (3 hours later than planned) the dancefloor was still busy and last orders weren’t even close. See you next year! Prost! Sam Moult
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LOTS LOTS OF OF SPECIAL SPECIAL OFFERS OFFERS AND AND GIVEAWAYS GIVEAWAYS IN-STORE IN-STORE
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Eat Sleep Rave Repeat
Stephen Day dons his best Prohibition pinstripe suit and heads Downtown to try out hyped 1920s themed restaurant Rogue Trader There once was a time when Dubai Marina was ‘it’ for food, you were spoilt for choice, and you could literally wander in any direction and stumble upon greatness. But the real action is going on midtown in DIFC. Perched on the first floor of the Al Fattan Currency House sits Rogue Trader. With its inviting doors and décor, it takes you back to a time when alcohol was illegal and it feels a little naughty even being in there. For the history-deficient, ‘prohibition’ was a time in American history when alcohol was illegal and back street bars and illicit drinking dens were the only way to have a cheeky tipple. The closest you will get in this country is a night in Sharjah… Themed around the 1920s, it’s fitting that the front of house is dressed appropriately as are the various themed nights of the week they host, including Rita & The Rogues singing on
a Tuesday. But we are not here for the music, we are here to be fed. We got seated in a booth at the edge of the action: a great spot to take the whole experience in whist knocking back some mighty fine cocktails and perusing the menu. We chose a selection of dishes from the varied menu, hoping to represent the whole ethos of the place. We opened light with some creamy guacamole and dipping crisps which snapped perfectly as the prawn tortellini arrived. It was a delicate pasta, full of prawn flavour and contained a masterful level of spice that just coated my palette without burning - a great start. The truffle fries and parmesan
were a sight for sore eyes and promptly devoured. A Cauliflower risotto followed next. It was lovey and light, rich yet simple, with its al dente rice base and roasted white florets packing a punch. We moved onto more traditional mains. The duck and pear was ok (the duck was a little bit chewy) but the accompanying duck meat bao saved it, just a plate of these would have been perfectly acceptable. Then the highlight of the meal arrived, BBQ welsh lamb. A firm favourite according to our waitress, it was a tender to the touch rack, Indian spiced with aloo gobi, chat masala & onion bhaji along side.
After a couple of glasses of wine, it was time for the dessert. A so so lemon and lime tart was soon left for something rather unusual, tasty and very interesting. Now this may not be to everyone’s taste: a Roquefort cheesecake. I found it delightful, gooey and fresh as you would expect, but there was an underlying hit of salty cheese with every bite. I’ve never had one before but for me it was a perfect way to end the meal. If you live or work in DIFC then eating at Rogue Trader is a nobrainer. If you live anywhere far away, it’s worth the venture out, there is enough on the menu to keep you busy and the level of cooking is impressive. Plus, if they’re brave enough (in a good way) to put that cheesecake on the menu, they are definitely worth your time and effort.
R Trader, Al Fattan Currency House, DIFC, 04 343 5518 facebook.com/rtraderdubai
Restaurant news HARVESTFEST RETURNS @ REFORM
Infusion favourite Reform are once again hosting their HarvestFest weekender from Thursday October 27-Saturday October 29. The Lakes Club event will showcase over 40 different beers and ciders from across the world, alongside a live BBQ, live music from Tim Hassall and a DJ broadcast by the Dubai 92 crew. Tickets are AED50 and the fun runs from 5-10pm on Thursday and 2-10pm on Friday and Saturday, with drink vouchers AED225 for five and AED380 for ten.
TRIBECA LAUNCH THURSDAY NIGHT TAPAS AND DRINKS OFFER
Cool JBR hangout Tribeca have launched a new Thursday night offer that will take some beating – AED129 for unlimited Prosecco, beer and vodka and tapas from 5-8pm. Plus, you get to enjoy the funky, classic house sounds of DJs Jon Besant, Leon Knight and CN Williams.
BRUNCH IT UP @ MISS LILY’S DUBAI
Combining inventive twists on traditional dishes and cocktails, Miss Lily’s Caribbean restaurant have launched a Saturday brunch running from 12-5pm. Located in the Sheraton Grand Hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road, the brunch has a ska and reggae soundtrack and features classic dishes from the New York original restaurant including Fried Chicken & Waffles with jerk maple syrup and whipped butter; Jamaican Rancheros with a sunny side egg, stewed peas, crispy plantains and scotch bonnet sauce and the worldfamous Coconut Pancakes with shaved sweet coconut, maple syrup and blueberries.
Tis the season… The season in Dubai has officially started! How do I know? It’s not the ‘Season Opening’ flyers that are being shared, boosted, messaged, posted and shoved down my throat nor is it the ‘4’ notifications on Facebook every morning from Valentina Sparta Club or Olga Mahoki inviting me to their Wednesday night cocktail party… it’s the guest list requests. Having been a Monkey in the clubbing industry for some time now people know that I’m the ‘primate in his prime’ and can probably get free entry to most venues and events in town. Usually I don’t mind helping one or two friends out but when you and your posse want to ‘turn up’ because it’s ‘gonna be lit’ or whatever you want to call it, then know you’re one evolutionary leap below primordial ooze. Oh, and guest list doesn’t get you what you think it gets you. 9 times out of 10 it literally only gets you into the event for free. It does NOT include free drinks all night, first-name-basis with the celebrity DJ in town or the attention of any of the ladies that might happen to be there. There are some things you can get for free, others you’ve got to work for.
Monkey Out... The Angry Monkeys’ views are his own, and don’t necessarily reflect the views of Infusion Magazine.
Halloween weekend
FRIday 28 part 1I
Turntable Killer
saturday 29 part 1II