START YOUR ENGINES! STEVE LAWLER, NIC FANCIULLI, T-PAIN, FUTURE AND MORE PLAY THE F1 AFTER PARTIES! Sensation • DJ Bliss • Groove On The Grass DXBeach • Analog Room 4th Birthday Sole DXB • Pendulum • DJ Flippside • Be
MUSIC
•
PEOPLE
•
LIFE
@SOLEDXB #SOLEDXB
CODE PRESENTS
THURSDAY 10/11
THURSDAY 17/11
DJ SPINKING
J HUS
DJ BROOKLYN DJ ADAM J
DJ DANIEL DJ BROOKLYN DJ ADAM J
+971 4 888 3308 | +971 50 738 1388 ARMANI HOTEL DUBAI | BURJ KHALIFA | UAE
WE LOVE Red Bull Music Academy
Dâm-Funk , Gilles Peterson, Jamie Woon, Nicolas Jaar, Joe Claussell, Tiger & Woods, Oddisee, Derrick May, Kenny Dope and many, many more – not only are they some seriously cult names in the world of music, they’ve all played in the UAE thanks to the sterling efforts of Red Bull Music Academy. Given pretty much unlimited funds thanks to the ravenous Red Bull drinkers around the world, they’ve spent their money wisely, teaming up with local promoters and venues to bring forwardthinking artists and DJs to the region. They’ve teamed up with Groove on the Grass again for their next party on November 18, with techno legends DJ Hell, Magda, Agoria, Mano Le Tough, Nastia and Mattas Aguayo on the line up. Ours is a sugar free, thanks!
TALAL BUDEBS Publisher CHARL CHAKA Managing Partner charlchaka@infusion.ae FRAK FU Sales/marketing sales@infusion.ae ANDY BUCHAN Editor andy@infusion.ae PAULA MANGUEIRA Design design@infusion.ae SONIA IGNACIO Operations operations@infusion.ae CONTRIBUTORS: Tara Ellis, Neil Henderson, Dan Fahy, Ginger S, Tim Woodstock, Natalie Brogan, Sarah Abel V, Nicole Van Wyk, Grace Bright INFUSION IS PUBLISHED BY Milehigh Media, LLC PO Box 53443 – Dubai, UAE Tel/Fax: 04 368 8098 infusionmag infusionmagazine infusionmagazine
We LOVE the all new, all dancing Dance FM, an all dance music dedicated FM channel just launched in Dubai on 97.8. Check out our next issue for the full run down!
Rejoice! Free parking has returned to Barasti – just need to remember to get our car from there the next day now…
Happy days Infusion fans – we’re again stocked in Virgin Megastores, so you can now pick up your copy every 2 weeks from the region’s stores.
GUEST LIST BLACK LIST Quiet nightclubs. Nothing more soul destroying than walking into a venue at midnight only to find bar staff outnumbering clubbers.
OUR PARTNERS Rude people. Ain’t no one got time for you. And Z-list celebs flouting around Dubai like it’s the new Marbella. Jog on, sunshine.
Facebook mass taggers. There’s a seat upstairs when you’re finished next to Hitler and David Guetta...
Say What? OLD JOKES HOME
What is a duck’s favourite drug? Quack RUMOURS
Stacey Pullen is one of the DJ talents lined up for Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE’s NYE party.
David August is coming back to town in December for another live show. White Dubai have launched their new EDM night White Noise, with Dannic and Armin Van Buuren coming over this December.
Joris Voorn has been confirmed to play at Provocateur on December 30 for those that want to go out the night before.
DANCEFLOOR DICTIONARY
Glory hunter n. A DJ who, when playing back-to-back, or coming on after another DJ, will happily take the credit for, or start showboating over, a track he didn’t put on.
What we did
DXBEACH FEAT. FATBOY SLIM @ ZERO GRAVITY
A 15 hour dance festival with sun, sand, pool lounging, bars, indoor hip-hop sessions, a high energy mainstage line up with brilliant visuals (kudos VJ Cold Fusion!) and a crowd on fire, this was a fantastic welcome to event season after the dreary summer months. Warm-up on the night included Zero Gravity residents Jon Besant and Chris Wright, with Zero 7 in charge of a smooth sunset session. Next up was Benny Benassi who, for a DJ dishing out some of the most electric, heart thumping sounds, was arguably the most ‘zen’ looking EDM DJ ever – like, were his headphones even hooked up to the same channel he was playing? Awesome! Headliner Fatboy Slim, armed with not one but two air horns, came in with a bang and continued to kill it for a good almost 2 hour set with revelers eating up every ounce of his manic energy, his classics and up-to-date mixes. Producer MK was hot on his heels keeping up the tempo, but cooling it down a notch as did Arcade 82 bringing the night to a very satisfied close. Words by Sarah Abel V Up next: DXBeach feat. Nicky Romero, Claptone, November 18
I LOVE 80S @ SHO CHO
80s nights are synonymous with raucous crowds, crass decor and cheesy hits. Right? Wrong. Sho Cho gave us vintage 80s for sophisticated urbanites. If you’re looking to dance the week away with shots, sushi and lively people, then you’ve found your haven. Tucked away incongruously at the back of Dubai Marine, Sho Cho is charming, stylish and elegant. Amongst the polished backdrop and party atmosphere was an assortment of music styles at the ‘I Love 80s’ opening: Rihanna mixed with Bon Jovi was a surprisingly enthralling twist. The food was delicious; contemporary Japanese cuisine that was perfect to share and easy to eat. With a pleasing drinks and cocktails menu at an affordable price, it doesn’t matter that service might be a tad slow - just see it as a sign of its booming popularity. You know you’re in the right place when even the people around the tables are dancing. As 3am approached and the night ended, the venue remained just as busy, a sure sign that the eclectic amalgamation of tunes worked wonders. Sho Cho might have fallen under the radar in recent years but it’s certainly back with a vengeance. Words by Grace Bright
What we did
LA CALA OPENING NIGHT
Opening another beach club next to the hugely popular Blue Marlin could have been a risk but La Cala was one well worth taking! Overlooking the waters leading to the Arabian Gulf we instantly felt like we were far from the hustle of the usual Dubai nightspots. Created by the teams behind The Scene and R Trader we knew it would be something special. Warm up DJ Andy Greaves was spot on with an eclectic mix of beach house, before Ibiza legend Alfredo upped the tempo and even brought a box of vinly with him. Track of the night was the Mousse T remix of Moloko’s ‘Sing It Back,’ which had the everyone up and dancing. The Balearic vibe and our La Cala special cocktails along with the open-plan kitchen and stone-baked sourdough pizzas left us mentioning we ‘felt like we were in Ibiza!’ more times than we can remember! We hear they are launching a Friday and Saturday brunch soon so we will definitely be back after a very solid launch party. Words by Natalie Brogan
Photo credit: Neil Henderson
HERNAN CATTANEO @ BACK2BASICS
XL LOCO BRUNCH @ XL BEACH CLUB
BE FEAT. DELANO SMITH @ DIMC
My Music – Matt Sassari Decibel return to ON42 for another night of slamming house and techno with French DJ Matt Sassari in charge of the tunes on Thursday November 10. We had a quick rifle through his record collection The track I’m most proud of making is… Matt Sassari – ‘Pushin’. I love the mix between the groove and the vocal. The track I wish I’d made was Trickski ‘Good Time To Pray’ (Axel Boman Remix). The track is complete nothing to add and nothing to delete. Perfect track! The first track I DJ’d with was Benny Bennassi’s ‘Satisfaction,’ haha! I was 10 years old and I practiced the mix at a friend’s birthday. The song that always makes me cry is ‘Tourist - I can’t keep Up’ The track I’d play at my wedding would be Paul Kalkbrenner ‘Sky and sand’ It has so many good memories with my girlfriend. The last track I made was Matt Sassari ‘Ipon.’ This is a special track for Dense and Pika’s label and it sound amazing. The track I like to finish sets with is Dennis Ferrer ‘Right Thing’. It’s a powerful track with a beautiful vocal that’s perfect to finish the set. Decibel feat. Matt Sassari, ON42, November 10, 10pm-3am
ANALOG ROOM TURNS 4!
Big news from the Analog Room team, the most dedicated underground night in the city – not only are they celebrating their 4th birthday, they’ve got a new home for the season as they’re taking over the Dubai International Marine Club from November 10 for their weekly parties. Dutch duo Dekmantel Soundsystem, fresh from another hugely successful 4 day Dekmantel techno festival, take over on November 10 from start to finish, while Analog Room regular Move D returns with Sonja Moonear for the actual birthday on November 17. Register via analogroom.com for limited free passes for November 10, with tickets AED120 for November 17.
fr
YASALAM PRESENTS
ee
ev
en
t
LAGOON BEACH, ABU DHABI CORNICHE
th u 24 nov YENG CONSTANTINO shamma Hamdan
S.O.S. Emerging Talent Competition finale
fr i 25 n ov Sean Paul Adham Nabulsi THE5 ESTHER EDEN
sat 26 n ov NANCY AJRAM
BULL FUNK ZOO Emerging Talent Competition Winner
MORE ARTISTS TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON
The season’s unmissable festival yasalam.ae
PRODUCED BY
MAGAZINE PARTNER
RADIO PARTNER
NEWSPAPER PARTNER
TV PARTNER
ONLINE PARTNER
MALL PARTNER
THE RETURN OF THE ITALIAN TECHNO STALLION!
Having made the leap from one of the scene’s up-and-comers to a true leading man in the techno world, Joseph Capriati returns for another set of propulsive house and techno at Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE on Friday November 11. He’s joined by another returning Blue Marlin hero as the seriously talented Scottish DJ Jackmaster dishes out more leftfield electronic goodness.
M.A.N.D.Y RETURN TO DUBAI
Long-running house night audio tonic turn up the heat this November with their biggest booking for months as German house and techno DJs M.A.N.D.Y make their debut at the W Hotel’s Wet Deck on Friday November 11. Perennial favourites in the city, expect this party to be the biggest yet for audio tonic as they settle into their stunning new home next to the Dubai canal. KAISER CHIEFS IN THE PARK
NIGHT VIBES FT. WAKE ISLAND
Returning for its third year running, Party in the Park have gone full indie this year, with the Charlatans and Travis supporting the Kaiser Chiefs. House heads meanwhile should check out the Hype Club house for an all day line up of beats, breakdancing and more. November 11, 2pm-midnight, AED295 early bird.
Wake Island is a Lebanese live duo blending indie rock and house music influences to create an uplifting, eclectic selection of tracks. November 11, 6pm-2am, tickets from AED50 at Tamanya Terrace.
MIGUEL CAMPBELL, ZERO GRAVITY
Another excellent booking from the Supernatural team as UK house champion Miguel Campbell returns to soundtrack the sunset over Dubai Marina. November 12, 4pm-late. Free entry to Zero Gravity garden.
LAST NIGHT A DJ SAVED MY LIFE!
A bold – and very, very cool move – Cuts Above have gone international and booked DJ/writer/author/all round DJ dude Bill Brewster for their November 12 party at the Tamanya Terrace. The author behind two of our favourite books of all time, including the legendary tome Last Night A DJ Saved My Life, he’s been documenting the DJ scene for decades as well as dropping seriously fun disco mixes for promoters across the globe. Support comes from Infusion favourite Conan Liquid. Tamanya Terrace, 2pm-late, free entry.
WET AND WILD, BARASTI
Another all day beach party at Barasti, with Dutch house and electro DJ Chuckie joined by Infusion favourites Hollaphonic. November 12 12pm late, free.
DREAMCATCHER AT MUSIC ROOM
Luxembourg band Dreamcatcher bring their Celtic-Pop to the UAE having previously played alongside Michael Jackson, Bon Jovi and Counting Crows. November16, 6pm, AED50 including 1 drink. CARTEL FEAT. DJ YELLA, CIRQUE LE SOIR
DJ Yella of NWA fame takes control of this popular mid-week night, with free drinks for ladies until 1am.November16, 10pm-3am.
PENDULUM DJ SET, NASIMI FULL MOON PARTY
Drum and Bass big hitters Pendulum bring their sizeable beats and bass to Nasimi for their Full Moon Party, with support coming from David De Luca and Dane Bowers. November 17, 7pm-3am.
GLOBALFUNK VS BASSWORX, CASA LATINA
The city’s two DnB heavyweights combine again, with UK DJ Digital joined by Mach 4, Woodle and Sya One. November 17, 9pm-2.45am, free before midnight, AED50 after including 1 drink.
GROOVING ON THE GRASS....
LOS SURUBA, PROVOCATEUR
Red Bull have teamed up with Groove on the Grass again for a big 6 DJ line up including DJ Hell, Magda, Mano Le Tough and Agoria. Nov 18, 5pm-2am, tickets from Platinumlist.net.
Signed to Get Physical and Defected, Spanish tech-house champions Los Suruba return to the UAE for another partystarting set (Suruba does mean orgy in Portuguese, after all!). Nov 18, 10pm-3am. NIGHT VIBES FT. DINKY
COCOON AT BLUE MARLIN
Sven Vath’s infamous techno label return for another night of future beats at Blue Marlin, with Illario Alicante and Markus Fix on DJ duties. Nov 18,11am-late.
Classically trained guitarist turned DJ and producer DINKY headlines the ever popular Night Vibes for a night of house and techno. Nov 18, 6pm-2am, tickets from AED50 at Tamanya Terrace
FRIDAY 25TH NOVEMBER SPECIAL GUEST:
COLIN FRANCIS AFTER PARTY WITH:
HISTORY
AFTER AFTER PARTY
ALEX P BRANDON BLOCK AND K KLASS FOR INFO/TICKETS CHRIS 00971568957531 GEORGINA 00971502682403
FRIDAY 25TH NOVEMBER
12PMM4PM SIN BRUNCH UNLIMITED FOOD AND DRINK S HOUSE SPIRITS/WINE/BEERR GUE S T DJS CHRIS WRIGHT, BILLIE CLEMENTS , DANE BOWER S , JON BE SANT
4PMM7PM SPECIAL GUE ST COLIN FR ANCIS 8PMM11PM F1 CONCERT AF TERPART Y
DXBEACH CLAPTONE, ZERO GRAVITY
It’s another mammoth line up at Zero Gravity as DXBeach returns, with EDM kingpin Nicky Romero joined by Felix Jaehn, house hero Claptone as well as live sax from Lovely Laura and her DJ husband Ben Santiago. November 18, 12pm-3am, early bird tickets AED225.
SOLE DXB FEAT. SKEPTA, DAM FUNK AND MORE, D3
Day one of the street and trainer festival sees Little Simz, Dâm- Funk and BJ Chicago Kid play live. 2pm-late. November 18 The last day of the street and sneaker festival, with grime star Skepta the big name alongside an after party from hip hop DJs Stretch Armstrong and Clark Kent. 2pm-late. November 19
DJ BLISS – TOP 5 TUNES The renowned Urban DJ talks us through his Top 5 tunes that are currently working at new canalside hotspot BOA at the W Dubai, Al Habtoor City DJ Snake - Get Low His track works great because the entire light rig of the club comes all the way down and looks fantastic Beyoncé - Partition Always a winner for the girls and BOA has a big stage and cat walk for the dancers so it really works. Any Beyoncé, actually. Drake - One Dance Probably one of the best songs out this year and a great song to dance and sing to. Kanye West - Fade Just because it’s Kanye and my favourite song out right now. Tupack/Biggie/Snoop 1 or 2 old school hip hop tracks always work as the crowd love to hear a throwback. Bling Friday runs every Friday at BOA, Level 33 of the W Dubai, Al Habtoor City
A quick word with…
Sunnery James and
Ryan Marciano The two Dutch EDM stars talk to Infusion’s Sam Moult about their ‘sexy tribal sound,’ hair products and collaborating with Carl Cox… You’re known for producing energetic music and playing upbeat sets. Where does your style of music come from? We just try to create tracks and play sets that we love. That is how we stay passionate and keep the positive vibes up. If one day we wake up and don’t feel like making this style of music anymore, we will just evolve from that and try other things, but so far our sexy tribal house style is still working for us!
Travelling the world and playing lots of shows can become tiring, how do you keep your sets entertaining not just for the crowd, but also for yourselves? Playing many shows can indeed be tiring sometimes, but luckily we have awesome fans that are always full of energy and we really feed from that! To keep it entertaining we really try to add a different vibe or different influences to every set we play. By committing to this we challenge ourselves as well! If you could collaborate with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why? It would really be sick to head into the studio with Ibiza legend Carl Cox. But then again, if Kanye West or Jay-Z would walk into our studio we wouldn’t say no either! You’re playing at Sensation, one of the world’s biggest festivals. Do you prefer festivals or clubs and why? Both kinds of venues have their own charm. At clubs the vibe can be more intimate and personal and you can try deeper, newer things that you might not be able to try out at a festival. At festivals you have to go all out because you are tasked with creating a much larger and wilder vibe. People come over from all over the world and you have to make your set memorable. We don’t prefer one over the other, but they definitely are different. What is something we might not know about you? That in the beginning we actually called ourselves RM&SJ. Eventually we turned it around because we found out that there was some kind of Dutch hip hop group with the same name. When you go on tour, what’s in your suitcase? Our suitcases are not as interesting as you might think! When on tour we’re so busy that we don’t need a lot of extra stuff besides clothes, shoes, toiletries… oh and of course Ryan’s hair products. Can’t forget those! Some people might put you in the ‘mainstream’ category and see that as a negative thing. How would you categorize yourselves and what would you say to those that see it as a bad thing? To us it doesn’t really matter whether people think we are mainstream or not. At the end of the day we are doing what we love, we’re making music that we love, and we are making a lot of people happy with that music. That’s all that matters! Sensation, Friday November 11, Bab Al Shams, 7pm-3am, tickets from Platinumlist.net
BE
HERE NOW
After a storming launch party, new beach party Be, a collaboration between the Analog Room and JK58 teams, returns on November 11 at the Dubai International Marine Club with another star-studded line up. Infusion has the details‌
CABANNE An important part of the French techno scene since the 90s, Cabanne is a regular on the class Perlon label and at their various parties including at Panorama Bar and Fabric. In 2003, he was part of one of the most epic supergroup line ups as alongside Luciano, Richie Hawtin, Akufen, Daniel Bell and more, he performed as Narodnikki, an improvised dance music group. A consistent producer, his debut album Discopathy is out very soon, and we’re very excited to hear what his debut set in Dubai brings.
MATTHEW STYLES DJ, producer, record label owner and mixdown master – there’s few hats that British DJ Matthew Styles doesn’t wear. Signed to Crosstown Rebels and Cocoon as a producer, he manages Running Back (Gerd Janson’s label), signing up acts like Paul Woolford, Leon Vynehall, Tensnake and Kink. He’s also highly thought of as a mixer and record producer, bringing out the bass and textures on other people’s work. An unspoken dance music star then, but one with serious dancefloor pedigree.
DANA RUH Roomers will need little introduction to Dana Ruh, the German resident DJ at Berlin hot spot Club Der Visionare. A regular guest for Analog Room thanks to her timeless mix of house and techno, she’s recently put together sizzling guest mixes for Cocoon, Fuse and Zoo Project.
Be, Dubai International Marine Club (near Barasti), Friday November 11, 1-11pm, free entry 1-6pm, AED120 after.
ELEMENTS / DUBAI
NOVEMBER NOVEMBERLINEUP LINEUP
NIGHTSWIM NIGHTSWIM@ @
Presents: Presents:
11/04/2016 11/04/2016
11/11/2016 11/11/2016
LEON LEON VYNEHALL VYNEHALL
M.A.N.D.Y. M.A.N.D.Y.
(Running (Running Back Back // // UK) UK)
(LIVE) Arcade Arcade82 82(LIVE) Jonny JonnyThornhill Thornhill Megadon MegadonBetamax Betamax
(Get (Get Physical Physical Music Music // // GER) GER)
Michael MichaelRobert Robert Jason JasonPinto PintoB2B B2BSam SamFarsio Farsio
11/18/2016 11/18/2016
11/25/2016 11/25/2016
RAXON RAXON
GRAND GRANDPRIX PRIXSPECIAL SPECIAL
(Noir (Noir Music Music // // EGY) EGY)
ABU ABUDHABI DHABI
Michael MichaelRobert Robert Tobie TobieAllan Allan Jason JasonDodds Dodds WET WETDECK DECK////WWHOTEL HOTEL////AL ALHABTOOR HABTOORCITY. CITY. Every EveryFriday Fridayfrom from4pm 4pmtilltilllate. late. DRESS DRESSCODE: CODE:Swim Swim////dance dance////do doboth. both. RESERVATIONS: RESERVATIONS:+971 +971(4) (4)436 4366666 6666 GUESTLIST: GUESTLIST:guestlist@audiotonic.net guestlist@audiotonic.net
Start Your Engines!
F1 fever – you can feel it starting to build already, can’t you, as the nation gets excited about 3 days of unbridled fun. And Iris Yas Island and MAD have some hugely exciting events to keep you dancing long after the racing has finished. Infusion, as usual, have the lowdown
IRIS YAS ISLAND STEVE LAWLER - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24
Dance music icons don’t get much more real than the Viva Warriors main man, Steve Lawler. An ever present in the house and techno scene for over 2 decades, he’s as relevant now as he was back in the 90s when he burst onto the warehouse rave scene. This summer, he’s been killing it at his Sankeys Ibiza residency, as well as unleashing killer new tech-house tunes in the shape of ‘Avaida’ (The Organ Track) and dancefloor destroyer ‘Do Ya’. His up-coming gig schedule tells its own story: he’s just finished playing across South America, and is now criss-crossing Europe and the UK playing Madrid, Manchester and Liverpool before touching down for the opening night of the Formula 1. Tickets AED300 including 1 drink, Steve Lawler plays from 1.30am till late.
NIC FANCIULLI – SUNDAY NOVEMBER 27 It’s no longer acceptable to be just a DJ and producer – and Nic Fanciulli is at the forefront of the multi-hypenates as he’s a DJ/ Producer/Record Label Owner/Festival promoter and organizer and Grammy Award nominee. Not bad for a DJ that’s only 37 years old! Known throughout the dance music community for his epic work as Skylark, going on to remix Tears For Fears and Tracey Thorn (which received the Grammy nomination), he’s also the driving force behind The Social Festival, and One+One, a collaboration with long-time friend James Zabiela. Channeling the driving end of the house spectrum, expect to hear lots of exclusive cuts from his Saved Records imprint, and some techier, deeper tunes as the night progresses. Tickets AED300 including 1 drink, Nic Fanciulli plays from 1.30am till late.
Iris Yas Island, +971 55 160 5636, Open midnight-5am during the F1 weekend, Reservations@irisabudhabi.com
MAD ON YAS ISLAND Not to be outdone, MAD have announced part of their F1 after party line up and have gone seriously urban! Thursday November 24 sees American rapper T-Pain return to the UAE for a live show. A two time Grammy Award winner, he’s collaborated with Kanye West and Jamie Foxx and released several chart-topping albums including our favourite, 2007’s Epiphany. A big fan of singing via auto tune, from 2006-2010 he had more than 50 chart topping singles, making him one of the most prolific and successful urban artists in the world. His new single, ‘Dan Bilzerian’ is out now featuring Lil Yachty and is one of the best things we’ve heard from him in recent years. And closing out MAD’s F1 weekend will be none other than FUTURE, the much-hyped rapper and hip hop/Trap artist from Atlanta America. Blessed with a serious work ethic, he’s put out four solo albums as well as a trio of hugely well received mixtapes, including 2015’s collaboration with Drake, What A Time To Be Alive. Like Thursday night headliner, he’s a big fan of the Auto Tune device, but instead FUTURE uses it more as a melodic tool, stretching vocals and sounds out in an unique way. With 10 million Soundcloud followers and nearly 7 million Facebook fans, it’s clear the urban world has fallen for him in a very big way. MAD have also officially partnered with Flash and Yasalam to host 2 of their official after-parties, check out our Facebook page for updates!
T-PAIN
FUTURE
Reservations: +971558346262, Madonyasisland.com, MAD is open 11pm-6am during the F1 weekend.
ON THE RADAR THE STRANGLERS
NOVEMBER 24 - IRISH VILLAGE
EZ
NOVEMBER 24 - ZERO GRAVITY
SISTER BLISS
NOVEMBER 24 - BARASTI
CIRCOLOCO FEAT. JAMIE JONES NOVEMBER 25 - BLUE MARLIN IBIZA UAE
CHEMICAL BROTHERS
NOVEMBER 25 - DU ARENA YAS ISLAND
LIONEL RICHIE
NOVEMBER 26 - DU ARENA YAS ISLAND
DIRTY VEGAS
NOVEMBER 26 - BARASTI
RIHANNA
NOVEMBER 27 - DU ARENA YAS ISLAND
ON THE RADAR SUB FOCUS
DECIBEL FEAT. FATIMA HAJJI
RUGBY 7S
DUKE DUMONT
DECEMBER 1 - ZERO GRAVITY
DECEMBER 1-3 - THE SEVENS STADIUM
PATRICK TOPPING
DECEMBER 2 -BLUE MARLIN IBIZA UAE
PLUS MINUS FEAT. HECTOR COUTO DECEMBER 2 - ON42
DECEMBER 8 - ON42
DECEMBER 8 -NASIMI
DANNIC
DECEMBER 15 - WHITE DUBAI
SVEN VATH
DECEMBER 16 - PROVOCATEUR
NOVEMBER
18 2016
Soundstage AS PER CASPER
With a new album out now, and an official launch party at Stereo Arcade on November 12, things are looking very good for UAE symphonic pop group As Per Casper… My first musical influence was… Lionel Richie. I watched his music videos almost everyday as a child - mum’s way of keeping me distracted. The last pop star I liked was… Sam Smith. Great voice and genuine, heartfelt song-writing. My sound is best described as… Symphonic Pop/World Folk. Best piece of advice you’ve received? Take a shot at fulfilling your dream. What’s your musical guilty pleasure? Musicals! I have seen The Lion King in London at least 5 times. The best band in Dubai is… Toughie! There’s too many honestly, but EYE, IMBUE and Vandalye are my favourites to watch live. Lamest claim to fame? My father once shared an elevator ride with The Hoff (David Hasselhoff). When I make it, the one thing I want on my rider is… A philharmonic orchestra especially for my track ‘Go Go’ My musical motto is… Music is therapy. Best gig you’ve played? It would have to be my friend’s wedding at the Ritz. It felt great to be a part of it all and I could see guests sing along to my original songs. And the worst? Gigs are tough when one of us is ‘under the weather’. We still put on a great show but it’s just less enjoyable for that person. www.aspercasper.com
Rhythm
Nation If you were one of the few thousand who congregated at our Braai Day recently, you would have seen the AYA African Drum and Dance crew in action, leading an interactive drum circle and live drumming performance
A Ghanian group of professional drummers and dancers, they’ve been together for 2 years and have performed with pop legends like Jimmy Cliff and Carlos Santana. Edward Dogbe, the group’s leader, believes the drums are there to communicate, empower and heal. ‘Music and dance are integral part of many West African cultures. Traditionally, these spontaneous art forms were used for specific occasions,
rites and ceremonies, as well as to coordinate and uplift everyday activities. The dances, that accompanied drums, were using the movements of everyday life to express feelings, tell stories and to celebrate life.’ Named after a hardy fern in Ghana, the group offer a range of services – from teaching you how to play African drums to team building exercises and even school workshops and initiatives.
For more information, contact Edward on 055 645 2259, www.edwarddogbe.com, info@edwarddogbe.com
ON THE
FLIPPSIDE
Following his triumph at the 360 DJ Battle to find a new resident DJ, we caught up with Flippside – AKA 27 year old Godfrey Kyle Kyangwe – to talk University degrees, Nirvana and his winning performance…
Congratulations on the victory – how did you feel when you were playing, were you confident? I felt so alive! It took about a minute for me to shake off the jitters, however I fed off the crowd’s energy and that grew my confidence. After that, I simply run with it. What did you play in your set? We heard there was some Nirvana in there… Yes there was a little bit of Nirvana in there (I’m a huge Nirvana fan). I tried to throw in a little bit of everything. There was some Marvin Gaye, R Kelly, Drake, Beyonce, Buju Banton, NWA, KRS-One, Blackstreet, Sugarhill Gang, Ayo J, James Brown, DJ Khaled... How much did you practise, how inch-perfect was it? I didn’t get enough time to practice, because 4 days to the competition finals I was handling another project\event that required about 11 hours of my time daily. So I’d get home at about 1:00am, try and put together a set for about 4 hours then go to sleep at about 5am. It was messy. In the end about 8 minutes of my set where somewhat freestyle but premeditated.
Who’s your DJ inspiration? The late DJ AM, his blend of different genres of music, in my opinion was unparalleled, then I did meet DJ Mr. Switch (3 x DMC World Champ) and DJ Qbert (5 x DMC World Champ), and both inspired me to get a little more technical. You’re a clever man, with not one, but two degrees. And yet you’re still a DJ. Why? Haha. Thank You! Sometimes I do ask myself, that same exact question. However, over the years I have come to learn that DJ-ing is more than just a hobby, it’s my passion, it’s my life! And I have a knack for it as well... Who do you look up to in the UAE scene? Off the top of my head, I’d say, Mr. Shef Codes, Dj Bliss, Ron E Jaxx and DJJAD. And what will you bring to your residency at 360? I intend to bring a whole new blend of urban music. Thursday’s are an urban night so you can expect your weekly dose of everything Urban from new school to old school hip hop and RnB, reggae and dancehall, and you can expect a few surprises here and there of rock, funk and even Latin music (but in a really cool and urban style).
Flippside is the new Thursday night resident at 360, Jumeirah Beach Hotel
MUSIC THAT
MATTERS SAM FARSIO – BLACK MAMBA
We love free music – and especially from one of our favourite DXB producers Sam Farsio. Deep, dubby and darkly melodic, this will be a key dancefloor weapon for tech-house and techno DJs. soundcloud.com/samfarsio/black-mambaoriginal-mix-1
Deadly bass-heavy duo Kicks’n’Keys turn in a super smooth remix for this vocal stomper, the 2nd release for DXB label Sunstroke Recordings. soundcloud.com/sunstrokerecordings/ question-my-love-kicks-keys-remix WISQO – TEACHER
Best known for their compilations, Ma’ana have branched out into singles, with Wisqo delivering this progressive house tinged stormer with ascending strings and a killer vocal. soundcloud.com/maana-music/maa002wisqo-teacher-sampler UCH – MUSIC FOR ME
Rich, deep house track out now on Ulybug from the DXB/NYC DJ and producer who’s a resident DJ at the Habtoor City. soundcloud.com/djuch/uch-music-for-meulybug-music-house
Send tracks/edits/remixes to: andy@infusion.ae
CN WILLIAMS – QUESTION MY LOVE (KICKS’N’KEYS REMIX)
MOYO – LIVE AT THE GRAMERCY
If you’re a fan of moody, slow-building house and tech-house, then check out this mix from The Gramercy’s resident DJ which gradually moves through the gears over an hour. soundcloud.com/moyo86/live-the-gramercydubai-02-09-16 GREG STAINER – CLUB ANTHEMS EMIRATES PODCAST
Hollaphonic producer and all round DXB DJ legend Stainer drops a seamless 2 hour long mix that’s guaranteed to get you dancing (whether that’s on the plane or in your car!) mixcloud.com/gregstainer/greg-stainer-clubanthems-emirates-podcast-october-2016/ JULIA POLY – SUNRISE ON MARS
Great title and great track. An intricate deep houser, this has plenty of techy wiggles and ups and downs to keep you interested and a killer breakdown. Oh, and free download as well, winner! soundcloud.com/dj-julia-poly/julia-polysunrise-on-mars-original-mix JAKE ROOMSTAR – MOE INSPIRED MIX
60 minutes of up-tempo house, jackin’ bangers and deep house from one of the scene’s youngest stars, the not-even-teenage DJ Roomstar. Yes bruv! mixcloud.com/jakeroomstar/roomstar-moeinspired-mix-september-2016/ DARKO DE JAN – REFLECTIONS EP
One of the most consistent producers again delivers with this searingly dark EP for Bonzai Progressive, the minimal but chunky grooves of Reflections being our pick. soundcloud.com/darko-de-jan/sets/reflectionsep
DJ BOOTH: SIR TAZ Caribbean Riddimz resident Sir Taz is next up in our fabled DJ Booth, talking through his Radio 1 show, Pokemon Go and why he’d go back to back with Shef Codes…
One thing you might not know about me is...I’m Sri Lankan. My worst ever job was...Being an Insurance Salesman for ALICO, I was never a people person. My favorite ever record is...There’s a lot but I’d have to go with Luther Vandross ‘Never Too Much.’ DJing is much like... A magical process. It’s really hard to explain why you like something. Right now everybody can be a DJ, so it’s not a question of practice anymore it’s a question of taste and courage; that you can play at a party and be confident in your taste and yet also challenge the audience. Dubai’s clubbing scene is...Evolving. I’m really proud of...Being part of Radio 1’s longest running Urban Show The Edge with Dany Neville. I’m shy so I’ve never really spoke on the mic. What track could you drop in every set...Robin S ‘Show Me Love’, always works. I can’t live without...My Mom. My biggest DJ achievement to date is...Opening up for Jason Derulo & Kes The Band, have to thank Ethan Auguste for that. What is your guiltiest pleasure? Pokemon Go. If you could DJ in any decade which would it be...The 90s, that’s when music was music and not like today’s mumble rappers. If I could go back-to-back with any other DJ it would be...There’s so many, but I would love to go back to back with my cousin Mr Shef Codes, the guy who showed me the ropes in this industry. I’m not a politician but…God Bless America. mixcloud.com/SIRTAZ/
Now an established highlight in the cultural calendar, Dubai’s celebration of street and sneaker culture Sole DXB returns for another 48 hours of action packed fun at d3 on November 18 and 19. Infusion Magazine has the low-down‌
SOLE
BROTHERS
THE MUSIC
The headline news is that grime’s leading light, and the recent Mercury Music winner Skepta is coming for his first show in the city on the closing night. Not only that, but they’ve secured the services of Little Simz (‘the illest thing out there right now’ according to Kendrick Lamar), Larger Professor, Dâm-Funk and more. Plus, head to the Puma arena to see BJ The Chicago Kid in action or to the Adidas area to see their special guest headliner.
THE BRANDS
Dozens of super cool brands will be taking part in the event, including local heroes amongst few as well as big trainer brands like Diadora, adidas Originals, New Balance and fashion lines like Fred Perry, Stussy and Timberland. Not only that, but there’s also the Early Retirement store, a 3,000 square foot shop showcasing items unavailable in the region from some seriously cool companies.
THE FUN AND GAMES
Talk to the ballers, and they’ll tell you the real action takes place on court – and with AED10,000 up for grabs for the winning team, that’s a lot of Air Jordans they can buy. You can also catch the national premiere of Style Wars, a film that captures the key moments of hip hop and street art from the 80s onwards, including a Q&A with the director and producer. You can also swap sneakers with other trainer fanatics at the weekend thanks to the Sole Collectors initiative – hands off our limited edition Wu-Tang Dunks though! www.soledxb.com/
What we Ate BACKYARD BBQ @ PERRY & BLACKWELDER’S
The range and variety on offer at Dubai’s infamous Friday brunches leaves few niches unfilled. Perry & Blackwelder’s at the Madinat resort has found one such a niche with their Backyard BBQ. With the focus on quality drinks, informal BBQ food and an even more informal setting, P&Bs have created a winning formula. The drink’s menu includes Daiquiris, Margaritas, premium spirits like Sailor Jerry’s rum, buckets of beer and house wines including a surprisingly tasty Sauvignon Blanc. The waiters are given a generous and relaxed brief, for example leaving the wine bottle at the table to serve yourself. The food portions are equally sizeable, if perhaps a little limited in selection. That said if a protein based BBQ with a variety of a la carte salads floats your boat, you’ll not want for anything else. Outside, the live station BBQ has lamb & prawn skewers, corn on the cob, beef sausages, burgers and the star of the show – gorgeous succulent grilled chicken pieces. With a live guitarist and beanbags scattered around the water’s edge outside, this laid-back brunch lends itself perfectly to the cooler winter months. It’s a good value alternative to the pomp and ceremony offered by Dubai’s more upmarket venues, and provides a relaxing setting to catch up with friends and family alike. Words by Tim Woodstock
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
DUSTY’S SATURDAY BRUNCH
Dusty’s has recently opened an extension to its DIFC-based bar with a stylish new courtyard, ideal for those joyous, winter Dubai months. The wife and I headed down to sample their Saturday “Lazy Brunch”.For a very reasonable 299AED, you can sample a starter, main, side dish and dessert from their menu and enjoy unlimited wine, spirits and beer from 12pm – 3pm. With talented DJs spinning and scratching funk and soul hits and a manned play area for the kids, it’s the perfect place for families to while the afternoon away whilst enjoying a tasty meal. After the brunch, “The Chiller” starts; a showcase for some of the best local and international DJ talent, who are given a platform to demonstrate their skills, broadcast live over social media. If you’re wanting to end your weekend on a relaxing note, there’s not many better places around to do so for such good value - look out for them in the Entertainer this month as well! Words by Dan Fahy
WITHOUT A LI
QUOR
COULD BE, LICENCE YOU
DON’T TAKE TH
E RISK!
APPLY NOW, just follow these three simple steps. STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
Complete the Application Form and get it stamped by your employer.
Attach copies of the required documents.
Visit any MMI shop to submit your Application Form and documents.
For more information please contact our Liquor Licence team on 04 304 0331/0332 or e-mail lipsadmin@mmi.ae mmidubai.com
/mmidubai
@mmi_dubai
MMIDubai
JUNOON
Originally a Michelin star concept born in Manhattan, the sister branch in Dubai opened last year and has now welcomed a new bar lounge into its restaurant and we couldn’t resist taking a look. After sampling the entire bar snack menu (hey! It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it), it’s safe to say that no dish disappointed. The shrimp popcorn was presented beautifully with linear poise, perfect miniature bites to share among company (if you can bear too). Our favourite, by a close shave, was the lamb pepper fry, a plate of full-bodied flavour with a confident kick of chilli. Perched on top of silky lemon mayonnaise, the black cod came a close second; the fact it was piping hot didn’t stop us from demolishing it in seconds. And be sure to sample the mini pakoras offset by tangy tomato chutney, they hit the spot without leaving an overpowering taste of onion. Although one or two cocktails on the menu may seem peculiar on the palette – think nitrogen gas, chilli and flaming sugar - the selection demonstrates their efforts to fashion innovative and aesthetically pleasing treats. The front-runner was the slow gin with berries served in an iced goblet; sweet, sassy and seriously scrumptious. If you’re after a civilised catch up with friends over memorable cuisine, delectable drinks and impeccable service then journey down to the Shangri-La hotel and grab a table. Words by Grace Bright
INDIE SATURDAY BRUNCH
Indie impressed with its popularity, service and charm. The venue has an artistic, rustic feel with suitcases, books and over-sized light bulbs dotted around the DIFC eaterie and bar. The brunch has a rotating theme, and we were lucky to have the ‘Mob Volume 2’ brunch which had presumably cleared the city out of all the props, including Mobster hats, hand fans, pearl headbands, cigarette holders, and stacks of Indie Dollars that encouraged guests to interact with one another. The photo booth was a nice touch as well, giving us a cool memento of the afternoon. The brunch runs every Saturday afternoon from 1pm-5pm, with 3 different packages, soft drinks and juices for AED290, AED390 for pouring spirits and house wines and AED490 which includes bubbly. Our pick of the food was the spicy tuna (which could have had a bigger kick), an excellent freshly smoked salmon, a variety of scrambled eggs and the alcoholic jelly to finish. The service was spot on, and the live band were full of energy – our tip would be to come early and enjoy the quieter moments, as come 4pm, you’re into firm after party territory as the DJ and music get cranked up. Words by Nicole Van Wyk
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
Eat Sleep Rave Repeat The JW Marriott Marquis Wanderlust brunch is a riot of food, tastes and music as Tara Ellis discovered‌.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to walk into Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory and be surrounded by a room full of mountains of chocolate and colorful sugary treats? Well I have, and that’s exactly what you experience when you enter The Garden’s Wanderlust brunch at JW Marriott. The venue has been turned into a marvelous explosion of visually exciting décor, food displays and an array of novelty props for all your social media posting desires.
Not only has The Garden been transformed, but it also delves into the nightclub Square and outside onto the terrace, where most of the magic happens. The gist of the concept is that The Garden, which is essentially Peruvian, has packed all 7 other fine dining restaurants of the JW Marriott in one location. Stations consist of Italian, Indian, Seafood, Cheese bar, Live BBQ, Sushi, Roast and Stew, Chinese, Dessert and saving the best for last… The snack kitchen, which you can actually wander through, high five the chefs as they serve hot dogs, Chinese and any deep fried treat you could think of straight from the frying pans! Already bopping to the hip hop and 90s music and way too excited to sit at our table and unsure where to start, the staff (who were wearing t-shirts with quirky slogans like ‘turn down for brunch’) gave us a tour of the venue and food stations, and armed us all with food
trays and location maps for the adventure ahead. After doing a few rounds to make sure we packed our table with all the delectable plates on offer, we were ready to go. If you’re a cheese lover, you will need to prepare yourself for the marvel that is the gooey baked brie pot, infused with different grains and seeds and served with bread that is to die for, we went back so many times that the entire cauldron of cheese was delivered straight to our table! Kind of funny, kind of need to be checked into cheese rehab after though. The live Peruvian BBQ outside was also a must-do, with a selection of chargrilled meats and vegetables. There was a consistent line here throughout but we weren’t bothered too much as the Smirnoff Moscow Mule stall was making eyes at us from across the room, so there was no chance we were going thirsty while waiting. Last but not least is the sweet
tooth haven that is the Dessert Room *insert heavy breathing here*. Be sure to leave room for all the cheesecake, French pastries, chocolate fondue and array of candy jars on display. I did about three rounds back and forth and couldn’t move from my seat after devouring it all but it was worth it. There is quite literally something for everyone and they make sure you don’t get too thirsty while you’re hopping from station to station by offering copious amounts of shots and drinks. Special shout outs go to the delicious spiced rum coconut cocktail station and to the swarm of energetic shot girls, who consistently lapped the venue and kept all our spirits high with a plethora of alcoholic shots to choose from, so you don’t get too parched on your adventure around the brunch. How thoughtful right! After you’re done with your food travels and bar hopping, Square nightclub turns into the ‘Lust After Party’ from 4pm with DJ Soulninja who often DJs in Zero Gravity, Cavalli, Movida and Mahiki. The dance floor was heaving at about 5pm, with people getting down to absolute classic jams like ‘Return Of The Mack’ mixed in with all the newest hits. Perfect exercise after over treating ourselves at the Dessert A+E Wanderlust Brunch, JW Marriott Marquis, every Friday from 1pm until 4pm, AED 395 per person including food and house beverages.
Food News TAPS AFF!
Good news Palm Jumeirah residents – there are a whole new raft of bars and restaurants that have opened up along the trunk, including the Tap House at the Club Vista Mare on the Shoreline. Boasting over 24 taps – the largest selection of draft beer in the city – the venue also boasts its own beer sommelier (any jobs going, guys?). With cracking beach views and in-built beer coolers at each table, the venue will also show all the latest sporting action.
PARTY LIKE IT’S 1929
New DIFC eatery Bazxar have launched their new Friday brunch Prohibition. Serving food from South East Asia, Europe and the Americas, the brunch offers unlimited starters and entrees including Crispy Mac-n-Cheese or the sticky and sweet Soy Glazed Chicken and any main course. There’s also a bespoke Bloody Mary station and a 2-for-1 happy hour from 5-8pm. Brunch starts at AED395 including house drinks. bazxar.com
URBAN PICNIC BRUNCH IS BACK
Poolside cabanas, chilled beats and a brunch basket – sounds like a pretty ideal Friday afternoon, right? The Urban Picnic Brunch is back every Friday at Vida Downtown Dubai offering a live BBQ station, bespoke brunch baskets, poolside DJ and brunch with house drinks from AED345, with poolside cabanas costing an extra AED100.
GET YOUR BBQ ON AT POSITANO
The JW Marriott Marquis not only boast an excellent Italian restaurant in Positano, but they’ve now unveiled their BBQ Nights every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 6pm. Their chefs cook over a charcoal grill, leaving you to choose from a range of fresh seafood, select your meat cuts and drink in the stunning terrace view overlooking the renovated Business Bay area.
And the DJ Mag Top 100 loser is… So, the annual DJ Magazine Poll has just been released to the usual sh*tstorm. Yes, it used to be credible, and it’s now an EDM jokefest yes Martin ‘Can’t Mix Won’t Mix’ Garrix won it and yes there is a guy called Timmy Trumpet in it. The Monkey isn’t a fan of the poll, obviously, but I’m even less of a fan of simpering tools who spew their bile across the internet, claiming DJ Mag has lost their integrity, that the poll is a sham. It’s a vote, it’s down to the public, and kids own the internet – hence why gash EDM nonsense rules. Democracy might not be perfect – oh, hey America! – but it does give you a voice. Use it, but don’t then complain about the result because it doesn’t fit your worldview. Alternatively, become a DJ like everyone else, book click farm and soar up the charts next year.
Monkey Out... The Angry Monkeys’ views are his own, and don’t necessarily reflect the views of Infusion Magazine.