Cristi Cons • Eddie Richards • Conan Liquid Kenny Glasgow • China Grill • Maks • Jaymie Deville Allen & Heath DB2 • Amsterdam • Money Fight Lucky Voice • 117 LIVE & many more
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TALAL BUDEBS Publisher CHARL CHAKA Managing Partner charlchaka@infusion.ae STEPHEN O’DONOVAN Sales/marketing magazine@infusion.ae STU TODD Editor editor@infusion.ae PAULA MANGUEIRA Design design@infusion.ae SONIA IGNACIO Operations operations@infusion.ae CONTRIBUTORS: Stu Todd, Nick Yuill, Thomasina JordanRhodes INFUSION IS PUBLISHED BY Milehigh Media, LLC PO Box 53443 – Dubai, UAE Tel/Fax: 04 368 8098
Party in the Park have announced Liam Gallagher as being the headliner for their event in November, bring on festival season!
With Amsterdam still reeling from another sold out and maxed out Dekmantel its clear this should be top of your hit list next summer.
The vinyl revolution seems to be continuing in Dubai and with a bigger need for vinyl DJ’s hopefully venues will see this as a skill and not something they can appropriate.
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BLACK LIST Sad to see Soundcloud having so many issues recently. Hopefully they can turn their ship around.
Daily near death experiences on Dubai’s highways and byways. If you miss your turn off don’t take out everybody else in your path to make that turn.
Say What? 808 AND SH 101 GET REBOOTED
Roland’s seminal hardware has found its way in to almost every facet of the modern musical sphere and now they are giving 2 of their most influential models the boutique treatment. As the name suggests, the boutique is a bit smaller than the originals, but this does not mean skimping on the quality of the end product. Having seen videos of the 808 being put through its paces by the likes of Mathew Johnson it is clear that the sound engine is just as crisp and intuitive as the original and the fact that this will retail for under AED1,500 is unreal. Watch this space for full match reports on both units in the coming months.
TO INFINITY AND BEYOND
For the eagle eyed of you out there you will have noticed that leaked trailers from the upcoming Avenger: Infinity Wars movie have started to surface. We are massive Marvel fans here at Infusion Magazine so you can be sure that we will be first in line when it opens in cinemas next year. Keep your eyes peeled for more information in the coming months as this movie is what the whole Marvel universe has been building towards since time began,
WE LOVE 117 LIVE
Since launching in 2016, 117 LIVE has gone on to change the face of live music events in Dubai. Not only do they bring the world’s top performers of which they include Nicky Minaj, All Saints, Justin Beiber, Bryan Adams and of course the certified roadblock that was Guns ‘n’ Roses, 117 LIVE have also raised the bar of event manage standards to an almost unfathomable level. As well as being producing world beating concert on the outskirts of Dubai, The Autism Rocks Arena is also the name given to 117 LIVE’s permanent, purpose built 30,000 capacity concert venue and the expertise and experience that lives within its walls is a true testament to the end product that it produces. That is reason enough to love 117 LIVE. When discussing a concert venue of this calibre it is impossible not to mention the ridiculous level of experience that is on offer. Now, a concert experience means something different to everybody and that is exactly what they offer. If you like to keep it simple, then the feeling of being in the thick of it while having your socks blown off by the mind-boggling array of sound, light and visual effects will stay with you for a very long time. There is of course the option to plump for one of their more bespoke services and elevate your concert experience to a totally different level (literally) by opting for one of their VIP tables, private suites or the pièce de résistance – a 360 degree, 20 guest suite on the very top of the stadium which is reserved for the elite music lover. What better way to enjoy upcoming shows from Gorillaz, Jennifer Lopez or Elton John? What’s not to love.
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What we did MOVE 02 W/ ADAM SHELTON
After Move’s launch party their return has been eagerly awaited by the house heads that made it down for their maiden voyage, and with One Records boss Adam Shelton joining Russ Cooper and TODD behind the decks the stage was set. With TODD opening up for the early birds, his set was a flowing mixture of deep, rolling house cuts and lush breaks. The pick of this had to be the moody, yet upbeat bubbler “Quantum XL” from Greek producer Salt. Handing over to Russ at around 1030pm, he almost immediately found his groove and with dropping tracks like Sounds of The Suburbs super rare Swag Records heater “Won’t Stop” and the more chilled but equally wiggly “Puzzle #02” by Jorge Savoretti there was no wonder. By the time Russ handed over to Adam Shelton at around midnight the dancefloor had swelled to a sizable crowd and with the opening volley from Adam’s record bag being one of my favourite house track by the late DJ Ali - “You Don’t Know” it was clear nobody would be going anywhere any time soon. What followed was a quick-fire journey through some incredible upfront house bombs including the incendiary Czevski remix of “57 Hertz” by 76-79 (Tommy Vicari Jr. and Viggosson). By the time 245am came around the dancefloor had become a writhing mess of blissed out dancers and what was evidently clear was that the good word of the vibe to be found at Move was spreading around Dubai, also the fact that the music came purely from the DJ’s record bags was also a true testament to the format that is at the very bedrock of the night. Not that either TODD or Russ Cooper are vinyl purists, but there is something to be said for the quality control that is found in vinyl only releases. Roll on the next party. Words by Dwayne Pipes
LIAM ANNOUNCED FOR PARTY IN THE PARK
Unless you have been living under a rock you will have missed the fact that Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher will be headlining at this year’s Party in the Park’s annual outing at Media City’s Amphitheatre. The infamous Manchester singer has his debut solo album “As you Were” pencilled in for later in the year and with a point to prove you can be sure he will be coming out all guns blazing. It is also rumoured that half of Liam’s set will be from the Oasis back catalogue. ACHEMY F1 PARTIES
More huge music news, this time coming from Abu Dhabi and the hotly anticipated slew of F1 after parties. Alchemy Project has pulled no punches with their 3 parties taking place at du Forum, the Beyond the Track parties will feature none other than Martin Garrix on Thursday, November 24, Space legend Carl Cox on Friday, November 25 and then Dutch superstar Tiesto will close out proceedings on Saturday, November 26. If you are quick you can grab tickets for each day for AED295, but those won’t stay around for long.
TECHNO THURSDAYS
The news that Dubai techno fans have been waiting for is that Decibel is on their way back and picking up from where they left off last season, they mean business. Kicking off on Thursday, September 7 at ON42, Media One and for their first party they will be bringing Dutch DJ Amber to headline their season opener. Amber is resident at Amsterdam night Techno Tuesday which runs at Amsterdam institution Melkweg every week and boy do they pack them in. The team over at Decibel are remaining tight-lipped regarding the rest of their plans for the season, but if last season is anything to go by you won’t be disappointed. Keep em peeled for more information on Decibel’s season coming soon. JOKING AROUND
Laughter Factory is a brand that will always raise a chuckle regardless of who is on the stage such is its pedigree, but for their next joke they have a triple header of great stand ups. Jojo Smith, John Maloney and Jeff Innocent will be embarking on a mini tour of UAE next month. Kicking off The Evil Genius tour will see the intrepid threesome at Park Rotana, Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, September 6, followed by Movenpick JBR, Dubai on Thursday, September 7 & 8, also Marriott Dubai, Green Community Friday, September 8. The next week is just as busy with the tour hitting Hilton Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, September 12, Grand Millennium in TECOM on Thursday, September 14th and then to finish a double header Jumeirah Golf Estates and ON42, Media One Hotel on Friday, September 15. For further details on timings go to facebook.com/thelaughterfactory.
ROMANIAN CONNECTION
Dubai debutant Cristi Cons is a Romanian artist who is the latest in a long line of artists to emerge from the south eastern European country as a truly talented individual. The Plus Minus booking is also the latest artist to break out of the fertile Romanian scene and make his name known on the world stage. This has been helped in part by his classical music studies at the National Music Academy, but this training only helped to offer the possibilities to make his mark in the world electronic music. Hailing from the Romanian capital city of Bucharest, Cristi began forging a relationship with Vlad Caia, which would soon bear fruits in the form of acclaimed electronic outfit SIT. At the same time as preparing tracks for this project, Cristi was also releasing his own stand out tracks on renowned Romanian imprint [a:rpia:r] where his track “Nutatia� featured on the labels fifth release in 2009. It was only a matter of time before Cristi would feature for the Romanian festival that draws so many of the emerging talent from the region to join the likes of Ricardo Villalobos, Raresh and ZIP at the infamous beach side festival Sunwaves (10th edition).
Not wishing to rest in one place for too long, Cristi and his studio partner were also in the process of launching their own imprint Amphia and with it came a slew of well received and supported EP’s from illustrious Romanian artists such as Raresh, Rhadoo, Petre Inspirescu and of course Vlad and Cristi themselves in their SIT guise. Fast forward to 2016 and their debut album “Sideways” arrived on their own Amphia label and signalled a maturing of their sound and almost breaking away from the classically minimal Romanian sound that the region had been attached to. This sound would mature further more with the beginning of a new project from Cristi and Vlad called Amorf, this would also involve neoclassical pianist Mischa Blanos and would the 3 perform live as well as work with in a studio environment. Keep your eyes peeled for a debut album from the trio sometime this year. It is safe to say that Cristi Cons is not your average DJ and should be not underestimated to deliver a powerful and original performance.
Cristi Cons plays Plus Minus on Friday, August 25 at Bridgwater Tavern, 6pm to 3am, JW Marriot Marquis, Business Bay, for more information on ticket prices go to facebook.com/PlusMinusUAE.
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LUCKY STARS
Few nightlife brands have made the move from the UK to Dubai and had as big an impact as Lucky Voice In such a short a space of time. There is also the fact to consider that Lucky Voice is a renowned karaoke brand. Yes, we said karaoke. Now in some circles that may sound like an outdated social phenomenon from the 80’s, but Lucky Voice is here to spread the word that this is totally not the case and that they are not just karaoke but an all singing all dancing unique nightlife experience. Enjoying something of a renaissance world-wide at present, karaoke technology has come on in leaps and bounds of late and Lucky Voice offer state of the art private booths and that is just the start at Lucky Voice.
There is so much to this live music venue than just their bespoke singing booths, even if you don’t like to sing the bar and restaurant are tailor made for an incredible night out regardless of what night you go. Friday’s Lucky Brunch is one of the most immersive, yet hilarious events of the week, the weekly lip sync battle with Alan J is something to be seen to be believed. While the popularity of the Friday brunch is nothing short of awe inspiring, Lucky Voice have added a Wednesday night brunch to its arsenal. The Jukebox Brunch offers the karaoke experience but instead of reserving this for the booths, this is done as part of a crowd, safety in numbers for those not confident enough to sing alone. Don’t forget about the similarly fantastic ladies’ night Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, where the ladies will be treated to free-flowing drinks and 20% food from 8pm to 1am. Of course, Lucky Voice is an amazing live music venue and outstanding bar with great food, but what they pride themselves on is their live entertainment and they have you more than covered with that. As well as the outstanding array of resident DJ’s - Tim Cheddar on Thursday’s, DJ Mitchell on Wednesdays and Friday’s and DJ Scott Forshaw on Tuesdays, one person that has been monumental in the success of is Alan J and Infusion Magazine was lucky enough to sit down with Alan to find out more…. So, for those that don’t know you Alan, can you explain your background prior to Lucky Voice? I am an entertainer, originally from Canada, that has been working here in Dubai for a long time. I have been singing in the cover band world in the Middle East for the last 8 to 9 years. I worked in two well-known cover bands called Shine and Kapow, and I did the grand opening of Hard Rock Cafe Dubai & worked for two years at the Music Room. But basically, I plan to take over the world. What is your role at Lucky Voice? I would say I’m the entertainment consultant extraordinaire. I host the Friday lip sync battle brunch, the Wednesday night karaoke brunch and my band Game Over perform on Friday nights!
What is the favourite part of your job at Lucky Voice? My favourite part of Lucky Voice is working with the team at this venue. The people behind the scenes and relationships I have built with them is by far the best part of this whole experience. They really know what they are doing. My second favourite thing is making people forget about their worries and just enjoying themselves to the max at Lucky Voice. The beauty of Lucky Voice is the fact that anyone and everyone can enjoy it! There is no pretence or showboating, it’s just all about having a fun time. One of our biggest battles was having people understand that we aren’t just a karaoke bar! You can come to Lucky Voice and have a great night in the bar, and not even look at the karaoke pods! What days can we find you at Lucky Voice? My band, Game Over, that performs at Lucky Voice on Fridays and once a month on Wednesdays after the night brunch. I MC for the Lucky Brunch on Fridays which has gained a lot of attention and won the award of “Best New Brunch” at the Shortlist Dubai Brunch Awards 2017. I also just started hosting the Wednesday night karaoke brunch, which is so much fun!! When you are not bossing things on stage at Lucky Voice, what do you like to do to unwind? I love meditation, long meaningful conversations with people and spending time with the people Iove - I call them my Dubai family. Where did the inspiration come from to bring Lucky Voice from UK to Dubai? Karaoke is definitely a trend on the rise when you look at it on a global level. Lucky Voice Dubai is like the UK brand on steroids, and it’s only going to get crazier and louder. What makes Lucky Voice different from other karaoke venues? It’s a restaurant, bar, lounge, club & live venue all meshed into one. A completely interactive venue that has such a great energy! What do you see being the future of Lucky Voice? Anything you would like to introduce to the mix? I see big acts performing here in the near future. Many more unique events that nowhere else can offer and, quite possibly the expansion of the brand. The Juke Box night brunch is evolving into something beautiful.
For more information head over to luckyvoice.com
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TWO OF THE BEST
Third Eye Crew and their Summer Vibes concept continues to draw in some of the hottest artists from around the house and techno sphere and in the process, have locked in a new school modern legend and an old-school pioneer. However, both artists have been significant in their impact on the genre and music industry in general. To get you acquainted with these two exciting artists that will be headlining Summer Vibes in the coming weeks Infusion Magazine has done your homework for you‌.
KENNY GLASGOW
First up on Friday, August 25 Summer Vibes will be welcoming former Art Department member Kenny Glasgow to the intimate surroundings of Tamanya Terrace at Radissoon Blu Hotel. With the Canadian departing (pun intended) to pursue a solo career and a change in musical direction, Kenny will be bringing with him an altogether more straight up house sound compared to the deeper, melodic sound that Art Department championed with their early Crosstown Rebel releases. Although the difficult decision was made to change course, Kenny has never been more in demand as this summer he has been drafted in to play some of the biggest parties in Ibiza such as Jamie Jones’ Paradise night at DC-10, Guy Gerbers Rumours party, Privilage opening and Black Coffee’s party at Hï (RIP Space). Kenny will also have the honour of performing at the opening party for the up and coming Moroccan Oasis Festival. There is also the small matter of Kenny’s productions and since he split from AD he has released on labels such as Ovum Recordings (Josh Wink), Tronic (Christian Smith) and Turbo (Tiga) which are imprints of substantial standing in the reals of upfront house and techno.
EDDIE RICHARDS
When it comes to tracing the lineage of Britain’s illustrious house and techno roots there is one common denominator and that is Eddie Richards. Having cut his teeth in the mid 80’s being one of the pioneering DJ’s to incorporate deeper styles of music with techno, Eddie Richards is built in to the foundations of the British music scene. Take for instance Eddie’s Wiggle residency, now well in to its 3rd decade, this party continues to pull in artists from the worlds underground labels and music scenes, as the man himself says “I don’t name-check influences. I’ve always liked and played new music, that’s what I was doing in ‘88, and what I do now. Nothing’s really changed.” Being a regular and early protagonist at London institution fabric, Eddie has become one of the industry’s most in demand DJ’s and with his wealth of experience spanning well over 20 years Eddies stock will not be dropping any time soon. You can check him out for yourself when he drops by Tamanya Terrace, Radisson Blu Hotel on Friday, September 1.
For more information on all upcoming Summer Vibes parties go to facebook.com/vibeseries.
ON THE RADAR
PLUS MINUS W/ LAURA JONES
IRIS PRES. LEE VAN DOWSKI AUGUST 24 – IRIS, YAS ISLAND ABU DHABI
SEPTEMBER 8 – BRIDGEWATER TAVERN, BUSINESS BAY
SUMMER VIBES W/ EDDIE RICHARDS SEPTEMBER 1 – TAMANYA TERRACE, MEDIA CITY
PLUS MINUS W/ OKAIN SEPTEMBER 22 – BRIDGEWATER TAVERN, BUSINESS BAY
ANALOG ROOM W/ STEFFI SEPTEMBER 7 – INDUSTRIAL AVENUE, THE WESTIN
DECIBEL W/ GREGOR TRESHER OCTOBER 5 – ON42, MEDIA ONE HOTEL
DECIBEL LAUNCH W/ AMBER SEPTEMBER 7 – ON42, MEDIA ONE HOTEL
ANALOG ROOM W/ ROMAN FLUGEL OCTOBER 12 – INDUSTRIAL AVENUE, THE WESTIN
Soundstage JAYMIE DEVILLE
Sole Agency artist Jaymie Deville has captured a legion of fans since his move from Melbourne with his amazing covers of popular songs. We hear all about his journey to the Middle East… My biggest gig ever was…6000 people, Melbourne, Hisense Arena. Just me and my guitar. Hearing your voice through a silent arena is a feeling I’ll never forget. I’m best known for…talking absolute sh*t! My imagination tends to run wild in conversation, even at the most inappropriate times. I’m most proud of…my amazing family and being able to live a full happy life completely supported by my passions. The artist I’d most like to work with is…if I had to be just one artist it would probably be MJ. But nowadays it would be Pharrell Williams. One thing you may not know about me is that…my childhood dream was to become an NBA superstar basketball player. That dream crashed and burned due to my parents both amounting to a staggering height of 5ft 4. This year, I’m playing in…a lot of new residencies, which are about to start in Dubai this season. My sound is described as…ambient, pensive and groovey. My music sounds like…if rnb and soul ballads had a lovechild. If I had to live in one decade it would be…the 70’s. When the funk was fresh and hiphop began to flourish. The one piece of music kit I can’t live without is…my guitar. If I get an idea for a song the first thing I do is reach for my guitar that sits beside my thinking chair. To find out where Jaymie is this season his Facebook or Instagram @JaymieDeville. For bookings contact adam@sole-agency.com
DJ BOOTH: MAKS
The Artist Network and El Chiringuito resident Maks is a DJ that constantly surprises, while his heart lies with techno this is not what he is all about. Infusion Magazine finds out more‌
One thing you might not know about me is…I have 2 dogs and 3 cats and they all hate each other. Dubai’s clubbing scene is…growing. A lot of talent (and garbage) here and I think over time it’ll continue to develop and get better. The general population needs to learn how to support and lift up their local talent better though, otherwise the scene will just fade away. I’m really proud of…once making a Big Mac Pizza, it was glorious. What track could you drop in every set? I make an effort to not drop the same records in sets so often. But there’s some records that I’ll play more than some others that work at any time… Something like Villalobos’ remix of Mari Kvien Brunvoll’s “Everywhere You Go”. I can’t live with out…my family. Nothing comes close. My biggest DJ achievement to date is…I’ve been lucky to share stages and booths with some of my own favourite artists like Marcel Dettmann, Richie Hawtin, Ben Klock, the list goes on. My good memories at those parties and with those artists are my benchmarks I guess. What is your guilty pleasure? A bit of New-Wave or Post-Punk Synthpop. Try starting your day with some Duran Duran records. If I could go back to back with any other DJ it would be…with all my friends all at once for like 24+ hours on a stage somewhere. That would be a shenanigan…And a mess.
You can catch Maks when he warms up for Cristi Cons for Plus Minus at Bridgewater Tavern on Friday, August 25
Music News BEACH CLUB BATTLES
It has been widely reported in recent years that Ibiza is undergoing somewhat of a “redevelopment” of sorts, with several super clubs being raided multiple times last season and there was also several beach events such as tINI and the Gang and Carl Craig’s Detroit Love Affair being cancelled in 2015. This year’s big news is that of San Josè municipal town hall not granting 16 beach clubs the permits required to allow DJ’s to perform at their venues. It is reported that this is in reaction to the general public being refused access to the stretch of beach that “belongs” to these club. This comes off the back of sound restrictions being imposed on such clubs which will see the noise levels being reduced to 85db with this being lowered next season to 65db. This will have a big impact on the island as there has been a big shift towards outdoor clubbing in the last few years. Hopefully this will not spell the end for beach clubs such as Bora Bora and Blue Marlin Ibiza.
SAVIOUR OF SOUNDCLOUD
After an ongoing battle to save the beloved music platform it would seem that Soundcloud have been handed a lifeline, In a last-ditch effort to save the ailing steaming service emergency funding to the tune of an estimated $669.5 million has been extended. It remains unclear if this will be enough to keep the company from permanently going under but for the next 12 months Soundcloud will be able to remain in the game. This 11th hour decision may not be enough to save the 100’s of jobs that were lost when the cracks began to show, but it will at least mean that they have been handed a second chance. The move also couldn’t save the job of Alex Ljung who has stepped down as CEO, but did come with a company reshuffle. With the door now being left to other music streaming sites to up their game, Soundcloud are in dire need of over hauling their site in order to keep a float and more importantly staying relevant. Watch this space.
TECH TALK ALLEN & HEATH XONE: DB2
This mixer is not necessarily new, far from it, but I feel it worthy of some discussion. For the money, which is around AED4,700, compared to the Pioneer DJM900NXS2 which is twice the price, you will receive a fully club ready, analog/digital/MIDI hybrid mixer complete with the Allen & Heaths fabled EQ’s and filters and that is saying nothing about what is under the hood of this stunning mixer. Each of the 4 channels offers a fresh new approach to EQ with the introduction of Allen & Heaths own fully adjustable Trimodal EQing system, which has been borrowed from its bigger brother the DB4 and truly offers a more intuitive way of controlling the frequencies of your track.
One feature that has been added to the DB range of mixers that was previously deemed sacrilege on an XONE is the inclusion of not one, but 2 FX units. The FX units here are unlike what you will have heard a million times before from a Pioneer mixer in that they are actually lifted from Allen & Heaths studio range of mixers and as such, are full of warmth and originality. What also makes these FX units so much more powerful is that the 2 FX units can be linked together to create totally new effects, something that is just not available on any Pioneer mixer at present. This explains the neat coupling of the units and filters to the right-hand side of the mixer.
The options for customising this mixer are endless and will see each user be able to tailor each output of each channel completely differently depending on the source being used. One feature that I was very happy to learn that was included was that the soundcard is DVS ready, so should you wish to use virtual DJ software such as Serato or Traktor, once a laptop has been connected via USB to the mixer it can seamlessly utilise control vinyl or CD’s. For being such a lightweight unit, the DB2 packs in an impressive amount of studio grade kit and the sound output is second to none, as most audiophile DJ’s will attest. I have only scratched the surface of this mixer, but for the more discerning DJ, perhaps playing solely from control vinyl or good old wax, this should be top of your list when considering a new club mixer.
EURO TRIP AMSTERDAM For obvious reasons Amsterdam is quite a chilledout city, but the easy-going nature of the Dutch stretches much further back than the relatively recent developments in lifestyle. Arriving in Amsterdam even the landscape is built for ease of use, with the country as a whole being incredibly flat, the easiest way to get about (so I have been told) is by bike and these can be found in Amsterdam in droves. Having been to Amsterdam a few years previous, even the big music festivals and nightclubs have huge areas designated to housing the attendees’ bikes.
So, after decamping at our Airbnb to the north of Vondelpark we set about making our way to Amsterdam Centrum to check out the various clothes stores, record shops and of course the various bars and eateries. Being European, I found it refreshing to be back in a place that has few rules when it comes to having fun and Amsterdam has fewer rules than most places in Europe I have visited. As much as the centre of Amsterdam is notorious for the past times that it offers, there is no feeling of lawlessness, quite the opposite. If you give people freedom of choice and don’t dictate too many rules, then people will, over time, learn to appreciate these freedoms and not take advantage of them. I find this to be the best way forward when it comes to having fun, if you impose too many restrictions on people they will find ways around them, often to the detriment of their own safety.
I like to shop as much as the next person, but on the 3rd day of my trip I made my way to a store that I had passed the previous night on the way home, Sneaker District is a great store for trainer fans and there I found a huge selection of sneakers in some wild and wacky colour ways and the pair of Nike Air Max in light and dark denim more than caught my eyes. As I said before, Amsterdam benefits from being incredibly flat for the most part and so it made getting around town fairly easy and quick. So, although we had started the day on the west of the city we soon found our way to the south of the city by the picturesque Koninklijk Theater Carré and the gorgeous surrounding areas.
The following day, we spent much of the day in an area that I would recommend to anybody visiting the city, De Pijp had some of the best clothes stores that I have come across and they were all relatively close to each other. This is where I came across a great record store in Record Mania, not really for the latest club tracks but it had an amazing selection of funk and soul, much to the delight of my wife where she was able to pick up original records from Gladys Knight and The Pips, Marvin Gaye, Average White Band and The O’ Jays. Record Mania was also right next to a fantastic second hand store where my wife was able to pour over the 70’s sparkly tops. What women doesn’t love a sparkly top? Once my wife had her hands full of bags it was my turn and I came across an amazing street wear store called Baskèts and although I could have spent far longer and much more money I settled for an Obey/Baskèts collaborative t-shirt which would not be found anywhere in Dubai apart from perhaps on my back.
When planning this leg of my European trip I had in mind that I wanted to go to several of the various night clubs that Amsterdam is famous for, but the truth was that I was happy to go exploring during the day and be home at a decent hour so that I could do it all over again the next day. There was also the small case of a weekend in Amsterdam to survive too. There was still much more to see in De Pijp as the clothes stores are a great mixture of independent stores like Baskèts and another lovely store I stumbled across called Circle of Trust. Amsterdam is also known as much for its record stores as it is its clothes stores and one place that was top of my list that almost married these two perfectly was Patta, an exclusive street wear store that is hugely influenced by the club scene and its fashions. This store is a must and the fact that it was just around the corner from Mary Go Wild, a great record store where I was able to pick up some great additions to my now growing record collection. With the weekend being the last few days of my holiday I made sure I was going out with a bang and so my wife and I hooked up with fellow Dubai dwellers and my Move partner Russ Cooper and his wife for a boutique festival called Nomad. Having sold out for the previous 5 years, Nomad was the perfect size for
a one day festival and the line-ups were a carefully curated mix of up and coming artists from Europe and pioneering US legends. The perfect example of this was catching an exciting Berlin female artist called Paramida on the Teepee stage, while later in the day you could find Marcel Pittmann, Andres and Chez Damier. If you are in Amsterdam next June, do yourself a favour and check it out. However, the main reason for adding Amsterdam to my travel plans was to take in one of the biggest techno festivals in Europe – Awakenings. Now, this festival is not for the faint hearted and should be approached with care. With Sunday’s schedule looking like it had managed to cram in every headline techno artist it was a tough choice but the lure of catching Joris Voorn shutting the festival in his own backyard was too much to resist. Prior to that sets from The Black Madonna and Kink (LIVE) were a perfect prelude to Joris’s closing set and when the Dutchman dropped Azzido Da Bass’s cross over gem “Doom’s Night” towards the end of his set the crowd erupted. This put the icing on the cake of what had been another highly successful European trip and had only helped to deepen my love for electronic music as I have encountered so many people like myself that live for experiences like my European trip. The moral of the story, is that the world is a massive place, you just need to get out there and see it all.
CONCERT AUG 24, 6:30PM 8:30PM AT VIRGIN MEGASTORE, MALL OF EMIRATES FEATURING A LIVE PERFORMANCE BY
CHRONICLES OF KHAN
SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCE BY ABRI
There is little chance that the buildup to this “boxing match” hasn’t encroached on your life in some way, shape or form since the fight was formally announced. Sure, there has been some serious mudslinging going on and both parties have stepped over the line of what should be termed sportsman like, but under all of this is on Sunday 27th August the once-retired all-time great boxer Floyd Mayweather will take on UFC’s biggest star McGregor in Las Vegas in a groundbreaking fight. Regardless of what camp you are in, you would be silly to miss it. Infusion Magazine has pulled together a few options where you will be able to combine the fight with a hearty breakfast….
VENUE: BARASTI BEACH CLUB Location: Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina Time: Open from 6am with breakfast starting at 7am Price: Free entry. 85 AED per person Happy Hour: 3pm – 7pm Boasting a vast outdoor and indoor seating area and Dubai’s best live sport big screen, Barasti is simply the best place to watch what could be the boxing match of the decade. Enjoy their English breakfast with coffee, tea or juice for AED80! barastibeach.com
VENUE: KICKERS Location: Sports Village, Dubai Sports City Time: Open from 6am with breakfast starting at 7am Price: Heavy Weight Breakfast - AED 85 per person Happy Hour: 3pm – 7pm With 5 large projector screens and 11 TVs we guarantee you won’t miss a minute of the boxing action. Especially for the fight Kickers will be serving up a special “Heavy Weight Breakfast”. The buffet style breakfast will have stations dishing up healthy (and not so healthy) breakfast. Not only that, the “Heavy Weight Breakfast” includes unlimited tea and coffee as well as a fresh juice bar. It is anticipated Kickers will be very busy so reservations are recommended and can be booked by calling 04 448 1001 or visiting kickerssportsbar.ae
VENUE: PERRY & BLACKWELDERS Location: Souk Madinat Time: Open from 3am Price: Breakfast bites from AED 60 with unlimited coffee Dubai’s favourite smokehouse and sports bar, Perry & Blackwelder’s, has you sorted with all the action from 3am! Home to 12 big screens, and 11 TVs, we guarantee you won’t miss a minute of the boxing action. With unlimited coffee and delicious breakfast bites from AD 60, Chef Tony has also whipped up a weeklong special of MONEY CAKES, a delicious cheesecake, topped with 100 dollar bills, available in two flavours; Irish cream and P&B. Don’t all fight for it at once! facebook.com/perryandblackwelder
The Weekend Social FRIDAY MEATING
Great news for those that yearn for more steak with their Friday brunch, Ruth’s Chris Steak House at The Address, Dubai Marina are rebooting their Meat Lover’s Friday Brunch. Kicking off at 1230pm and running until 4pm, their all-inclusive packages begin at AED300 and will feature a live Latino band performing throughout the brunch. For those that were not aware of the history behind the steak house’s name, it is so called because when the owner of the brand (Ruth Fertel) bought the then named “Chris Steak House” in 1965 New Orleans. As a part of the purchase agreement, the restaurant name could not be changed for a specified period of time. The name has been with the brand ever since. For those wishing to continue the party happy hour runs from 4pm to 8pm and they offer some of the best cocktails in Dubai Marina. For bookings and more information go to ruthschris.ae.
QWERTY The new brunch from QWERTY, Media One Hotel is something a little different from the usual 4 hours of gorging one’s self. For just AED199 you will be treated to an endless supply of food and beverages brought to your table and the timings are what makes it different. Running from 1-3pm every Friday, BRNCH will then give you the option to extend for a further hour until 4pm. This is a great idea as it offers diners the flexibility of popping in for a quick bite and a few drinks rather than the required 4 hours that is often offered. The food that is served also helps to facilitate this ethos and the Pint of Prawns and Tandoori Pulled Chicken Samosa’s sound especially delicious. QWERTY will also be running secret tasks through their ingenious Whatsapp broadcast group where weekend stays and invitations to their Saturday roast are up for grabs. You will also find interesting small touches on your tables such as mini Connect 4 and vintage Atari games, plus Dubai 92’s Jono will be sound tracking your afternoon. Once you are done with BRNCH, happy hour will kick off from 4-7pm with a range of 2-4-1’s. For reservations, Whatsapp the Qwerty mobile on +971 55 124 9673 or email bite@ mediaonehotel.com.
DUBAI LEGENDS: CONAN LIQUID
For the first in a new series of features Infusion Magazine speaks to some of the DJ’s that have really helped shape the music and clubbing landscape here in Dubai. We caught up with Conan Liquid to discuss his Middle Eastern journey…
For those that don’t know you can you tell us a little about your career in music so far? As a musician and producer, I started working in studios when I was about 8 years old. My uncle was a producer and I would spend the summer holidays there sometimes learning the trade, way before computers and at the advent of MIDI. Also, my parents were always in bands so I had been playing musical instruments pretty much since I was born. I think my first release as an artist was around 1990. A pretty basic house track that sampled an old Philly disco track. I continued releasing house tracks throughout the 90s and into the 2000s on labels like Strictly Rhythm, Defected, MN2S, Sony, Parlaphone, and in the late 90s put together a duo called Liquid People. I think I have had over 300 releases in total if you include remixes (which include a whole bunch of artists from Talking Heads to Blondie, to Radiohead, to Jamie Woon, to Snow Patrol). More recently I have taken a sabbatical from writing and producing club music and have been writing for TV and Film. I will do the odd remix or mix engineer job if something nice comes up. As a DJ, I started DJing in 1983. I was playing hip hop, disco, funk and soul. I was what people nowadays call a turntablist, although back then the term didn’t exist. I won a few competitions
throughout the 80s scratching with my head and funny stuff like that. My first paid gig was in 1987 and round about then I had started to play very early house, Ten City, Armando, Chip E, Farley Jackmaster Funk, etc. I really got the bug for house and hip hop was going down the route of gangster rap, something I just wasn’t really in to. Over the next 30 years I played pretty much everywhere for pretty much every major club and brand. Lately I have gone back to my roots and tend to play multi genre from rock to Indie to hip hop to jazz to funk to chill out. How long have you been in Dubai? I first DJed in Dubai in 2007 at Chi, but I moved here in 2010, so nearly seven years. I only planned to be here for two (that’s a phrase I hear all the time from expats here). What made you decide to move to Dubai? I was offered a job as a sound and lighting engineer looking after Nasimi Beach in its golden era. I was working with two of my favourite Dubai based DJs, David Craig (the nicest guy in the universe) and Marko Smokingroove (still one of my favourite house DJs in Dubai). We had a ball. It was a great time for Nasimi and the parties were pretty legendary. I also worked on the first few Sandance events and the Faithless concert at Atlantis. Good times. What was the scene like when you moved here? It was definitely more underground. As far back as I can remember there has always been a good scene here. I think because of the diversity of cultures we have in Dubai people in general really
know their music and all bring something different to the table. I do have to say though that lately the crowds seem to be a bit more stagnant. A bit too serious. There isn’t that pioneering, swashbuckling, ground breaking attitude anymore that there was 5 or 6 years ago. It’s all got a bit samey. Since moving to Dubai how have you seen the music and club scenes evolve? When I first moved here everything was a bit rawer. You’d be DJing on a table in a bar with varying equipment. It was way more underground. It has evolved in the sense that it is more popular. There are loads more clubs and bars to choose from. They are literally opening new ones every day, but on the other hand this has almost driven the scene backwards as nobody is really trying anything new anymore. It’s just the same formula over and over again. Less risk taking. Same social media posts. A lot of the pioneers I knew when I first started coming here have moved on. Dubai is such a transient place with people coming and going, but in my opinion the new blood that is coming in is just not really doing anything different. I see so many DJs move here and they think the pavements are paved with gold etc and fall flat on their back sides when they realise that it’s tough making a living here out of DJing and that their popularity in their own country doesn’t really count for anything in Dubai. Dare I say it, the quality of DJs has gone down. People are booked on how many likes they have on social media rather than their prowess on the ones and twos.
What do you think is the best thing about the Dubai scene at the moment? I do like the fact that there are more DJs playing multi genres. When I first came here there was probably 5 of us playing right across the board, and a million RnB or house DJs. That has changed in the last year I think. It’s a good thing for the scene. Limiting yourself to one genre is something I have never understood. The ability to play right across multiple genres, and do it well, is the mark of a good DJ. To be frank, anyone can download a load of house music from a site and mix them for three hours. Do that with multi genres and you’re showing skills!
How do you feel the scene could be improved? Break some rules. Take a gamble. Try something different. It has become very safe. Clients are only interested in the bottom line so promoters are scared to break new ground. This has made the scene quite stagnant in my opinion. There used to be reputable Indie nights, drum and bass nights, Northern soul nights, proper disco jams, but these have faded out somewhat. Everyone is taking the safe option. We need pioneers here again! Being a full-time DJ can sometimes be demanding, what do you do when you are not behind the decks? To be honest I don’t find it demanding. I am blessed that I have made a living for over 30 years from playing other people’s music. Very blessed. Only very occasionally does it ever actually feel like work. But when I am not behind the decks, I shoot a lot of photographs (something I have done since I was 6), watch a lot of films, write music, blow up stuff on my PS4, blow up more stuff on my PS4. I cook a lot. I am in the gym two hours a day, six days a week. It’s therapy to me. Keeps my mind sharp and at 45 I have to be a bit more aware about my health, so working out keeps me in shape and keeps my old bones working. I spend way to much time surfing the internet for completely useless information that I inflict on the missus over dinner. Where will we be able to catch you in action this season? I am presently Entertainment Manager for a company called Forefront. We have several venues in Dubai (The Scene, Jekyll and Hyde, Mr Miyagi’s, Cobra Kai, La Cala). I DJ at The Scene Tuesday through Friday playing a mix of pretty much everything and also provide the playlists for all our venues. I am happy that in reviews a lot of people mention that the playlists and the DJs in our venues are playing music that nobody else really plays in Dubai. We set out with that intention and I am happy with the result. Mr Miyagi’s, our newest venue has a playlist that makes you feel like you are in an 80s movie and I have included dialogue from a load of 80s films in the playlist. And without sounding big headed I am frequently receiving messages from DJs and people saying they spend most of their time Shazamming the playlists when they are in our venues. It is good to be in a position after all these years as a DJ and producer to still be turning people on to music they have never heard before. That’s our job, right? To keep up to date with all Conan’s gigs, releases and general goings on check out facebook.com/c.liquid
JUST FOR
PUMA FOOTBALL BOOTS
With a fresh football season looming large, we’ve seen heaps of change over the summer. Alvaro Morata swapping capital cities, Wayne Rooney returning to blue and Neymar’s unexpected escape from Barcelona. This being, much remains the same. Wenger’s defiant optimism, City’s stratospheric spending on defense and of course, a plethora of new cleets from all our favourite brands. Front and centre being Puma, who look to upgrade and combine the best technology from the Evo Speed and Touch with the simple, clean Puma One. The One has been designed in consultation with Thierry Henry and Antoine Griezmann, focusing on “fit, fast and feel” and they look incredible. For someone who rarely veers from black football boots, I cannot get over how slick the white calfskin looks. The black Formstripe and orange sole plate just add to its classic edges.
The inclusion of the evo-knit sock (black) gives a very comfortable collared fit and I was pleased to see it still gave enough support around the ankle. Looking at the bladed sole which borrowed the technology of the Evo Speed, it feels lighter than its predecessor and had great traction on both grass and artificial turf. Now, there may be complaints that the move from kangaroo leather will impact durability, especially if used regularly on watered grass. There can be no doubt that the calfskin gives a far closer feel of control with the ball at your feet. For indoor use, I am 100% sold on these being the best boots I’ve tried in many years. As a lumbering centre-half, I wasn’t expecting to be sharing the same boots as Sergio Aguero, Hector Bellerin and of course, Griezmann in the season ahead but I really can’t see past the Puma One. Just don’t call them pink! Words by Nick Yuill
Puma One football boots are AED920 (available in black and white) and can be purchased at PUMA stores across the UAE
Gadgets DJI GOGGLES
See what your drone sees. Whether you are flying your Mavic Pro or just enjoying one of your amazing movies in bed, these new DJI Goggles with enhanced VR specs are designed for seamless FPV (first-person view) flying with DJI products. WONDERCUBE
End the frustration of carrying tangled cable and carry a keyring instead for charging, synchronize, stand and more. WonderCube is an all-in-one tiny mobile solution for on the go generation.
LUST FOR LIFE BY LANA DEL RAY
The fifth studio album by GQ’s Woman of the year, Lana Del Ray is sincere and sublime, adding more personal touch to her album. A worthwhile addition to your Alternative/Indie Genre music collection. SONY WALKMAN NW-WS413
Take your music to new places with Sony Walkman NW-WS413 – An Innovative, tough, salt water and dust proof design that comes with a built-in MP3 player; giving you the freedom to do more.
Eat Sleep Rave Repeat China Grill
Cabin Fever
China Grill at The Westin Hotel located in Dubai Marina’s Mina Seyahi has long been a hot spot destination for holiday makers and residents alike and with an illustrious history in throwing some of the best parties throughout the week it was a no brainer when I was invited to come down and check out the Cabin Fever concept Saturday past. As the name suggests the evening is geared towards the flight crew that reside in and around Dubai and with one look at the deal on offer I see this being a regular haunt of the flight staff who enjoy some of the best Asian fusion food that the city has to offer. Upon arriving at China Grill around 8, my group and I were seated at our table by the lovely manager Pinkur it was clear that China Grill prides itself on the high level of customer service that they offer as we were immediately made to feel welcome and relaxed. Being seated upstairs in the lounge also gave a relaxed atmosphere in which we could enjoy ourselves and not feel out of place. Starting with a pre-meal drink we were offered a great selection of “house” drinks, but the fact that the options were far superior to other “house” drinks that I had encountered previously already given my experience a big green tick. Many restaurants this summer have offered some amazing deals, but being able to sample
the entire a la carte menu but discounted by 50% is unheard of. With this in mind I choose to start with the Wagyu Beef & Scallion Sui Mai and I have to say these dumplings were so tasty that I had to order another portion. The kick of the scallions perfectly punctuated the smooth texture of the Wagyu, highly recommended regardless of the price. While we waited for our mains to arrive we took for advantage of the extensive drinks package that is on offer and the bottomless glasses of bubbles went down a treat with my group. As well as the food being some of the tastiest dim sum I have tasted, China Grill is a stylish restaurant upstairs and down and has the right mix of atmospheric lighting coupled with the smooth mid-tempo grooves from the resident DJ Just Lance set just the right pace with which to enjoy a relaxed evening with friends. Once our mains arrived all chitter chatter stopped almost immediately, which is always a sure-fire sign of the quality of the food. With such a massive discount, it was hard to say no to the Black Tea Smoked Cod which was served with Thai Basil, which to anybody that knows me will say this is a no brainer. The delicate flavours of the Cod together with the spice of the Basil was an experience that I could not recommend enough. Being a music lover, it was hard to detach my ear
from the beats that were coming out of the perfectly appointed Void speakers that were carefully spotted throughout the venue. Being a DJ of noticeable experience, Just Lance had spotted that like me the other guests were moving and grooving in their seats and so applied the right
amount of pressure at the right time. Although I didn’t recognise much of the great music that was played Purple Disco Machine’s bumpy ”Devil In Me” worked a treat. By the end of our meal we were ready to let our hair down and make full use of this unbelievable package that runs until 11pm.
AED99 House Beverages Party Pack for Ladies, Air Crew and Hotelliers (ID required), AED149 House Beverages Party Pack for Men, 50% off all food, 8pm to 11pm.
WORKOUT PLAN The sun is out in full force and that means one thing only: fitness mode is on. It’s wonderful to see people taking such pride in their appearance and health, even if it does only last consist of a crash diet paired with six weeks in the gym. There is one thing, though, that is really giving me the hump… Why go to the gym if you’re just going to spend hours on your mobile? When I get myself in gym mode, I want a quick 60-minute session, in and out. Yet lately I have been waiting to use machines because ‘Mr. Muscle Who Loves Himself’ is too busy whatsapp’ing some girl who is simply not that in to him. Not on my time pal, get off the machine! Who in their right mind actually goes to the gym because they wish to spend time there? So, the next time you go to the gym, please have a little consideration for others – do your time and get gone! Do not be that guy!
Monkey Out...
The Angry Monkeys’ views are his own, and don’t necessarily reflect the views of Infusion Magazine.
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