Issuu 301: 01 Oct '17 - 14 Oct '17

OCTOBER

13 2017

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: Jai Little, Stu Todd, Paul Spaccavento, Thomasina Jordan-Rhodes, Andy Mcgirr, Dario Dea, Ed Wise, Dave Fuentes, Gina Moretti, Jack Woodcock, Kambiz Kia, Raya Al-Ashi, Pablo Walker, Neil Henderson and Tim Derry INFUSION IS PUBLISHED BY Milehigh Media, LLC PO Box 53443 – Dubai, UAE Tel/Fax: 04 368 8098

infusionmag infusionmagazine infusionmagazine

OUR PARTNERS

At last a pool party in the heart of Dubai Marina with good music!

Bravo On N On.

Great news to hear that Creamfields is returning to Abu Dhabi, let’s hope the line-up does the brand justice.

It also appears that Dubai Safari is not far from opening and will be open in time for the UAE National Day celebrations.

The Prodigy are to release a new album next year. End of.

GUEST LIST

BLACK LIST News of an ongoing missile feud between America and North Korea is worrying at best, but when Donald Trump is the one that is handling the issue this is more than a cause for concern.

Announced a few weeks ago, The Music Room is to close its doors.

Let hope something else takes its place.

Say What?

DRONE LOGIC

Drones seem to be all the rage these days and the remote technology has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years.

Volocopter by RTA looks to take this more than a few steps further with their new autonomous flying cabs. In a special unveiling ceremony that was recently attended by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum the Air Taxi was announced that it would be rolled out by the end of the year. Things are looking up for traffic jams.

GIFT OF MUSIC

If you are a fan of Oasis or indeed Noel Gallagher you might be in luck. Noel is to sell off nearly 50 items of music equipment that he used during his time touring with Oasis and also during his solo tours with his band High Flying Birds. Being sold via site Reverb. com, there are scores of bespoke kit up for grabs including rare vintage tape echo units and one-off prototypes like an Orange Custom Shop NG140 built specifically for Gallagher by noted amp guru Adrian Emsley. Fans of Noel will also have noted that he has also just announced his next HFB album “Who Built the Moon?�.

WE LOVE BARASTI BEACH CLUB

We know it seems like such a long time ago, but when you first ventured out into your first weekend in Dubai more often than not Barasti was the first port of call.

Sure, Barasti is one of the best places in the Middle East to watch sporting events on a weekly basis, and sure, it offers one of the biggest post brunch parties in Dubai, but what a lot of people sometimes forget is that at its very core is a group of DJs’ that keep the masses dancing all weekend long.

When we say masses, we mean it. On an average week, the rocksolid DJ team of Marty Metcalf, Just Lance, Rohan Nunez, Marc Trowsdale, Tom Ferguson, David Soto and recent signing Scott Forshaw entertain several thousand punters. No mean feat. and when you throw in the scale of the operation involved in running a venue like Barasti it needs to run like a well-oiled machine. Barasti – we salute you and your staff.

For more information go to barastibeach.com.

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What we did BLUE MARLIN IBIZA UAE SEASON OPENER

Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE was well and truly back with a bang on Friday September 15. With the line-up of Denmark’s very own Whomadewho, UK raising star Latmun and Brazilian techno heavy weight Anna, the crowd were always going to be in for a good old fashioned knees up.

The Danish duo on the night brought their very distinct sound of experimental pop which is heavily influenced by the likes of Daft Punk, Soulwax, Hot Chip, Justice and LCD Soundsystem. They were a great warm up for the crowd which had swelled to double in size from the start of their set.

Up next was Latmun and when he dropped his ever so infectious track – “Dancing” which sent the crowd into a loud rapture. His DJ set had a coherent energy, infectious groove and showed why this is the key component for crowds to be captivated worldwide by him wherever he is playing right now.

ANNA is one of Brazil’s finest exports and she’s quickly climbing the ranks with her seductive, yet heavy-hitting brand of techno. With her in the famous Blue Marlin dj booth the crowd were taken away on a voyage of trippy, hard and groovey techno sound.

With the addition of the new lighting set up, stage design and décor revamp, Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE have taken the experience of raving at their establishment to another level which others in Dubai and Abu Dhabi need to follow.

All in all, once again another great start to the season and long may it continue…

Words by Pablo Walker For more information on upcoming events go to facebook. com/BMIUAE

RnB classics like, “Tell Me What You Want From Me” by Mase feat. Total and “Bartender” by T-Pain feat. Akon, through to current hip hop with, “Humble” by Kendrick Lamar.

As expected in true Dubai fashion, the club has received a full refurbishment whilst being closed through the summer months, with some of these improvements being felt physically as an airconditioning system has been built into the sides, billowing cold air on the crowd which is essential when partying in 28-degree heat!

If that wasn’t enough to get your tongues wagging, an exclusive and never-done-before Champagne Room has been built, allowing guests to personally pick out their Champagne of preference in a comfortable space. Another bar has also been added, relieving pressure on the main bar and minimizing waiting time - oh did I forget to mention URBN Saturday’s offer free drinks for ladies until 2am?! If you’re free on a Saturday night and urban music tickles your fancy, URBN at WHITE is highly recommended.

Tune of the night: Serani “No Games” (2009) Words by Thomasina Jordan-Rhodes For more information go to whitedubai.com

WHITE SEASON OPENER

If you can see queues forming in Dubai by 11pm, you know you’re in for a treat! Located at the grandstand at Meydan Hotel & Racecourse, the sought-after and high-tech outdoor rooftop venue creates a club experience like no other through innovative and elusive party ideology! From beyond the extensive queues and towering white pearly gates of the entrance, it immediately became apparent that FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) was upon us as everybody and their dog was in attendance for the season reopening of WHITE’s URBN Saturday’s. By 11:30pm the club was already heaving.

As the name states, URBN lets us divulge in a mix of RnB, Afrobeats, UK Grime and Hip Hop music. Tonight, was not about to disappoint, as the regions award-winning and internationally renowned British DJ’s had been handpicked to kick-start this season with Dany Neville, DJ Moky and Tinie Tempah’s Disturbing London’s DJ Charlesy. We were being taken on a journey beginning with 00s

PLUS MINUS W/ WITH MATTHEW DEKAY

The dark, warm womb of Bridgewater Tavern’s main room offers the perfect new setting for Adrian Grech and his cohort’s fabulous nu-techno night, particularly tonight in the ever-capable hands of supporting ADID’s own Zone+, AAYA and Loud Brothers building the room for Matthew Dekay’s appearance. The efforts of the +/team in all respects - production, branding, vibe all, most crucially, underscored by their roster of bookings - makes for a profound night of dancing. It’s events like these that lead Dubai’s scene, combined with the likes of Groove on The Grass and last season’s Dubai debut, All Day I Dream, communally quenching the city’s growing thirst for smooth, lush and deep house vibes. Certainly, if you’re looking for a night of music that moves your feet as well as your heart, get involved with the likes of Oliver Koletzki and more still to come...

Words by Neil Henderson For more information go to facebook.com/PlusMinusUAE.

SUNDAY SHOUTIN’

With Lucky Voice taking care of business at the weekend with their hugely popular brunch the music venue turns its attention to Sundays and house music is firmly on the menu. The Sunday Sessions is headed up by Natalie Brogan and DJ Danny Whitlock and Matt West will accompany them on Sax. All guests will enjoy 2-4-1 on drinks and the party will kick on until 3am. If house music of all shapes and sizes is your bag then look no further.

BURNING UP

It is hard to believe that MK’s incendiary track ”Burning” is 17 years old this year?! In recognition of this the Detroit artist has released the piano led vocal anthem “17” and will be priming this monster track for his upcoming appearance at beach side venue Zero Gravity on Friday, October 6. Having been the go to producer to the stars in the 90’s, MK took a side step from the lime light for some time before returning to chart success with his remix of Storm Queen’s slow burner “Look Right Through”. It is highly recommended to get along early as this is not to be missed.

TAKE THAT AND PARTY

UK boy band Take That were simply unstoppable in the 90’s and then regained that crown again in 2014, sans Robbie Williams and Jason Orange when their album III hit number 1 in the UK album charts. Fast forward to 2017 and after the hugely popular show in 2015 the boys are back in Dubai by popular demand. Again taking place at Media City’s Amphitheatre the Manchester band will perform a string of their old favourites together with their newer material from recent albums and singles. If you wish to go you better get moving as early bird tickets for the event on Thursday, November 30 have already sold out.

CELEBRATION OF LIFE

EDM mega event Sensation is back to Celebrate Life on Friday, November 10 and as always, they will be bringing with them out of this world stage production and larger than life artists. The hugely popular big beat bash at Meydan Racecourse will this year feature top Swedish electro artist Steve Angello, Dutch DJ’s Don Diablo, Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano, resident Mr White, Sam Feldt and Danny Avila. With this being an early start of 6pm and running until 3am, there will be plenty opportunities to wave your flag for the cameras.

LIFE IN STEREO

With Stereo Arcade recently reimagining the live music side of their venue to the now perfectly named Boom Room, there comes a beefed up and revised entertainment schedule. In The Club Thursdays are taken care by the safe hands of DJ Dean Curtis and Fridays belong to DJ Majed Zane, both selectors will have the crowds moving to an open format mix of rock, pop and dance from the 90’s all the way up to present day. While in the newly opened Boom Room, Tuesdays is A Family Affair with DJ Majed Zane and DJ Zaza playing a twisted mix of hip hop and house. Wednesday is the turn of Uptown DXB with Mr Shef Codes and his impeccably curated old school hip hop and rnb, Thursday is taken care of Mr Andy Swift and Fridays is the domain of DJ Stylez (hip hop/rnb).

Deal wise, there is 4 drinks on the house for ladies from 6PM to 9PM on Tuesdays in Boom Room and 2 drinks on the house before midnight on Wednesday in Boom Room.

SATURDAY SESSIONS with

Extend your weekend with chilled Saturday Sessions featuring The Boxtones Trio, the multi-award winning band.

Enjoy juicy BBQ grills and cool crafted beverages with your family and friends on the banks of the Dubai Water Canal, at the new CafĂŠ Artois

by Bridgewater Tavern.

7th and 28th October 2017 BridgewaterTavern

#BridgewaterTavern

JW Marriott Marquis Dubai | Sheikh Zayed Road, Business Bay T +971 4 414 3000 | jwmarriottmarquisdubailife.com

LOUDER THAN LIFE

To help Decibel blow out the candles on their 2nd birthday cake they have drafted in a true legend of the European techno scene – Gregor Tresher. Infusion Magazine chatted to Gregor while he was recently on tour in South America…

What has been happening on the road this summer Gregor?

It’s been a busy summer for me with a lot of gigs in Europe, but also I was happy to play in Asia, Australia, the US and South America again.

Where have you played recently that surprised you in a good way?

South America is just so good right now, I just returned from a two weeks tour there and every single gig was just great. Especially Crobar in Buenos Aires really blew my mind.

What tracks have been working especially well for you lately?

It’s tough to pick out single ones, I’d recommend listening to some of my recent sets on my soundcloud.

Your label Break New Soil seems to have moved on light years from your track of the same name back in 2008. Is this a conscious decision or simply moving with the times?

Thank you. It’s not so much a conscious decision but comes with the territory I guess: Techno for me has always been about new music in general and developments in sound, so I guess it happened pretty naturally with the label.

Where do you see the future of your label?

There’s actually a brand new label on the horizon that I’m about to start and I’m very excited about it. I can’t say too much about it yet but it will be worth the wait :) Playing for Decibel shortly will be your first time performing in the UAE, do you have any preconceived ideas about the region or have you been told from other techno artists what to expect in Dubai?

I’ve heard many good things about the UAE from other artists, and I’m excited to be there for the first time. It’s always a great thing to play at new places, and there really aren’t so many countries where Techno is big nowadays that I haven’t been to - so I’m really looking forward to it!

Although you will be DJing for Decibel, your live sets have been causing a stir. What is your set up when you perform live?

It’s not so much about the setup itself (which I´m currently changing a lot), but more about the music I’m playing. I have quite a big back catalogue to choose tracks from and I believe the special thing about the live sets is that I’m obviously only playing my own music (which I would never do in a DJ-set).

Big room or intimate?

Both can be great, no preference really. It’s all about the moment.

What releases do you have coming up that you can tell us about?

We have just released new remixes for Goliath on Bedrock by Alan Fitzpatrick and Emmanuel Top. Next up will be a collaboration release with Petar Dundov for Nicole Moudaber´s Mood Records. And after that it´s all about that new label I mentioned ;) Decibel’s 2nd birthday with Gregor Tresher - october 5 ON42- Media One Hotel For more information go to facebook. com/decibeldxb

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GALE FORCE 10

Trance artist Marc van Gale will be stopping off in Dubai on his tour around the globe celebrating the release of his recent hit records “Butterfly”, “Spirit of Kiev”, “Uncharted Me”, and “Demerged Evil”.

What better way to share the fruits of his studio based labour than by packing out and rocking a floating nightclub…

The Coldharbour Recordings star has shared the stage with the genres greats including Ronski Speed, TALLA2XCL and German superstar Paul van Dyk, so you can be sure that this boat party will be making some serious waves when it sets sail on Friday, October 6. Having already rocked clubs in Ukraine, Germany and Czech Republic Marc has already experienced critical acclaim for his productions.

Joining Marc will be UK pop icon turned house and garage DJ impresario Dane Bowers. With Dane recently relocating to Dubai he has set about immersing himself in the cities nightlife and music scene. Being no stranger to the bright lights and glitz that comes with it Dane is right at home warming up for such an accomplished artist such as Marc van Gale. Joining Dane and Marc on the boat will be local hero DJ Slater and fellow trance head Alejandr0 who will be helping to set the tone of the voyage.

For more information on this event go to facebook.com/ ZodiacEventsDXB

HOT TOPIC There are few brands that are better suited to each other than Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE and Guy Gerber’s signature imprint, Rumors. With the beach club’s heritage rooted deeply in the care free aesthetic of Ibiza there is few artists that have struck a chord as much as Guy Gerber…

The last time Gerber performed in Dubai almost a year ago to the day was nothing short of legendary, and like everything that Guy does is timed to perfection. Just like his own imprints, where just as Supplement Facts began to go supernova he stuck a pin in it to pursue another avenue – Rumors.

Having returned to Destino in Ibiza for a second season, guy Gerber and his weekly Rumors parties have been the talk of the island all summer and with a roster featuring the likes of Sven Vath, Cassy, Dubfire and Delano Smith there really is no wonder.

This time around Guy Gerber will be bringing with him the duo of Lex Wolf and Negghead aka Acid Mondays. The twosome has released standout work on an impressive array of labels including Warp Records, One Records, 2020 Vision and R&S Records, they have also featured heavily at Ibiza institution Circoloco this summer and are now taking off on the road with Guy Gerber and his Rumors parties. Like all good stories, they begin with a rumor and on Saturday, October 14 Blue Marlin’s Rumors party will be the talk of the town yet again.

For more information on Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE’s events go to facebook.com/BMIUAE

BASE IN THE PLACE We look ahead to some of the parties coming up at d3 based open air super club BASE Dubai that you simply cannot miss…

RSDAY, OCTOBER 5

THU wn collectively as Nervo first got Australian twins Mim and Liv kno artists and in the process netted r othe for their break song writing and they wrote for David Guetta k them a Grammy for the hit trac e sinc have pair The r”.

Ove s e Take Kelly Rowland - “When Lov own right and have also r thei in ts artis ing tour me gone on to beco Roger Minogue, Jake Shears, Nile worked with the likes of Kylie of party d bran ue uniq r thei be ever and Britney Spears. It will how E on Thursday, October 5. music that will be rocking BAS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6

Following the tried and tested formula of hip and hop headliners dominating Friday nights at BASE Dubai, LA rapper Kid Ink is next up to take centre stage. So called due to the 27 tattoo’s that adorn various parts of his body, he has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the game in P Diddy, Sean Kingston and Chris Brown. Kid Ink is currently riding the wave created by his latest EP “7 Series” and you can be sure he will be dropping bars from this and his hit albums “Up & Away”, “My Own Lane” and “Full Speed”.

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ck Morillo Mr Filters aka Eri l record label na mi bli Su and his ted kings of era ult ad were the un late 90’s the in US house music s his 1993 wa it t bu ’s, 00 rly ea hit “I Like To world-wide smash under the ed ord rec Move It” Reel that pseudonym Reel 2 ble. Erick is ssi po t tha all de ma tertainer the consummate en cks and de the d hin when be ry beat right he clearly feels eve wd. Make along with the cro to move it on dy rea are u yo sure 12 as that is er tob Oc y, Thursda rillo will Mo ck Eri exactly what then some. make you do, and

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13 DJ M.O.S. is a name tha t is deeply entrenched in the New York celebrity party scene and with clients such as Nike, Heidi Klum, Kanye West and Usher all calling upon this DJ’s skil ls to keep the most discern ing party goer dancing. With his eclectic style encompassing rock, electro, soul, disco and of course hip hop and r and b you can expect more than a few twists and turns along the way when he rocks BASE Dubai on Friday, October 13.

For more information go to facebook.com/BaseDubai.

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COOKING UP A STORM

As if the already bursting line up for 117 LIVE’s upcoming Fiesta De Los Muertos on Friday, October 27 at Autism Rocks Arena wasn’t good enough, the mega concert outfit has recently added UK grime star Stormzy to the mix.

Since he was introduced to the UK music scene in 2010, the highly-acclaimed grime artist has gone on to turn the genre on its head and drag it in and UK street culture in to the charts. Stormzy’s first UK hit featured his “Shut Up” freestyle and with the track debuting at number 18 in the singles charts it became the first ever freestyle to place in the UK charts.

After a short break from social media Stormzy returned with his latest album “Gang Signs & Prayers”, this debuted at number one in the UK album charts and has since seen him set off on a world tour. Add to this the numerous awards that Stormzy has landed including Mercury Prize 2017, GQ’s solo artist of the year, 2 AIM Independent Music Awards and a legion of fans across the world. Stormzy is a frighteningly talented rapper and you better believe that he will raise the roof when he steps on the stage at Fiesta De Los Muertos.

Stormzy will be joining Gorillaz, Massari, The Mariachis, Carly Rae Jepson, as well as local acts Consoul Trainin and Arcade 82 on Friday, October 27 at Autism Rocks Arena. For more information for to 117live.com.

EXCLUSIVE MUTEK AE PHASE 1 + 2 With huge news arising shortly after we last went to print, Infusion Magazine can now exclusively reveal details of the inaugural Arab Emirates edition of Mutek festival taking place in Dubai on November 16 and 17, but first let’s recap what happened during the phase 1 announcement...

PHASE 1 With news of the wizard of Detroit Jeff Mills

making his long-awaited UAE debut at Mutek AE social media accounts blew up all over the place in sheer delight of the Underground Resistance founding member performing in Dubai.

Mills will be joined by acclaimed Russian born artist Dasha Rush who will be performing a special A/V set with Stanislav Glasov called Dark Hearts of Space and Canadian genre pushing audio/ visual artist Hugues Clement. Of course, what would a regional festival be without a range of locally based live artists. Taking their place beside their international counterparts is Nasrawi and Shadi Megallaa & Karim Sultan aka Magnetic Fossils. Both these acts will be performing live, and although little information has been released as to the format of each performance it’s safe to say you won’t want to miss a beat. Let us also make it very clear that Mutek is not just a collection of club events, there will also be panel discussions, workshops and it will delve much deeper than any club night that you are experienced before as calibre of the stage production will blow your socks off.

PHASE 2

The big news from the Phase 2 announcement is that Mutek AE is proud to present a unique and abstract performance from Francesco Tristano, an exciting young pianist who effortlessly bridges the gap between contemporary techno music and classical compositions from the likes of Cage and Bach.

As well as this hugely intriguing prospect, Mutek AE has in store an astonishing array of local and regional artists all performing live - Abri & The Dreamfleet (AE), Siamak Amidi (AE), Etyen (LB), Telmiz (LB), Paul Josef (AE) and Tacit (AE). At the point of going to print the venue/s for this hugely important festival were undisclosed, but what Mutek AE did advise is that the venue/s will be announced when tickets go on sale shortly. They also stressed, “This festival is for everyone interested in exploring the digital arts and live electronic music platforms. It is also for everyone interested in exploring what is happening around the city, at the end of the day it is a cultural festival that stands for creating a community�. We couldn’t have put it better ourselves. Keep your eyes glued to these very pages for updates on how to get your hands on tickets.

For more information go to mutek.org

Zodiac Events Presents

Single/EP Release Boat Party Dubai - Eurasia Tour 2017

Friday 6 October

ALL INCLUSIVE 7PM - Midnight

DJ Support

Alejandr0 Dane Bowers Dane Bowers

DJ Slater *** EARLY RELEASE TICKETS AVAILABLE *** 21 and Over - I.D will be checked Meet up at or before 7:00 pm at Pier 7, Dubai Marina. The boat will depart no later than 7:30 *** FOR TICKETS *** Whatsapp 050-817-8276 zodiaceventsdxb@gmail.com

ON THE RADAR

MOVE W/ KAROUSEL & SEELIE

360° PRESENTS MR V OCTOBER 5 – JUMEIRAH BEACH HOTEL

OCTOBER 26 – CASA LATINA, IBIS HOTEL, AL BARSHA

GROOVE ON THE GRASS W/ ROBAG WRUHME OCTOBER 6 – EMIRATES GOLF COURSE

BURNING BEACH W/ HOSH OCTOBER 27 – BLUE MARLIN IBIZA UAE

ZODIAC EVENTS W/ MARC VAN GALE OCTOBER 6 – PIER 7, DUBAI MARINA

DECIBEL W/ CHARLOTTE DE WITTE NOVEMBER 2 – ON42, MEDIA ONE HOTEL

NOMAD W/ AGORIA

MICRO MUTEK AE W/ JEFF MILLS NOVEMBER 16 –EVENUE TBA

OCTOBER 6 – EL CHIRINGUITO, RIXOS, THE PALM

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Soundstage MICHAEL AL ASMIR

Bassist and writer for metal band Aramaic lifts the lid on his musical greatness…

My biggest gig ever was…

35,000 people at a festival in Damascus 2007. They had fireworks.

I’m best known for… the epic shenanigans & after parties organized by me and my previous band mates “The Crow Murder”.

I’m most proud of… my band Aramaic’s upcoming album, we put our blood, sweat and tears in it.

The artist I’d most like to work with is…

Trent Reznor of NIN… from “Pretty Hate Machine” to “Gone Girl” soundtrack. This guy is a musical genius.

One thing you may not know about me is that…

I have a slice of pizza tattooed on my leg.

This year, I’m playing in… not sure where yet after The Music Room closed. But we have a gig with the Danish band Saturnus on the 3rd of November.

Location TBA. If I had to live in one decade it would be…

Late 60s … Woodstock man!

The one piece of music kit I can’t live with out is…

My bass guitar. Everything else is just not essential.

For more information on Michael’s band go to facebook. com/AramaicDXB

DJ BOOTH: ANDY MCGIRR

Scottish DJ and producer Andy Mcgirr gets a grilling from Infusion Magazine…

One thing you might not know about me is… my first DJ gig back in 2001, I was so nervous I couldn’t place the needle down on my first record.

My favourite ever record is…

That’s a hard choice, but if I had to pick one then Sasha - Xpander, it’s a timeless cross-genre masterpiece.

Dubai’s clubbing scene is… friendly and close knit. I’ve made so many great friends while out clubbing or DJing here.

I’m really proud of… my Dad, he has just retired and is still continuing to work, even though he doesn’t really need to. I wish I had his work ethos!

What track could you drop in every set?

Michael Jackson - Billie Jean. The bass-line gets people moving as soon as they hear it.

My biggest DJ achievement to date is…

DJing for 24 hours continuously to raise money for a youth charity in the UK. It was much, much harder than I anticipated, but we raised a large sum for a great cause.

If you could DJ in any decade which would it be…

It’s not strictly a decade per-se, but the mid 90s till mid 2000s, for a nostalgic re-run!

If I could go back to back with any other DJ it would be…

I think Nina Kraviz, like me she loves a trance classic so there would definitely be chemistry in the track selection!

To keep up to date with Andy is doing you can follow him at facebook.com/djandymcgirr

Formed in 2000 as one of the first extreme metal bands to emerge from Dubai, U.A.E. and having supported toured with legendary ametal bands such as Metallica, Morbid Angel, Deicide, Decapitated and Suffocation – Nervecell are the torchbearers for a Middle Eastern wave of metal. To celebrate the release of their latest album, “Past, Present..Torture” at Virgin Megastore last month, we sat down with the band’s

vocalist and bassist, James Khazaal for a quick interview.

whatever they may be, and we keep on pushing and doing what we believe in.

1) How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together? We’ve grown and improved as a band both musically, personally and with the topics we write our lyrics about today. You can still hear the signature Nervecell groove, brutality and all the technical melodic elements in our music. In terms of evolving, you will hear how versatile our new songs are, even on the production level. We’ve come a long way since we self-funded and released our Human Chaos E.P. back in 2004.

2) Could you briefly describe your musicwriting process? We embrace challenges in general and that’s one of the main reasons why we are still active. From fishing session drummers, to managing ourselves, we constantly evolve with the everchanging music industry. We adapt to these changes,

3) What makes Past, Present…Torture different from your last album?

Its definitely the most brutal, technical and diverse album we have done to date. With no deadlines and pressure, every single detail from the music to the artwork and packaging has been carefully thought through. The music is immensely fresh yet holds the authentic Nervecell sound.

“Past, Present...

Torture is definitely the most brutal, technical and diverse album” 4) Are you working on anything new?

Of course! We are planning our touring schedule and currently marketing our record, along with writing new music, brainstorming themes and vibes for future releases. The recording phase of the record took a lot of time and energy but our creative juices are still flowing so what could be better than sitting down and writing more material!

DUBAI LEGENDS: TIM CHEDDAR

The much-loved party DJ has more strings on his bow than an orchestra, Infusion Magazine finds out how he honed his craft…

For those that don’t know you can you tell us a little about your career in music so far?

My career started in the 80s, DJing at a roller rink, then progressed through college into nightclubs. I left clubbing and hung up my headphones in the late 90s but somehow it lured me back in the summer of 2003, when I became Tim Cheddar and DJ’d at my own birthday party. From there, Cheese nights went monthly, grew into bigger and bigger clubs and I made a name for myself playing retro music and songs that other DJs probably wouldn’t include in their sets.

How long have you been in Dubai?

Nearly 18 years now.

What was the scene like when you moved here?

There were far fewer clubs, and you’d see the same faces every time you went out. I think we were easily pleased back then, for example if there was a special event concert on, you would go to it regardless of who was playing. Now there seems to be an A list artist or international DJ on every weekend and we can pick and choose who to go and see. We’re literally spoilt for choice.

Since moving to Dubai how have you seen the music and club scenes evolve?

When I first came to Dubai the entertainment scene was all about the resident band, and the DJ only played in the breaks between the band’s sets. The first proper DJ led venues I can remember were at Wafi, Planetarium with a resident DJ called Charlie C and Ginseng which was a lounge bar next door, with a deep house vibe about ten years ahead of its time.

How do you feel the scene could be improved upon?

Less venues or more people. Perhaps more cooperation between promoters and clubs, it’s already started on a small scale.

Being a Dubai based DJ can be demanding, what do you do when you are not behind the decks?

I have a company called Think Events. We book and bring over DJs, put on our own events and concerts and as I’m a copywriter by trade, I’m involved in marketing events and venues like Zero Gravity and Grosvenor House, as well as concerts like Take That.

Where will we be able to catch you in action this season?

Every Thursday night at Lucky Voice, at the F1 in Abu Dhabi and DJing in between acts at REMIX 92 at The Irish Village on Friday, October 20. I’m really looking forward to that gig, it’s like one of my retro sets live on stage!

For information on Tim’s latest gigs go to facebook.com/ DJ-Tim-Cheddar.

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DJ CHARTS KAMBIZ KIA – ANALOG ROOM

Kim Brown - Based On A True Story [Just Another Beat] Komarken Electronics - Bubble Theory [brokntoys] Mad Rey - Msw (Dub Mix) [D.Ko] Sonikku - Midnight Forest [Distant Hawaii] Folamour - Just A Lonely Night Eating Sushis [Noire & Blanche] Levon Vincent - For Mona My Beloved Cat Rest In Peace [Novel Sound] Art Alfie – Flaunting [Karlovak] Montego Bay - Everything (S-Tone Mix) [Irma Records] Simon Fisher Turner – Shishapangma [Comatose Recordings] Classic Man - Mellow (From The Deep Mix) [Nervous Records]

ANDY MCGIRR – PLUS MINUS

Habischman - Closure [Knee Deep In Sound] Jesse Perez - Fake (Steve Lawler’s Fakin’ It Remix) [Mr. Nice Guy] Anja Schneider - Free Fall (Alex Arnout Remix) [Knee Deep In Sound] Frankey & Sandrino - Solaris [Sum Over Histories] M.A.N.D.Y. - Rabbit Mountain (8 AM Version) [Get Physical Music] Sek - Tomash (Original Mix) [AMA Recordings] Daphni - Tin [Jiaolong] Framewerk - Sonorous (Dole & Kom Remix) [Capital Heaven] Miyagi, David Hasert - Weltaufgang (Original Mix) [Lost Diaries] Lo Coco - Push (Original Mix) [NOEXCUSE Limited]

RAYA – NIGHT VIBES

Raumakustic - Dem A Pree (Patrick Topping Remix) [Emerald City Music] Darius Syrossian - Hanns Trippy (Cuartero Remix) [DO NOT SLEEP] David Gtronic, Lilith - Lagrimas Del Sol (Original Mix) [Art of Dark] David Ardilla - Conversations (Acid Mix) [Nocode Records] David Squillace - Pieces Of You (Original Mix) [Witty Tunes] Kuo Climax - Tomorrow (Original Mix) [Emerald City Music] Butch - Lfo (Original Mix) [Desolat Music] Brett Gould - What Does That Mean (Original Mix) [Lapsus Music] Mene - Some Weird Thing (Aney F. Remix) [Innocent Music Limited] Tale of Us - North Star (Original Mix) [R&S Records]

DARIO DEA - PLUS MINUS

Luca Bacchetti - Genesis (Gorje Hewek & Izhevski Remix) [Endless] Andhim – Huso [Superfriends Records] Patrice Baumel & Audiofly – Atacama [Crosstown Rebels] ARTBAT - Target [Suara] WhoMadeWho - I Don’t Know (Stereocalypse Remix) [Embassy Of Music] Toto Chiavetta - Hand Made [Innervisions] Florian Kruse & Lazarusman - The Proof Of Life [Selador] Mano Le Tough - Stories [Buzzin’ Fly Records] Simple Symmetry - Plane Goes East (DJ Tennis Remix) [Disco Halal] Dario Dea - Turbamento [Capital Heaven]

GINA MORETTI – SHINE EVENTS

Jamie B, Graham Dixon - Take U 2 Love (Marc Leaf Remix) [Uber Digital Recordings) D.J.H feat. Stefy – Think About [BMG Records] Weiss (UK) – You’re Sunshine [Toolroom] Jamie B, Sci-Forest – Pass The Lovin [Uber Digital Recordings] Pound Boys Stoneface – Wish I Didn’t Miss You [PMI Dance] Ber All Stars (Dale Castell Remix) – Anytime [Uber Digital Recordings] DJ Jose – Stepping To The Beat (Dave McDonald Remix) [ZZAP Recordings] Sneaky Sound System – Goodbye (Goodwill Darley St. Remix) [Green Media/MGM] Ber All Stars – Thinking Of You [Uber Digital] CRW – I Feel Love (R.A.F Zone Mix) [Nukleuz]

FUENTES – SUPERHEROES

Darius Syrossian - Made for Manchester [We Are The Brave] Yousef - How Did I Get Here [Circus Recording] Brett Gould, Shyam P, Hilton Caswell Believe [Snatch Records] ATRIEA - Break This Down (PAX Remix) [Underground Audi Fuente & Tito Mike - Larga [Conic Records] Klangkuenstler - Pop Dem Bottles [ElRow Music] Mihalis Safras - Hello [Variety Music] The Deepshakerz - El Ninho [LW Recordings] CamelPhat - Drop It [Sola] Harry Romero - RUDE feat. Jessica Eve & RT [Subliminal]

JACK WOODCOCK – SUNSTROKE RECORDINGS

Joey Negro – Latican Boogie (Crackazat Remix) [Z Records] Timmy Vegas – More Time [Sunstroke Recordings] Jay Vegas – What U Want [Hot Stuff] Inner City – Good Life 2017 [KMS Records] Barbara Tucker – Think (About It) Spen & Thommy’s Summer of Dub Mix) [Quantiz Recordings] CN Williams – Paradise [Reelhouse Records] CamelPhat & Elderbrook – Cola (Franky Rizardo Remix) [Defected] Lisa Millet – Soul Heaven (Dario D’Attis Diskotek Remix) PMI Digital] Gee Roohan – Free The Synth [Sunstroke Recordings] Divas of Colour – One More Time (Grant Nelson Club Mix) Street King]

ED WISE – Al GRISSINO

Elypsis - Open Road [Silk Road] Lee Burridge & Lost Desert - Lingala [All Day I Dream] Alex Niggemann Feat. The Shadow Self - Hurricane (Deetron Vocal Remix) [Balance Music] The Soul Brothers - Sultan [Talavera Records] Way Out West - Tuesday Maybe (Guy J Extended Mix) [Anjunadeep] Ucha - Gaan Veg [Deepalma Records] The Editor - Electric Yellow (Kevin Karlson, Moe Turk Remix) [Kudoz Records] Big Al - NYC (Spennu Remix) [Readymix Records] Lian July - Forbidden Candy [KDB Records] Definition - Paper Connections feat. Thomas Gandey [Hive Audio]

Eat Sleep Rave Repeat Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE

Saturday Brunch

Having last week previewed the new Saturday brunch concept from Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE as part of our 300 brunch feature it was a no brainer that we should head down to the beach to sample it first-hand.

It seemed almost strange to be heading to this beach club for a relaxing afternoon when roughly 12 hours previous the venue was in full swing to the sounds of ANNA, Latmun and WhoMadeWho. With this season being slightly different from last season’s Saturday brunch in that drinks wise BMI have incorporated house beverages in to their package and as such the price has gone up slightly to AED325 for the house beverage package.

There is also the option of the Moet Ice Imperial package,

and for AED550 this includes a bottle of Moet Ice Imperial as well as everything in the regular package. Our excellent hosts Raju and Kris were on point from the off and they’re suggestion that we start the day with some fresh fruit Cava Sangria was inspired. I sometimes feel that prosecco and indeed champagne can be a tad dry for my tastes, however the sweetness of the cava was just right for a refreshing day time tipple. Other options in the house package included the delicious passionfruit mojitos as well as wine and house spirits.

After a short cool down in the sea our food arrived and I couldn’t be happier with the varied and well executed selection. As well as the fantastically moist sushi there was also salmon sashimi and both were served on a bed of ice, which in the mid-afternoon heat was a godsend. Also, neatly packed in to our ample serving tray was sumptuous beef skewers which were served on a miniature hot coal BBQ, crispy tempura vegetables that were served with an eye watering dynamite sauce, a refreshing pesto, tomato and mozzarella salad, the most refreshing and tasty tomato gazpacho I have ever tasted (served in a cafeteriere no less) and the very tender and flavoursome Gnocchi with beef cheeks. It was the latter dish that would

be a temporary fixture within the Saturday brunch, part of the concept for this season will see some of the hits from the a la carte menu being introduced to the Saturday brunch crowd each week and with options like this being rolled out the Saturday brunch is on course to being a massive gastronomic hit.

From the attentive and friendly service, to the expertly curated menu and of course the excellently low slung and often jazzy soundtrack courtesy of the very talented Blue Marlin resident Jean B, I couldn’t recommend this Saturday brunch enough. If you wanted to just visit the restaurant for lunch you could (priced at AED295 1pm-330pm or 4pm-630pm), if you wanted to simply relax on the beach you had no worries there, there was also the option to make full use of the paddle boards which were available free of charge. I loved the fact that the day progressed at the same pace you did; the music slowly but surely was ramped up to a quiet riot and by the time Sam Starks took over the decks around sunset everybody was in great shape to continue the party until the closing time of 11pm (if that is your thing). This season will also see our fearless leader Charl Chaka being welcomed as resident DJ for Saturday Brunch so you can guarantee the music will be full of soul.

Words by Stu Todd

For more information on events at Blue Marlin head to facebook.com/BMIUAE.

ON THE ROAD: SANDY BEACH HOTEL RESORT

Arriving at Sandy Beach Hotel, a charming resort that sits in the shadow of the famous Snoopy Island we were greeted by the very welcoming reception staff who informed us that our duplex apartment was ready to be moved in to. Impeccably clean, homely and perfectly air conditioned, the first floor of our duplex suite came complete with a well-appointed sitting area, kitchenette and balcony. We had an almost 180° unobstructed view of Snoopy Island and with the spotless beach below being literally a stone’s throw away we knew it would be difficult to leave the following morning.

There is a range of accommodation to suit all pockets and needs, but the duplex suite is perfect for our needs. With a full day’s snorkel hire a very reasonable AED50 it is quite easy to spend several hours paddling about the warm waters of the Gulf of Oman, but keen to see what other water based activities we could partake in we headed ashore. We decided upon the Bingo ride, which was essentially a rubber dingy attached to the back of a speedboat. Taking us right out of the bay, the speed boat captain wasted no time in showing us just how fast his boat could go and soon had us clutching the sides of the dingy for dear life. At AED90 per person for the 15-minute ride it was worth every dirham as we giggled and screamed like school kids the whole way around. There is a full range of motorized and non-motorised water sports available and the in-house

water sports expert Ravi was only too happy to help explain our options.

No staycation would be complete without a visit to the spa. So, after another short cooling dip in the pool we made our way over to The House of Ayurveda spa. Opting for the Elakizhi, a 65-minute treatment consisting of a refreshing head massage with warm oil followed by a treatment of roasted herbal leaf bags being placed in precise areas of the neck, back, arms and legs. The spa itself is small and cozy and stepping into the building, the calming Indian music and herbal aroma give an immediate sense of calm.

De-oiled and freshened up we headed to Amouage restaurant for dinner. From the set menu, we opted for the classic Fish and Chips and Mini Steaks and in no time at all the attentive waiting staff announced that our food was ready. Post dinner we headed upstairs to check out the Oceanview Sports Bar and Lounge for a refreshing cocktail and to check out the live band that were warming up on stage before turning in for the night. The calming sound of waves crashing on the shore soon helped us drift off in to a deep sleep.

On the recommendation of Tarek our most generous host and hotel director we set our alarms for just before sunrise and made sure we were up as soon as our alarm went off at 5.50 am. Opening the curtains we were rewarded with one of the most stunning sunrises I have ever seen. Armed with the advice that the turtles prefer the mornings due to

the cooler water we made our way around the far-right hand side of the island and boy are we glad we did. Just before we gave up a turtle swam majestically underneath us, came up for air before descending to the depths of the sea. Enjoying a fleeting moment with this amazing creature was enough to send our dopamine and serotonin levels soaring and with huge grins and satisfied curiosity we headed for shore once again.

Breakfast was a straight forward affair and was served in Amouage restaurant where we had eaten dinner the night before. With delicious pancakes and Nutella, croissants, bacon, sausages, beans and toast lining our bellies from the inclusive breakfast we were well fueled and ready to hit Dubai and get back to the hustle and bustle of the real world.

It was brilliant to hear from Tarek about the history of Snoopy Island and about its diving roots and the great plans he has for the future of the resort. The resort has been in his family for many years and has so much history and character, long may that last. This resort is a great, down to earth option for families and young groups and couples to unwind. The resort came to my attention after the Deep Like crew upped sticks last year and headed here to celebrate their 100th party, Tarek also intimated there will soon be developments with regards to the next Snoopy Beats event, so keep your eyes peeled for more information on that party coming soon.

Words by Jai Little

For more information go to sandybeachhotel.ae.

JUST FOR

PUMA TSUGI SHINSEI

The latest in the Tsugi line from Puma has just landed and it is clear that Puma is seriously upping its sneaker game. “Tsugi” meaning next in Japanese is a massive understatement when it comes to their brand ethos right now. Much of the output from Puma of late has been nothing short of futuristic and this comes as a welcome change from all things retro for other brands, for a while anyway and then I’m sure retro will be the in thing.

Back to the Tsugi Shinsei and it would seem comfort meets street style was at the forefront of the designers’ mind when putting this shoe together. The stark colour ways employed here are a great match and I love how the outsole blends from red to black. This means a great meshing of the red toe to the black upper and heel section.

The comfort levels of these shoes are through the roof and on the first wear of these shoes (daring, I know) I had them on for nearly a whole day with zero signs of heel wear or foot fatigue.

This is largely thanks to the Ignite foam that is employed in the sole of the shoe and of course the knitted sock like collar. Like most of their current shoe lines they make full use of the FIT lacing system, a unique and practical solution to issues found with other lacing. This helps to eradicate some discomfort when wearing for extended periods like in the gym or perhaps while clubbing. I was and continue to be very impressed with Puma and their consistently high quality output. Nike and Adidas better watch out. If they are good enough for The Weekend they are good enough for me.

Priced at AED490 and in a range of colours the Puma Tsugi Shinsei can be found in all Puma stores.

DANCE, MONKEY DANCE I encountered something both hilarious, yet very frustrating while out at the local discotheque this week. I am sure this is not an isolated incident. While hanging out by the DJ booth I witnessed another nameless jungle beast sidle up to the DJ and, in raised voices demanded that he play “dance music” and, just in case the DJ didn’t know what “dance music” was r n b was given as an example of this. What was more perplexing and utterly infuriating about the request, is that at the time the DJ was laying down some downright outrageously good house music. Now correct me if I am wrong, but house music is dance music and r n b is not. The latter may be open to interpretation at a push, but come on, if you are going to make a request to the DJ surely the requester must surely understand what she is asking of the requestee. We have covered this before, please just allow the DJ to do their job for pity sake. When was the last time you seen a customer telling a mechanic how to fix a car? It’s a skilled job that you don’t know a thing about, leave it to those that know better.

Rant over.

Monkey Out...

The Angry Monkeys’ views are his own, and don’t necessarily reflect the views of Infusion Magazine.