LEE BURRIDGE HEADLINES THE SEASON-CLOSING ALL DAY I DREAM Comic Con • Superheroes • Louie Vega • Decibel Carl Cox • New Order • Red Bull Music Academy Stereo Arcade and more!
MUSIC
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PEOPLE
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LIFE
TALAL BUDEBS Publisher CHARL CHAKA Managing Partner charlchaka@infusion.ae FRAK FU Sales/marketing sales@infusion.ae ANDY BUCHAN Editor andy@infusion.ae PAULA MANGUEIRA Design design@infusion.ae SONIA IGNACIO Operations operations@infusion.ae CONTRIBUTORS: Ginger S, Sam Moult, Neil Henderson, Paul Walker, Dan Fahy, Stu Todd INFUSION IS PUBLISHED BY Milehigh Media, LLC PO Box 53443 – Dubai, UAE Tel/Fax: 04 368 8098 infusionmag infusionmagazine infusionmagazine
OUR PARTNERS
Tune into DanceFM every Wednesday morning at 9.20 to hear Infusion give the weekend run-down as part of our gig guide feature, essential radio! .
Zero Gravity not only have a monster line up until Ramadan, but they’re also giving away 1 million dirhams in prizes over the next month including year-long day passes to the venue.
Hip Hop hooray, the Hopfest is back for a Spring edition, taking over the Irish Village from April 13 for 3 days. Hic!
GUEST LIST BLACK LIST We’re sending get well soon wishes to Jon Besant who broke his back in an accident on holiday recently and is out of DJing action for a while.
There’s genuinely plans to hang an enormous skyscraper upside down from an asteroid and it would hover over Dubai. Get me off this ride, it’s too scary now!
Say What? RUMOURS
Dubai Design District AKA d3 is set to become an entertainment hub, with a brand new super club set to open in the next few weeks. Tomorrowland are uniting with Dubai to host Tomorrowland on Saturday July 29. The huge Belgium party is one of the biggest EDM festivals in the world, and the 8,000 capacity gig at the Dubai Festival City Arena should be one of the summer highlights.
OLD JOKES HOME
A horse limps into a bar with a bandage round his head. He orders a glass of champagne, a vintage brandy and two pints of Guinness. He downs the lot and says to the barman: “I shouldn’t really be drinking this with what I’ve got.” “Why?” asks the barman. “What have you got?” “About two quid and a carrot.” MEME CORNER
WE LOVE Step Music Fest
There have been a few admirable attempts at delivering music conferences over the years in Dubai, but back for its fifth edition, Step is the most effective. And with a killer festival line up for their April 5-7 weekender, the most fun as well! Focussing on the ‘intersection of technology, digital media and entertainment,’ Step aims to bring the Arab world together by promoting positive dialogue. There are a ton of speeches, workshops and digital content, but the real action is at their music festival on April 7, as Mashrou Leila, The Wanton Bishops (left), Narcy, The Recipe, Malikah and more play live at the DIMC near Barasti. A bigtime music festival promoting regional acts: that sounds like a big step in the right direction to us. facebook.com/stepmusicfest
What we did
JAZZ ROOM @ CAVALLI CLUB
The Cavalli Club recently opened The Jazz Room, a secret, soundproof room located within the main club. In an intimate setting, jazz lovers can now enjoy the sounds of ace Dubai jazz funk band, Abri and Funk Radius. The music on the opening night was top notch and got the party goers out of their seats and dancing to the rhythm of funk and blues mixed with some modern day classic covers. The Jazz Room is reminiscent of the Oscar winning film ‘La La Land’, and has a great ambience, attentive service and delicious bar food. Words by Ginger S
BOOGIE BOX 6TH BIRTHDAY FEAT. BODDIKA @ Q UNDERGROUND
By the time I rocked up to the Dubai leg of Boogie Box’s 6th birthday celebrations at around midnight, one half of drum & bass/jungle/ everything duo Instra:mental and Joy Orbison collaborator, AKA techno badman – Boddika – was already putting the sound system and crowd through their paces. A joint event with 264 Crew, Boddika’s quick mixing of tracks like the rock-solid “Fallen Night Renew” from O/V/R and the weaponised acid groove of Stranger’s “Ommoord” were far from lost on this crowd. Top marks go to Hassan and his team for their unwavering vision of what club music should sound like and after this night I couldn’t agree with them more. Words by Stu Todd
Up next: RBMA Weekender feat. Kode 9 and Ikonika, April 13, Steigenberger Hotel and Boogie Box @ Yas Beach April 6
MARCUS INTALEX HEADLINES AS BASSWORX TAKE ON GLOBALFUNK
A match made in Drum and Bass heaven, local bass nights Globalfunk and Bassworx team up once more at Casa Latina on Thursday April 6 and have invited back Fabric regular and Sun and Bass curator Marcus Intalex to headline. He’s supported by Mach 4, Woodle, Sya One and M:One, with entry free before midnight and just AED50 after. STEVE AOKI MAKES NASIMI DEBUT
Heads up EDM fans: ex cake flinging DJ and producer Steve Aoki is headed our way on Friday April 14 to play at Nasimi alongside Fuse ODG and fast-rising US electro DJ duo Cheat Codes. The party starts from 5pm and ends at 3am, with early bird tickets AED175 from Platinumlist.net.
DXBEACH IS BACK WITH JONAS BLUE
One of our favourite big beach events, DXBeach returns for a hedonistic day and night of house music beats on Friday April 14, with Brit Award nominee Jonas Blue headlining, with live support from South African duo Goldfish, Defected’s Sonny Fodera and Zero Gravity favourite Josh Butler. Early bird tickets are just AED100 with doors open from midday until 3am.
HIP-NOTIZE LAUNCHES AT BILLIONAIRE MANSION
Not just a clever name, Hip-notize is the latest Thursday night Hip Hop party. Held at Billionaire Mansion, the venue promises free drinks for ladies until 11pm in the bar, with the club opening at midnight. Resident DJs Shef Codes, Kaboo and Lucas Dirty will be on rotation, dropping the best in urban. THE JOSHUA TREE, MCGETTIGANS JLT APRIL 6
Popular U2 tribute act The Joshua Tree play some of Bono and band’s biggest hits. 8pm, free entry.
DUBAI’S CLUB SCENE IS GIVEN WINGS
Red Bull are well known for putting on some excellent music and club events, but their forthcoming Red Bull Music Academy Weekender in Dubai takes their reputation to another level...
THURSDAY APRIL 13 Black Madonna & Moodymann – ON42 As on point as club line ups get, disco and house champion – and recent Mixmag cover star – Black Madonna makes her UAE debut with US house DJ and Infusion favourite Moodymann on support. Analog Room also have their say, with Siamak Amidi and Shemroon on warm up duties. Alexl Boman, DeWalta & Shannon, Peggy Gou – Steigenberger Hotel 4 upfront, breaking house music talents in one venue – the underground DXB scene has never had it so good! We’re pumped to see South Korean DJ Peggy Gou do her house thing at the Steigenberger Hotel.
BLACK MADONNA
Kode 9, Ikonika, DJ Early – Steigenberger Hotel A bass-heavy throwdown, Kode9 is joined by Hyperdub star Ikonika and versatile Chicago DJ Earl alongside 264 Cru regular Essarai.
FRIDAY APRIL 14
AXEL BOMAN
PEGGY GOU
Sunrise Session – Kite Beach, 6am Pierre Ravan hosts his Heartfulness Meditation session, while renowned American singer-songwriter Julianna Barwick brings her sample heavy, lush electronica-meets-folk sound to the beach for the best wake up session you’ll receive all year. Earl Sweatshirt & Danny Brown – d3 Hip Hop heads will be giddy at this line up, as Californian star Earl Sweatshirt is joined by Detroit rapper Danny Bown, and Afro-Nuyorican RnB performer Princess Nokia and Canadian singer Jessy Lanza.
SATURDAY 15
KODE 9
Danny Krivit – Tap House It’s disco day for the Red Bull team, as NYC legend and re-edit king Danny Krivit headlines at the Tap House with support from Aussie performer Andras, and local legends Megadon Betamax and James Locksmith.
JULIANNA BARWICK
DANNY BROWN
EARL SWEATSHIRT
DANNY KRIVIT Tickets for all events via Platinumlist.net
5 minutes with
Miguel Bastida It’s the penultimate Decibel gig of an excellent season, so it would have been rude not to catch up with their April 6 tech-house and techno guest, Spanish DJ Miguel Bastida‌
Dubai How old are you and where are you from? How long have you been Djing? I’m 32 years old, from Spain and I have been DJing for 18 years. When did you start playing music? Where were you, what sort of music was it? I started when I was 14 years old. I was in my home town Alhama de Granada, a beautiful little town in the south of Spain. Back in those days I played hard techno, trance and break-beat What sort of music do you play now? Normally my sets are tech-house and techno, and played in a very personal way. What have been some of the biggest events and parties you've played? Some festivals around the world, like Earthcore (Australia), Dream Festival (Mexico) or Paradise (Brazil) just to name a few. Which labels have you released on, and who have you played with? Some of the biggest are Bedrock, Suara, Sci-Tec, Toolroom, Saved, KlingKlong and some of the artist that I’ve played with are Richie Hawtin, Paco Osuna, Umek, and many more. Best gig to date? I cannot decide about only one, but I’m a club lover, and the atmosphere of the small clubs is one of my favourite feelings. Who's your DJ hero? Maybe legends like Hawtin, Carl Cox, Marco Carola or some of the newer talent like Maceo Plex or Jamie Jones, they are making great things for our profession. What's the best track you’ve released? I don’t think I have a best release yet, but recently maybe "Soul Reactions" (Suara) and "Evidence Of Another Universe" (Be One Records) are my favourites. What are you expecting from your set for Decibel? For my first time in Dubai, it will be awesome, get ready and join me at Decibel! Decibel feat. Miguel Bastida, ON42, Thursday April 6, 10pm-3am
Foor to the floor
Fast-rising bass and garage quartet Foor join Mafia Kiss as Superheroes make their muchawaited comeback. We spoke with Foor ringleader Gavin Foord ahead of their April 6 gig
Welcome back to the UAE – how was your previous gig here, good memories? I have been very lucky to have the opportunity to play here many times over the last few years, I used to be resident for the Warehouse brand at Media One playing with EZ, Sigma, Hannah Wants, Artful Dodger and more. The last gig was a headline gig for Superheroes: it was a great experience for me to come and play the main set here after so many years of playing support slots, I loved every minute of it! You've got a new compilation out at the moment which is doing big things in the charts – how much work was it getting it together? The Foor present Yosh compilations take a lot of work because every single track on there is unreleased! We also work closely with the artists on the album providing help, vocals, advice and whatever they need to get their tracks done. As a label we are committed to working with up coming artists to create opportunities for them! You've also included a DXB resident in there, Fuente – what can you tell us about him? He played before me the last time we played in Dubai, he was a very good DJ! He sent us
through a track we really liked and we were honoured he let us put it on the album. You've played on some big festival and club bills and are now headlining a lot of shows on your own – how does that feel to make that progression? We feel very privileged to be asked to play such amazing shows, seeing our name on line ups amongst all the big names is such a great feeling! You had some BBC Radio 1 airplay a few weeks ago – where were you when you heard, was it a pretty surreal experience? We were on the way to a gig all in the bus just about to leave a service station. It was a massive surprise, there is a video of us hearing it on our Facebook page (facebook. com/wearefoor). It was a great moment I am glad we were all together to experience it! And what can you tell us about Mafia Kiss who you're playing with in Dubai, any insider secrets or gossip? He did all the music for The Sopranos and he was Kissy Sell Out's stunt double! Which is how he got the name Mafia Kiss
Superheroes feat. Foor and Mafia Kiss, Thursday April 6, Bridgewater Tavern, JW Marriott, 9pm-3am, AED100.
Live long and prosper! Neil Henderson dons his superhero cape and previews the 6th Middle East Comic Con As the saying kinda goes, the geek shall inherit the earth and clearly in times of such global upheaval, it’s the visionaries of the film and comic-book world in all their flamboyant cos-playing, comic-designing, sci-fi scripting glory that offer a torch out of the darkness. The 6th regional edition of this annual global behemoth takes its cues from its North American origins, creating sensory overload as they take you on a journey through the realms of superheroes, superpowers, science-fiction ideals. This year is more densely packed than a barrage of Logan’s X23/4 serum-packed punches. Guests to look out for include Game of Thrones’
Davos - aka Liam Cunningham, whose unforgettable turns in Dog Soldiers, Harry Brown and Clash of the Titans among many others place him atop the list of chameleonic character actors. Then there’s Greg Grunberg AKA Matt Parkman in the awesome (well, the first few series at least) Heroes, who’s since gone onto star in Star Trek Beyond Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Plus, you can get up close and personal with Cas Anvar fresh from the set of The Expanse, already roaring towards its 3rd season of what is arguably the Best Sci-Fi TV Series Ever Made (well, I think so anyway!). International artists in attendance include Disney’s behemoth James C Mulligan,
DC & Dark Horse’s confidante Yashan Li, Marvel’s Simone Bianchi and another giant of Disney output in Mike Toth, with more names to be announced. The action isn’t just focussed on the big name stars, however, as there are a huge range of events and activities on offer. Boldly going where no one has gone before is the amazing Star Trek: 50 Artists. 50 Years Exhibits, while there’s a fully sized dodgeball court in the Rani Fun Zone hosting the MEFCC Dodgeball Cup. Oh, and the small matter of the
Splash Cosplay Competition, the Zoom Festival Area, HubZero Artists’ Alley, Gamezone eSports Tournaments, panels at the Cine Club, signings at the MBC Meet the Stars area, workshops, Rani Zip Line, Retro Gaming area and Syfy Entertainment Stage and tons of local bands and performers, artists and exclusive merchandise, activities and prizes to be won and a visitor experience that is out of this world! A weekend you do not want to miss - sign us up Scotty!
April 6-8, Dubai World Trade Centre, mefcc.com
BLUE
FRIDAY
One of the most important electronic bands of the last 30 years, New Order make their longawaited debut in Dubai on April 7. Ahead of their show, we look back into their history
Formed in 1980 out of the ashes of the much-revered Joy Division, New Order evolved and inspired the Manchester music scene further by combining post-punk rock with synth-pop beats inspired by both electronic and dance music. The band’s hits include ‘True Faith’, ‘Bizarre Love Triangle’, ‘Regret’ and ‘World in Motion’ (recorded with the England football team for the 1990 World Cup Finals) and are most famous for ‘Blue Monday’, which remains the best-selling 12-inch selling single of all time. Amusingly, or maybe not for the band, the group actually lost money on the single as the vinyl and packaging cost so much to print due to the intricate design of the sleeve and the blue coloured vinyl. Albums like Substance and Technique in the late 80s remain seminal works, with the band returning to form with their latest album, Music Complete – a dancefloor friendly array of firing beats, layered melodies and booming bass notes. Now in their 4th decade and with a new band line up – founding member Peter Hook is no longer with them after a protracted and bitter break up – their Dubai gig is part of their Easter Tour which takes in New York, Coachella and more. Bernard Sumner, lead singer and a founding member of New Order told us that ‘New Order have always looked forward, both musically and culturally, so taking our tour to Dubai makes total sense to us. It’s been a long time coming, so we’re looking forward to exploring and playing to a new crowd!’
New Order play Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium on Friday 7th April. Tickets from AED349 via www.platinumlist.net
Louie Vega – In quotes
Ahead of his much-anticipated gig at 360 on April 14, we took a look back at some classic Louie Vega interviews to get his Masters At Work take on the world… ‘My uncle gave me a lot of great advice. How important your image is, your style. Always have variation in what you do. Study your roots. Study your music. Watch the sharks in the business.’ ‘Tom Moulton and Walter Gibbons. Those are the pioneers of remixing.’ ‘Working with vocalists, that’s my thing. I love to work in the studio with singers. You have to make ’em feel really comfortable. When they walk into that studio it’s gotta feel good, because what’s going to come out of them is their soul. I think that’s what I’m really good at.’ ‘House music did get watered down, and a lot of people are doing the same thing. If somebody sampled a disco record, boom! There was a million disco record samples with that same kinda vibe. I think the creative aspect is what hurt it. It’s not dead or nothing. It’s just back underground. A lot of people are doing things to make the best possible money you can instead of being creative.’ ‘I remember my father jamming in the living room, practicing and playing jazz tunes. He loves John Coltrane. I still remember him going to rehearsals. I’ve learned a lot watching him work with bands, and it definitely rubbed off on me. I’ve tied a lot of the live aspects of music into what I produce.’ ‘I didn’t even know my wife could sing until four or five years into our relationship. One day she says, I can write songs, and one of my dreams is to sing. I said, You can write? As soon as I heard that, I put her in the studio. We have a respect for each other, and it just works in the studio, man.’ Louie Vega plays 360, Friday April 14, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, 4pm-3am, free entry.
BEHIND THE SCENES AT STEREO ARCADE
Stereo Arcade isn’t just a beacon of live music, it’s also home to some of the finest DJs in the city, including the encyclopedic skills of Thursday night’s 90s throwback sessions, Dean Curtis… What's it like playing to a sold out crowd every week? Is it as good as that sounds? Of course that's an amazing thing to do. But yes, there is a small element of stress that comes with that. One of the reasons that it's consistently busy is that the other DJs and I are consistently reviewing the playlists. I'm forever adding and taking away songs, trying to find new ways of serving up the songs, looking for the old and really obscure tracks. But if I stay on top of that work at home, I'll have a great time in the club and not stress too much. You're a well rounded DJ with a huge collection – is there anything you wouldn't play? And what's the worst request you've ever had? There aren't many songs I won't play. But to be totally honest with you, it all comes down to who's in the room with me at that moment trying to party. I always read a crowd and try to give the majority of them what they want. If I feel they will go crazy if I played some Gypsy Kings, then I'll do it and I'll do
it in an exciting slick way. Most DJs these days will have a huge library by the way. It's being able to use these large library's fluently that's the hard thing. Who was your DJ inspiration, where and how did you develop your technique? I have a lot of DJ crushes around Dubai. Kirk Manion was a huge person that helped me learn to mix and develop DJ tricks right from the beginning. We're always bouncing ideas and thoughts off each other, talking about technical technique and room reading. Another local DJ
here that blew my mind when I first saw him play is Kennedy. He taught me a few very key but major things. I've also gained a lot of influence from people that aren't DJs. Robert Heller and Samer Hamadeh have both been managers at clubs I've played in over the years and through listening to feedback, good and bad, it really shaped what I do. Sometimes bad feedback is the best type of feedback. A lot of Djs complain that headline slots go to international DJs, but that's never been the case at Stereo Arcade – how lucky does that make you feel? It's different at Stereo Arcade than a lot of places around town. In Stereo Arcade it's more about the music than the DJ who is mixing it. Also with the way the venue is setup, one of the biggest aspects of the club is the people that are there – dancing, singing and having a great time. It's all about the fun with your mates, rather than taking a Snapchat of some famous DJ no one really cares about, haha. How does the night progress – is there a musical progression, or structure? And how often do you repeat tracks every week, and do you play new music or just 90s classics? The only structural element that pretty much stays the same is the warm up, when people are still arriving; it’s not very intense. But as soon as I see the people are in the mood to party then I'll jump up the tempo and energy and try to get it going. On an-old school music night it's pretty hard to not play repeats. The best strategy for a DJ is to make sure you're not playing everything in the same order all the time. There are always brand new songs that would be
sacrilegious not to play. Right now it's anything by Ed Sheeran, so I always make a point to play the super hot new songs. And how tempted are you just to play the Tron soundtrack every Thursday night to fit in with the club's amazing interior? Haha, I've actually been known to play bits off that album, just for fun you know? Last week I played 1 minute of the theme tune of Mario for a laugh. It's good to throw odd songs in sometimes because it's just another way to surprise the crowd. But it has to fit, and feel natural. We could envision Stereo Arcade working really well across the Middle East as a franchise, we can definitely see it in Beirut – is that
something you'd like to explore? I've DJ’d in Beirut once. It was at a private party and it was probably one of my top ten most fun nights DJing. If there was a Stereo Arcade there, I'm confident it would work well. I hope one day to see that happen, and I also hope that I'll be there weekly haha! And what's the make up of the crowd at your nights? The people that come to see me are mostly young professionals. It's always a good ratio between girls and guys as, like all clubs in Dubai, mixed groups of friends are encouraged. It's a mix of people between tourists and local residents but they all have one thing in common; they all have good taste in music!
Stereo Arcade, Double Tree Hilton, JBR, 90s Party feat. Dean Curtis, every Thursday from 10pm facebook.com/StereoArcade
BACK2BASICS ARE BACK!
After a series of storming parties across town, Back2Basics have found a new home at Pure Sky Lounge on JBR and have some classic house DJs coming our way in the next few months…
Thursday 27 April - Nick Warren Heavily influenced by fellow Bristol natives Portishead as well as Massive Attack who first drafted Warren to be their tour DJ back in the early 90’s, Warren is equally skilled at arranging and layering ambient and downtempo pieces as well as mixing club cuts. As a DJ, Warren enjoyed the busiest year of his career in 2015 as his relentless appetite for new music injected each DJ set with new sounds. Warren’s sonic diversity and range ensures that each performance is a unique, lightning-in-a-bottle listening experience. He’s held down residencies at New York’s revered Twilo, Manchester’s beloved Haçienda, Tokyo’s Womb and Singapore’s Zouk. Warren also had the honor and privilege of being the first international DJ to be asked to play in Junior Vasque's personal booth at the Sound Factory in New York City in the early 90’s. Way Out West, Warren’s legendary collaborative project with fellow Bristol son, Jody Wisternoff, announced their long awaited return in 2015, with another album due any month now.
Thursday 25 May - Darren Emerson Darren Emerson has remained at the forefront of electronica, techno and house across the last three decades for good reason. Solidly consistent productions, inspiring DJ performances and an unquenchable thirst for the new and interesting everywhere it can be found is an irresistible and intoxicating brew. A true pioneer, Darren is one of the most influential figures in dance music, having collaborated with artists as diverse as Sasha, Depeche Mode, Bjork and The Chemical Brothers, from rocking Glastonbury with Underworld and the perennial classic “Born Slippy” to topping the UK charts with his own label Underwater. Indeed from the age of 18 he was already on his way to creating platinum million selling albums and singles with Underworld followed by some of the most successful DJ mix compilations of all time with Global Underground, Cream, Underwater and more. Darren has lined up a series of productions, collaborations and remixes with some of his all time favourite producers and musicians for 2016, including releases on Bedrock with John Digweed and Rukus with Matador. Tiger Sessions | Supported by Back2basics Pure Sky Lounge @ Hilton JBR - 8pm to 3 am | Entry fee 100 for ladies and 125 for men www.back2basicsdubai.com
CARLCOX: FACT OR FICTION Legendary DJ and larger than life character Carl Cox plays Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE on April 7, but ahead of that sure-to-be-sold-out show, which of these statements are facts and which have we just made up?
• Carl Cox started working as a mobile DJ aged just 15? • His first sets were a mix of rare groove, hip hop and electro, before becoming a big fan of the emerging acid house sound. • He was one of the first DJs to play off 3 decks in public, notably at the Sunrise rave in 1988 infront of 15,000 people. • He played the opening night of Danny Rampling’s legendary Shoom night and co-promoted The Project with Paul Oakenfold. • He appeared on Top of the Pops in 1991 thanks to his Top 30 hit on Perfecto, ‘I Want You.’ • He’s not just a legendary DJ but an astute business man: he set up the Ultimate Music Management company in the mid-90s, representing, amongst others, Laurent Garnier and Josh Wink. • His Space Ibiza residency lasted 14 years, turning his weekly night into one of the most popular nights on the island. • His radio show is truly global, reaching over 17 million listeners each week, syndicated across 60 FM stations and 35 countries. Answers: They’re all true. The man is a living legend and true dance music icon!
Carl Cox plays Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE on Friday April 7, facebook.com/BMIUAE
LEIGHTON MOODY SUPPORT DJ
CHARL CHAKA THU 13TH APRIL
JW MARRIOTT MARQUIS FREE ENTRY BY GUESTLIST 100 AED AT DOOR RSVP@INFUSION.AE HOUSEofAFRIKA HOUSEofAFRIKA
HOUSE_of_AFRIKA HOUSE_of_AFRIKA
Living the dream
All Day I Dream wraps up a memorable debut season on April 8 as co-founder Lee Burridge is joined by YokoO and Viken Arman. Ahead of their final day party, we caught up with the female masterminds behind the brand, Berlin-based industry heavyweight Lindi Delight and Pureink’s Abeer to find out how the magic happens‌
Photo credit: Vartan Kelechian Photography
Congratulations on turning All Day I Dream into a worldwide brand – not an easy thing to do! What's the key to its success? Lindi: The ADID events are an experience, and you need to be careful and treat it delicately as brand can easily become commercial, lose its magic, and it can be seen as a product. Abeer, how did you come to find out about the party, why did you think it would work in Dubai? I started hearing about All Day I Dream a few years back, and we finally made it to one in 2015 in Berlin with Powel, Matthew Dekay, Lee Burridge and Bob Moses. We knew that a party like this would only compliment the city’s party scene. We also knew that the feel and vibes that All Day I Dream brings was unique and not being offered at any other party. What other women do you look up to in the industry? Lindi: There are so many! Two that stand out are Iva who is the music programming for London venues Oval Space and Pickle Factory since they opened. She has led the venues to become the most sought after clubs and that the most talented and credible electronic music acts want to be booked at. All while raising a beautiful child. Abeer, our partner in Dubai, is also amazing. I have been a part of many productions all over the world, and nobody has ever put in the work with the attention to details like she has with the ADID shows in Dubai. Abeer: I have a lot of admiration for any woman who has broken stereotypes and has pushed the
envelope in the scene. But someone I would like to especially mention here is Lindi, I’ve had the pleasure of working with her over the past few months and her hard work, dedication and commitment to the All Day I Dream brand is why it became so global and so internationally desired. And how fair and open is the dance music industry for women? Lindi: I prefer to do my part to educate than worry about fairness. I am a member of Shesaid.so, a curated global network of women with active roles in the music industry, and am in the process of developing the Berlin sector. Our team will be organizing panel discussions, keynote talks, and workshops aimed at empowering women in the music industry, and inspire
the next generation. This is how we move forward to equality. Abeer: I think the industry recognizes talent, regardless of gender. I also think that the internet and social media platforms have enabled new artists to share their work more freely and provide them with more exposure. Have you had to battle sexism to get to where you are; how much does it exist in the modern-day work place? Lindi: I won’t say that I have never experienced misogyny in the workplace in the past, but I don’t dwell on things like that. I prefer to lead by example, and hire and inspire women in my workplace. Abeer: Aside from Pureink, I run an all women office – we work hard in an extremely male dominated industry and at the
end of the day, one’s work speaks volumes and ultimately earns you the respect that you deserve. The parties have a very allinclusive feel about that – is that increasingly important in the times of Trump and Brexit? Lindi: Music and events are always important, no matter the time. Events are what takes you away from the real world and enjoy special moments through music, self expression, new experiences, and relationships. Abeer: Yes, now more than ever! Music is so powerful in bringing people together, in unifying, in breaking down walls. I think the music industry has a
big responsibility in ensuring we never stop doing that. What's lined up for the closing party? And any inside gossip on a 2nd season? Lindi: YokoO and Viken Arman are on the bill, along with the return of Lee Burridge to close it out. Pao Lopez will be in town to add that special flair for the decorations. And yes, 2nd season is already in the works. Abeer is your woman for that news! Abeer: As for season 2, I don’t want to give too much away – but we have a very special venue lined up, to give the party that extra magical feel. We’ll also be bringing other All Day I Dream artists from the roster.
All Day I Dream by Pureink feat. Lee Burridge, YokoO and Viken Arman (Live), Saturday April 8, Dubai Design District d3, 1-10pm, tickets via Platinumlist.net
ON THE RADAR BLUE MAN GROUP, APRIL 18-22 - YAS ISLAND
HOUSE OF AFRIKA FT 2LANI THE WARRIOR APRIL 20 - BRIDGEWATER TAVERN
RYAN CROSSON APRIL 20 - GQ BAR
SOUL CLAP APRIL 21 - EL CHIRINGUITO
ANALOG ROOM FEAT. TOM TRAGO APRIL 20 - INDUSTRIAL AVENUE
PLUS MINUS FEAT. ALAN FITZPATRICK APRIL 21 - ON42
RUSSELL HOWARD APRIL 20-22 - DUBAI COLLEGE AUDITORIUM
APOLLONIA APRIL 21 - BLUE MARLIN IBIZA UAE
ON THE RADAR PIKNIC ELECTRONIK FT. MARC POPPCKE APRIL 22 - DIMC
JUSTIN BIEBER MAY 6 - AUTISM ROCKS ARENA
? EDDIE IZZARD APRIL 27 - WORLD TRADE CENTRE
DECIBEL CLOSING PARTY MAY 11 - ON42
ONE BIG FRIDAY FEAT. ROGER SANCHEZ APRIL 28 - ZERO GRAVITY
PLUS MINUS FEAT. EINMUSIK MAY 12 - ON42
JAZZIE B APRIL 28 - 360
HANNAH WANTS MAY 12 - ZERO GRAVITY
Soundstage HOTLINE TIME
A war veteran, hip hop star, energetic live performer and the man behind the bestselling album Hotline Presents Brothers in Bars, we caught up with Richard Shaw AKA Hotline Time My biggest ever gig was… People confuse “biggest” with “largest” but I look at it a bit differently. My biggest event I feel was in Iraq, believe it or not, when I was a solider. It was for about 3 to 400 people but it was at a time in my life where I wasn’t sure if I would be able to pull it off. I’m best known for… I’m best know for a few tracks, including ‘Soundtrack To War’ that featured in a film with Fat Joe, DJ Khaled, Swizz beats. And the Palace freestyle which landed me on a remix mixtape that featured Eminem, Busta Rhymes, and the late great Tupac Shakur. I’m most Proud of … Trying to encourage and educate with my music. The artist I’d most like to work with is… I’d be excited about working with Adele to see how strong her voice really is, Eminem because BARS on BARS on BARS, Snoop, 50, Rihanna, Coldplay, and Pitbull ft. Jlo to get it popping in Spanish. One Thing you may not know about me is that… I’m actually left handed, I’ve been to war twice, I’m hilarious at times, and I wont quit. This year, I’m playing in… All of the upcoming Formula 1 events once they’re finalized. My Sounds is described as… “The Chameleon,” sometimes gritty ratchet, sometimes soulful and pure. My Music sounds like… Pain, passion, triumph, fear, love and art. To sum it up, it sounds like life! I’m blessed to have this gift and blessed that people like when I use it. Twitter/Instagram : @hotlinetime
DJ BOOTH: ANDY BUCHAN
After years on the other side of the conversation, our soonto-depart Editor Andy Buchan insisted he sit in the DJ Booth for his last issue. We didn’t have the heart to say no…
One thing you might not know about me is...I once had Michael Jackson’s lawyers on the phone to me after a feature I wrote for Q Magazine. My very short life flashed before my eyes. My worst ever job was… Pot washer, and running out of hot water on the first night of the job. Grim. My favorite ever record is... Pretty much anything by Daft Punk, dance music doesn’t get much more visceral than Homework. DJing is much like... DJing, duh! Who wrote these stupid questions? Oh, wait, me. Dubai’s clubbing scene is... Changed beyond all recognition since I’ve been here. It’s grown, fallen and grown again – there’s too much focus on headline DJs, but that’s the same the world over. We should be proud of what we’ve created and keep growing. I’m really proud of... My kids – I’ve started naming tracks after them (sorry, shameless plug), Lyla’s Theme and Dylan’s Groove will be out this summer. What track could you drop in every set? Any Todd Terje edit: subtle but dancefloor ready, they’re always good to go. My biggest DJ achievement to date is... I’ve played with a few big names and to big crowds, but I was very proud to have been a resident at iBO, Alpha, 360 and Trilogy – probably the best clubs in the region and where I also got to run my own nights. What is your guiltiest pleasure? Re-watching The Wire. Again. And again. If you could DJ in any decade which would it be... 2030, that would be cool – to see what shape dance music is in and how we DJ. If I could go back-to-back with any other DJ it would be...Probably someone like Mark Ronson or 2ManyDJs – proper party DJs who can mix it up, that would be a lot of fun. I’m not a politician but… I’m pleased I’ve done my bit of satire in the Middle East by printing the Pan-Arabia Enquirer in Infusion and then starting up The Spin. soundcloud.com/andy-buchan-0
THE SPIN DUBAI, APRIL 2017
PAGE 217
ISSUE 56
SKYDIVE DUBAI TO LAUNCH FIRST MID-AIR NIGHTCLUB
Extreme sports advocates Skydive Dubai have announced they’re launching the world’s first freefall nightclub. The concept is inspired by the city’s addiction to world-firsts and nightclubbing, and has been lauded as one of the most creative advances in nightlife in the past month. Whilst currently only an idea, the nightclub has already been in the testing stages recently, with thrill-seekers jumping out over the Palm armed with glow sticks. They’ve also introduced waiting staff with high intensity flares to not only light up the descent, but to mark out the landing zone at night. Set to be named Point Break in honour of the cult extreme sports film, a host of international and local DJs have been parachuted in for the opening, including local DJ Mach 4, with the concept due to become available to the first VVVVIPs at the end of the year. These stories are not true, this is not a real newspaper. This is a parody/fiction/ satire/joke. The Spin is not intended, in any way whatsoever, to be taken as factual.
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What we Ate CLAW BBQ BRUNCH @ SOUK AL BAHAR
This freshly launched brunch concept offers a serious dose of fun and frolics across its splendid buffet selection. The venue’s decor and styling is second to none with classic American finishes, just like a crab shop plucked straight out of some coastal South Carolina Main Street. Whether you’re craving all the pulled pork or ribs you can eat slathered in their BBQ sauce, a selection of amazing succulent roast meats or a range of fresh fajitas and seafood, they have a bit of everything. Down to the Americana branding, flags and classic posters lining the walls, topped off with the requisite candy-floss machine, this place is all about fun. Desserts are another stand-out, the delicate and sumptuous Key Lime Pie so fresh and tangy, the perfect anti-dote to the cookie dough skillet. And if the free flowing Buds and beer-pong, cocktails, jelly shots and the delectable, ahem, BJ Shot, aren’t enough come the 4pm finish, there’s 2 more hours to soak up your bodyweight with drinks available at a whopping half price until 6. Words by Neil Henderson
PLAY BY DAY BRUNCH @ H HOTEL
Play, recently awarded “Best Restaurant in Dubai”, launched their “Play by Day” brunch last month, a seafood-focused, sit-down spectacle, complete with cabaret performances. Always up for a gastronomic adventure, the wife and I (and friends!) headed over to see what all the fuss was about. Firstly, the brunch has been described as Mediterranean – but it’s not really, it’s Asian fusion. Now, this isn’t a bad thing from my perspective, but if you’re coming hoping for paella and caponata, you might be slightly disappointed as there’s a lot of sushi. The food was served to the table and throughout the afternoon we were treated to excellent examples of tataki, sashimi, gyoza, maki, steamed buns and a host of appetizing main courses, the delicious black cod being a firm table favourite. Whilst we grazed, we were entertained by impressive acts of contortion and dancing, with Hollaphonic collaborator Stephon Lamar stealing the show with some great jazzy takes on modern pop songs. The final flourish was the dessert platter, a wide selection of tasty morsels that were guzzled quickly by everyone. The service was a bit of a let down however, with a couple of dietary requirements around the table not met, but thankfully it didn’t ruin what was a high-quality brunch – particularly enjoyed by the seafood-lovers amongst the group. Words by Dan Fahy
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Cool Test IMRAN YUSUF VS STEPHEN GRANT
Ahead of the 4 Laughter Factory gigs this April, we pitch Imran against Stephen in a fight to the comedic finish The funniest word in the world is… IMRAN YUSUF :“Inshallah” because it is the highest word of hope and humility, but also the best excuse if you know you’re not going to make your appointment.
STEPHEN GRANT : Standard.
The coolest comedian is/was… IMRAN YUSUF : Paul Thorne. Effortless and cool as ice.
STEPHEN GRANT: Rich Hall.
The question I get asked the most is… IMRAN YUSUF : What is the purpose of your travel?
STEPHEN GRANT : Where do you get your ideas from?
The best heckle I’ve heard is… IMRAN YUSUF : I once recited the opening chapter of the Qur’an to an audience and someone heckled “You missed a bit”.
STEPHEN GRANT : You slept with my Mum (I had).
The joke I’m best known for is… IMRAN YUSUF : My dinosaur impression. It is the best impression of a Velociraptor ever.
STEPHEN GRANT : Passage of time joke. (I might do it in Dubai!)
The coolest person in my phone book is… IMRAN YUSUF : My future wife.
STEPHEN GRANT : Ricky Gervais. Is he cool any more?
It’s not big and clever but… IMRAN YUSUF : Global capitalism now needs to be replaced by a sustainable economic model that provides basic human rights and dignities to all humans across the planet.
STEPHEN GRANT : I can multiply 3 digit numbers in my head.
My answer to everything is… IMRAN YUSUF : “Inshallah.”
STEPHEN GRANT : Right.
My best claim to fame is... IMRAN YUSUF : “I’m the progeny of Indians subjugated by the British Empire, exiled by Idi Amin from Uganda and made refugees to Britain. Today, I tell my story to people whose collective history is one of conflict so that I can build a bridge instead of another wall.”
STEPHEN GRANT : I was the first person from the Western world to play Tetris.
THE VERDICT:STEPHEN TAKES THIS ISSUE’S NON-EXISTENT TROPHY, THANKS LARGELY TO HIS KILLER MUM JOKE. April 6 & 7 – Moevenpick JBR, 9PM April 12 – McGettigan’s JLT, 8PM April 13 – Grand Millennium Barsha Heights (TECOM), 9PM
JUST FOR
RUN THE STREETS
Puma have teamed up with Canadian RnB genius The Weeknd for seriously cool trainer collaboration. They’ve updated their Ignite Limitless line with a new range of Ignite Foam colourways, including White, Burnt Olive Forrest Night and Quite Shade Quarry (FYI – we’d love to have the job of coming up with new trainer names and colour combinations). With supreme comfort, stretch and breathability, plus a branded collared sleeve and supporting strap, they’re a mix of high styling and running technology.
Critical thinking Here’s a home truth – we’re awful, awful at taking criticism. We’re dominated by back-slapping awards, where papers self censor their news, where most magazines spew bland press releases into the churnalism ether. And to top it all off, defamation is illegal even if what you printed is true as it could hurt their business – no s*** Sherlock! People react with wide-eyed disbelief when you tell them that their product needs work or that they could improve what they’re doing. And yet, largely, constructive criticism is what helps us get better, it’s what makes us learn – by mistakes. The Angry Monkey has made plenty – that mullet hair cut I had in the early 2000s was truly shocking – but someone told me it sucked harder than my mum, and I changed it. Until we grow up and accept that other people’s opinions matter and that debate is healthy, we’re going to go nowhere fast.
Monkey Out... The Angry Monkeys’ views are his own, and don’t necessarily reflect the views of Infusion Magazine.