TALAL BUDEBS Publisher CHARL CHAKA Managing Partner charlchaka@infusion.ae Sales/marketing magazine@infusion.ae KIMBERLEY DEAN Editor editor@infusion.ae
We enjoyed… The Harlem Globetrotters rush through the loops of Ferrari World Abu Dhabi! The iconic American exhibition basketball team, stopped by for a tour of the vibrant park and its famous rollercoasters whilst showing off some of their best tricks and unrivalled stunts as part of their 2018 world tour.
PAULA MANGUEIRA Design design@infusion.ae SONIA IGNACIO Operations operations@infusion.ae CONTRIBUTORS: Paul Walker, Grace Bright, Sasha Perera INFUSION IS PUBLISHED BY Milehigh Media, LLC PO Box 53443 – Dubai, UAE Tel/Fax: 04 368 8098
We love… That Big Sean has launched his debut collection with PUMA! The PUMA x Big Sean Suede 50 Pack drop one of the collection is now available in all PUMA stores and select sneaker retailers across the GCC.
infusionmag infusionmagazine infusionmagazine
OUR PARTNERS New music.. Shaun Warner Releases his third single ‘Turn You On’ from his highly anticipated second album ‘Stay!’
GUEST LIST As part of their global “Save Water” campaign, Colgate-Palmolive Company is now launching a #TurnOfftheTap social media awareness campaign in the Gulf region to raise awareness about the importance of water conservation.
BLACK LIST
When you receive a press release with the heading “Fancy a Noontime Quickie” On December 6, 7 + 8, Sole DXB will return for its seventh edition, celebrating its 4 pillars of Streetwear, Basketball, Art and Hip-Hop through 3 nights and 2 days of programming. Zero Gravity teams up with NRG Fitness to bring an NRGetic Twist to your favourite Ladies Day with free fun fitness pop-up sessions! Sahara Centre Becomes the First
Mall in Sharjah to Install Free Electric Vehicle Charging Points.
With so many “ladies nights” going around, when are we going to see some “gentleman nights” in town?
Temperatures reached 100F in Dubai this weekend meaning summer is officially on its way and with a sad face we start to get ready to bid goodbye to outdoor venues for the summer.
Say What?
YALLACOMPARE TO BUILD THE ‘YALLACAR’!
This is a real #SayWhat moment! Blockchain? Check. Decentralised? Check. 3D printing? Double-check. Middle East’s leading comparison site, yallacompare has announced groundbreaking plans to build and market a new type of electric car, dubbed the ‘yallacar’. The futuristic two-door coupe will have fully autonomous capabilities, and it will be the world’s first electric car to be built on the blockchain with a decentralised manufacturing process based on 3D printing technologies. Expected to go into production mid-2019, with the first customer deliveries taking place in 2020. Yalla, the future is just around the corner!
STAVROZ (live) Seth Schwarz (live) Ziad Ghosn Josephine De Retour AAYA
#steprightup A P R I L
2 7
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S N O O P Y
I S L A N D
#THROWBACK
Ahead of his return this month INFUSION invites you to look back at when INFUSION TV captured some epic moments of the last DXBeach at Zero Gravity! Have you ever seen Fatboy Slim being slapped? Look no further.... And get ready to EAT SLEEP RAVE REPEAT all over again!
LOOKING
FORWARD
Where we filter out the best things that are coming your way...
HAVAIANAS PRESENT BRAZILIAN DAY DUBAI
Sheraton, JBR will host the annual Brazilian Day Festival in Dubai on April 20th, showcasing traditional Brazilian dance, music, sports, arts and food. Hosted by Havaianas the day will hold several activations that will aim to enrich Dubai residents and the local community with Brazilian roots and traditions. The festival, which will promote the cultural diversity and rich folklore of Brazil will deliver a jam-packed program full of workshops, entertainment, performances, arts & crafts, live music, Capoeira masters and even the chance to design your own Havaianas. Save the date and get ready for a day full of activities and fun! Click here for info
JUMEIRAH CREEKSIDE HOTEL FRIDAY 27th APRIL | 2PM-2AM #BIGBBQSOCIAL
TICKETS AVAILABLE ON PLATINUMLIST.NET EARLY BIRD TICKETS: 80AED UNDER 21: 40AED | UNDER 6 FREE
NORMAL ONLINE: OVER 21: 120 AED UNDER 21: 50 AED
AT THE DOOR: 150AED UNDER 21: 60AED
RE-CHARGE & RE-BALANCE WITH NIKKI SPA
Nikki Spa, located at the renowned and sought-after address of Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Dubai celebrates its first-year anniversary this month and in celebration the luxurious spa is offering guests a complimentary ESPA product on the purchase of a Nikki Spa 55-Minute Facial throughout the month of April. In addition guests enjoying the beach club itself also have the opportunity to experience Nikki Spa with the recently launched Massage on the Move concept. So for a chance to both live the vibes and love the recovery head down to Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Dubai this April! Click here for info
ESPA website
‘TURN UP THE VOLUME’ WITH RADIO HALA 95.6 FM
Shock Middle East the Middle-East’s fastest-growing radio network, which brought Heart 107.1 FM and Dance 97.8 FM to the airwaves, has announced the arrival of its third radio station – Radio Hala 95.6 FM. This will be the first station from Shock Middle East to cater to the Arabic community in the UAE – Radio Hala is a vibrant and modern station designed especially for young, fun-loving, social individuals who want to listen to the freshest tracks and be kept up-to-date with everything that’s ‘hot and happening’ in the Arab world. With two energetic prime time, live shows, every Sunday to Thursday – Eesh Sabahak with Mohammed Enaba and Dardasha with Reine Abour Jeily, Radio Hala promises to keep listeners entertained and ‘grooving’ all day long!
Click here for info
Gentleman’s Night Re-Defined Gents, Saturday is your night at Vault bar! Receive a complimentary selected drink upon arrival and enjoy special beverage offers throughout the evening while enjoying glistening views of the city skyline and live entertainment from DJ Smokingroove.  Every Saturday from 8pm until 11pm For inquiries call +971 4 414 3000 or WhatsApp +971 56 655 2459 JW Marriott Marquis Dubai Sheikh Zayed Road, Business Bay, PO Box 121000, Dubai, UAE T: +971 4 414 0000 | jwmmrr@marriott.com | jwmarriottmarquisdubailife.com JW Marriott Marquis Dubai | JWDubaiMarquis | vaultdubai
NEW WEEKLY OFFERINGS AT FLAIR NO.5
The newly opened Flair No.5 is now offering new weekly nights to amp your after work drinks! Flair No.5, the enticing new outdoor bar and lounge in DIFC is your answer to the ultimate city escape, set within a midnight apothecary of aromatic twists and creative combinations. Spark up your love affair with botanical cocktails, herb-infused drinks and floralinspired sharing menus, and immerse yourself in the splendid garden space. The nights will include; Social Flair on Sunday – Tuesday where you order a selected beverage for 35AED and enjoy complimentary refills from 7-9pm, Ladies Night on Wednesday for free flowing selected beverages and a 25% discount on the bites menu for ladies from 8pm – 12am and finally Urban Thursday, playing Urban house music and offering a 20% discount on bottle services. Click here for info
BLUE MARLIN IBIZA UAE CELEBRATES 6 YEARS!
Over six seasons, Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE has evolved in to an institution, a musical education, and most of all a family. From beach bliss and culinary delights, to epic lineups and late nights, the transformation has been nothing short of remarkable! Now to celebrate, with the help of Dubfire and Loco Dice, the Balearic Beach Club is throwing a massive 6th Anniversary Birthday Bash: Evolution. For a dancefloor full of incredible energy and physical grooves head down to Blue Marlin on Friday April 20th and join them in celebrating the future of more good vibes and great music! Click here for info
SANCHEZ BACK
TO HEADLINE AT NEW HOTSPOT SOHO GARDEN
House heads were left searchin’ for more Sanchez after he featured at the official launch party of Soho Garden back in December and so he’s back once again to show you all a ‘Hella Good’ time!
Soho Garden, a 14,000 Square Meter cosmopolitan enclave like no other is located at the edge of the city in the Meydan complex. The venue, with its 10,000 capacity live performance concert stage combines the creativity of an urban scene with the elegance of a secret garden and offers guests the choice of four stylish bars; the beautiful indoor Glasshouse Bar, the exquisite Bellini Bar, the fun and flirty Tiki Bar and the cool and chic Negroni Bar, along with a uniquely diverse mix of dining, pool lounging and nightlife experiences! Since its official launch back in December 2017 the garden has been growing and the secret is no more with Soho Garden already racking up an impressive list of big name showcases on a weekly basis, including the likes of Joris Voorn, Mambo Brothers, Hot Since 82, Klingande and Maya Jane Coles to name a few! Legendary DJ Roger Sanchez clearly liked the immersive garden venue because he’s back to grace it’s decks for a second time already…
Roger Sanchez – Remember Me? From humble beginnings in New York City, diggin’ in dusty crates of old vinyl and spinning at house parties in Corona, Queens, to dominating huge dance floors and headlining festival main-stages in every corner of the globe, DJ, Roger Sanchez is truly a selfmade man and a house music legend! Over the years Roger has managed to defy the mainstream and travel out to the far reaches of the musical galaxy, collecting depth and wisdom whilst all the time remaining fluid and cutting edge. His decades of experience have seen him build enticing remixes for a wide range of artists including Michael Jackson, The Police, Diana Ross, Jamiroquai, Maroon 5, and No Doubt, for which he won a Grammy in 2003 for Best Remixed Recording with the song “Hella Good”. In 2014 he relaunched his Stealth Recordings label and released massive hit, ‘Remember Me’ (feat Stealth) as Roger Sanchez, which exploded onto the scene as Pete Tong’s Essential New Tune and continued into a global radio and club hit, picking up deals with the likes of Ministry Of Sound.
Return To The Spotlight
Roger’s return to the spotlight came in 2016 came when he teamed up with the team at Defected. Roger released ‘Searchin’ on Strictly Rhythm, a track that left house heads searchin’ for more Sanchez, to which he answered the call. In April, 2016, he released Strictly Roger Sanchez, a comprehensive anthology of Sanchez’s finest studio moments, comprising a broad selection of productions and remixes from across his various aliases. 2016 also brought him back to the festival stage, and his second home, the white isle of Ibiza. Roger’s passion for his craft clearly drives his mission to spread the musical word to the farthest reaches of mankind and inject them with the fever to dance with him.
Don’t miss your chance to dance with the man himself when he headlines at SOHO Garden, Thursday April 19th, supported by Soho residents Jixo & Danz and Adam Graca. Get ready to immerse yourself in the garden for an unmissable evening! Click here for info
TECHNO ‘RUDE BOY’ MARCO BAILEY TO CLOSE DECIBEL SEASON Marco Bailey is somewhat considered an icon when it comes to techno and the dance music industry. Growing up in Belgium and teaching himself to DJ he created a small local following playing everything from rock, funk and hip-hop. In 1994 he found house and techno, where he started releasing on some small labels under “Marco Bailey”. He earnt a big break in 2000 with his first EP “Play It Back” on Carl Cox’s Intec imprint came out and then over the next few years the releases came flowing, including the release of his critically acclaimed “Rude Boy” album. Now with his successful MB Elektronics label he is considered one of the top techno imprints in the industry. Infusion sat down with the true pioneer of techno before his show at Decibel…
Marco, you’re quite an ambassador for the scene! In 2014 you celebrated 25 years of Marco Bailey, heading towards 30 years how do you manage to stay so passionate and such a true pioneer of techno? Because music is LOVE for me and I think a good life is all about love, sharing my music is about sharing my love & something from myself, so I guess that’s what keeps me passionate! Where did your passion for such raw, underground techno originally come from? RAW!! Well at the moment the new generation is even more raw then me.. I don’t like only raw techno however, I also like nice melodies and Elektro or progressive sounds and even Deep Ambient sounds. I also like Detroit style a lot, tained music like from UR or Derreck May, Carl Craig or Kenny Larkin all of those guys are true pioneers of our whole scene as well. I am known as a raw techno DJ, but I like to do long sets with many styles, NOT only raw techno. The problem is sometimes the crowd is not really getting the story you want to tell them or sometimes the time is also too short to tell the story so then its limited or confined to bring over all that nice music in one set! Your label MB Elektronics is considered one of the top techno imprints in the industry. What made you decide to start your own label? I started MB Electronics in 2001 but I had it on a hold for a while now, because I am thinking to bring it back in another
style. At the moment I focus on my other label: MATERIA which has a lot of great fresh talent on it beside my own releases. Including releases from French duo: Kas;st as well as ValentinØ from Italy and Alex Bau from Germany. All great talents coming up on MATERIA music. What I like to do with my own labels is simply to release my own sound and what I like myself and not what others decide for me to like.. I think a lot of people who own a label share that same opinion. What is MATERIA? Why MATERIA? And where can we expect to see MATERIA this summer? MATERIA is my event concept & my label BOTH: it is all about Techno and good creditable music without aiming charts. Besides Techno MATERIA also represents wicked and nice downtempo beats, ambient and electronic music sometimes also electronica sometimes too. Why MATERIA, well it means MATTER in English so what really MATTERS to us is the sound and not the show, not the VIP tables, not the tables without a Dancefloor full with people who do not understand anything about music, or full of gold diggers like some places in Dubai (excuse me)! “IT’S ABOUT GOOD MUSIC , REAL PEOPLE , COME AS YOU ARE NOT FAKE BUT REAL. COME WITH A SMILE TO ENJOY MUSIC NOT TO SHOW HOW MUCH MONEY YOU HAVE AND HOW BEAUTIFUL YOUR CAR IS.” – You get me!
This summer we have MATERIA at Ostend Beach Festival in Belgium and in August we have our own small festival MATERIA Open Air in Belgium as well. With Brilliant artists playing on the line ups like: RODHAD , BLAWAN , FJAAK , ELLEN ALLIEN , THE ADVENT & Many more! Your recently released and fifth studio album, Temper features a massive seventeen track showcase of stripped-back electro, low-key beats and driving techno. Would you say this album is the perfect definition of your most current sound and do you have a favourite track. Yes indeed this album totally reflects my current style and I released it on my own label MATERIA. These days the sad thing is that the youth do not really listen deep to music anymore but they buy music on hypes or because it’s some kind of current trend. I just keep doing what I feel is right in my music. I will never be a DJ or producer who only does one style of techno for plenty of years, I like changes, I like different colours, different cultures, different vibes etc. That’s why I still travel full of love every weekend all around the world. I like to keep on going and I love to spread my story and tale of music to all the lovely party people in the world ….YES mother : I AM A RAVER and I will always be! Get ready for a deep, dark, pure techno sound as Marco closes the Decibel dance floor in true destroyer style April 26th.
BASE CELEBRATES FIRST ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND
This April, BASE celebrates their first anniversary with a full weekend of events and a line-up of artists who have never been seen before in the region. The birthday bash festivities will include a club royalty theme to celebrate a year of outstanding international artists, performances and productions. BASE has hosted some of the best parties in the region this last 12 months and you can expect something special on this birthday weekend with a line up including DJ Cassidy, DJ Aik, Toni Vegas, DJ Spade and G-Eazy!
DJ CASSIDY - LYFE On Thursday 26th April the birthday celebrations will commence with DJ Cassidy the go-to DJ for fashion icons, entertainment moguls, cultural trendsetters and even a world leaders! DJ Cassidy, who has previously played for high profile celebrations such as Jay-Z and Beyonce’s wedding and President Obama’s inauguration and fiftieth birthday party will play his renowned set to kick-off the ACE of BASE Anniversary celebrations!
DJ AIK, TONI VEGAS & DJ SPADE Friday 27th April will see Parisian sensation DJ Aik take to the stage as part of this all-star line up! From Paris to New York and London to Dubai, DJ Aik has performed in the most exclusive clubs, celebrity parties, fashion weeks, openings, and concerts around the world. Along with DJ Aik is Toni Vegas who is known for holding a place at some of the most exclusive and high-end international venues, ranging from Toy Room in London, to Bâoli in Cannes and Up&Down in New York City and he is sure to have BASE bouncing with his bouncy, pulse-quickening hip-hop beats. The trio is finished off with NYC’s own DJ Spade. Regularly DJ-ing for the likes of Rihanna, 50 Cent, and Chris Brown amongst other major hip-hop artists, DJ Spade will be bringing the heat to BASE for their 1st birthday.
G-EAZY G-Eazy will round off the celebrations at the Super Club on Saturday 28th April. The top rapper in the US right now, G-Eazy, will travel to the UAE for the very first time especially for this birthday celebration. Known as the ‘James Dean of Rap’ for his iconic dapper style, timeless sampling and West Coast flavour, the ‘Beautiful and Damned’ artist will take the stage with his hit singles including ‘Him & I’, ‘No Limit’ and ‘Me, Myself & I’.
Along with these phenomenal performances you can be sure to expect breath-taking entertainment and liberating lightshows for a weekend to remember! Happy 1st Birthday BASE Dubai, here’s to another year of raising the bar for exciting & unique nightlife experiences. Click here for info
A QUICK Q&A WITH DIYNAMIC REGULAR LEHAR
Rising DJ and Producer, Lehar was signed to Solomun’s label, DIYNAMIC back in 2016. Lehar’s compositions, well known for their intuition and emotion, include a mixture of sounds and atmospheres of dramatic effects characterized by intimate basslines and intriguing melodies. His debut EP ‘Sargas’ put him on the map for modern electronic music and his contribution to the “10 Years of Diynamic” album celebration further consolidated his reputation as a producer. Infusion had a quick chat with the Neapolitan ahead of his set at Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE… Born in Naples, and now based in Venice, can you tell us a little about your roots and how this has shaped you as a DJ and producer? I still feel like a Neapolitan, even after more than 20 years living in Venice! I think everything that has influenced my music has basically been linked to my life experiences. Most of my experiences are linked to Naples and Venice of course, so in-turn I guess so is my music. Typically, how much of the music that you play as a DJ, do you produce yourself and would you say you have one particularly style or that it is something that is continually evolving? I would say lots of things have changed me as a person and as a DJ/producer. I always strive to learn new things everyday and share these experiences with people I am close to. That gives me the possibility to evolve as a man and sometimes also as a DJ and producer.
Having toured through the likes of Amsterdam, Berlin, Munich, Tel Aviv, Istanbul, Los Angeles, Buenos Aires and Santiago on your ‘All Through the Night’ tour, was there any particular standout city for you? Maybe there was one gig you enjoyed playing the most? To be honest, I have liked all of the cities I have played in and am going to. Every crowd is different, every experience is different and so far I enjoyed almost all of them.. I really feel lucky for the opportunities I have! Can you give us a Lehar Top 5 - 5 of your personal favorite tracks? Can be new or old… Of Norway - Spirit Lights (Lehar Remix) Human Machine - The Mule Stereocalypse - Lace Star Lehar & Musumeci – Horizon Enzo Elia - Feudal
Make sure you catch what is sure to be a beautifully creative set by Lehar at Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE, Friday 4th May.
GoodLuck Chatted To Infusion Ahead Of Dubai Gig – The Big BBQ Social
GoodLuck is a South African electronic music band consisting of members; Juliet Harding (lyricist and vocalist), Raiven Hansmann (keys and sax) and Ben Peters (producer and sampling). In just over 4 years, the trio have gone from admittedly knowing very little about electronic music to recording their sophomore album outside in the desert using only the sun to power their infectious beats! That debut album spawned a record breaking number of top10 singles and created a sound that was thoroughly their own, an irresistible blend of electronica, jazz and pop. Following the success of their first album the band packed up their state of the art Cape Town studio and headed into the Namibian desert to record their second album - CREATURES OF THE NIGHT. A feat so ambitious that they were asked to present a master class at the acclaimed Amsterdam Dance Event. Now the bands success has seen them open for the likes of Pharrell Williams, as part of his world tour, and be called up for several shows in the likes of Amsterdam, Berlin and London. Infusion were excited to chat with the inspiring trio before they play in Dubai at The Big BBQ Social this April… Tell us a little about GoodLucks sound and your main musical influences… We are a live-electonic band, which means we mix dance music with live instruments & vocals and our sound is super diverse! Our influences range from Faithless to Disclosure, from Imogen Heap to Big Wild, The Beatles to Sting and so many in between. GoodLuck’s sound is really all about great song writing and trying to find a way to tell a real story through electronic music. We write songs with depth and meaning but they are encased in super fun grooves and beats that just make you want to get down and have the best time. How did the GoodLuck trio come to be formed? We started performing a small residency at a club called Karma Lounge in Campsbay Cape Town a few years ago
and our main aim was just to create more of a spectacle in the nightclub scene (with the live performance), but before we knew it we had an album with 5 #1 radio singles off of it and a career that started moving faster than any of us ever imagined! Stand out moment in GoodLuck’s journey so far? Performing for the first time in front of the Battersea Power station in London in front of the to 25,000 people who were going completely crazy for the music and the show... and then also performing as the opening act for Pharell Williams on his tour to South Africa. You once presented a masterclass at the Amsterdam Dance Event discussing how you adapted such unique and abstract environmental sounds into a commercially successful second album – Creatures Of The Night. Can you tell Infusion a little about this process. Sure, as a band we are super passionate about Nature and protecting the planet. So to get inspired we decided we wanted to get out into nature to write and record our second album. We adapted some crazy technology and created a fully solar powered portable studio which we took into the
Namibian desert. We recorded outside under the stars in one of the most incredibly beautiful places on earth. It was extraordinary Where can we expect to see GoodLuck this summer, what do you guys have coming up? We will be performing in Dubai and Abu Dhabi this month at the Big BBQ Social and at Flipflops Beach Bar on the 26th and 27th of April. We will also be returning to Europe for a bunch of festivals and then we kick off our home season summer tour with our residency Get Lucky Summer. We are also building a huge recording studio in Cape Town so a load of projects on the go! This is a show not to be missed! Make sure you head to The big BBQ Social to witness was is set to be a high octane performance from GoodLuck this April 27th. Click here for info
ON THE RADAR
APRIL 19 @ BASE DUBAI
BACKSTREET BOYS APRIL-20 @ DUBAI MEDIA CITY
MEL DEBARGE APRIL-20 @ BASE DUBAI
TYGA APRIL-21 @ BASE DUBAI
BRAZILIAN DAY APRIL-20 @ SHERATON JUMEIRAH BEACH RESORT
BASE ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND W/DJ CASSIDY APRIL-26 @ BASE DUBAI
6TH ANNIVERSARY W/LOCO DICE & DUBFIRE APRIL-20 @ BLUE MARLIN IBIZA UAE
DECIBEL W/MARCO BAILEY APRIL-26 @ @ ON42 MEDIA ONE HOTEL
LYFE W/LES TWINS, THE OFFICIAL BEAUTY POP AFTER PARTY
ON THE RADAR
BASE ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND W/DJ AIK, TONI VEGAS & DJ SPADE APRIL-27 @ BASE DUBAI
FAT BOY SLIM FRI 27TH APRIL- ZERO GRAVITY
TALE OF US & DENIS HORVAT APRIL-27 @ BLUE MARLIN IBIZA UAE
GOODLUCK FRI 27TH APRIL - BBQ SOCIAL, JUMEIRAH CREEKSIDE
CAFÉ MAMBO WITH AMINE EDGE & DANCE APRIL-27 @ SOHO GARDEN DXB
BASE ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND W/G-EAZY APRIL-28 @ BASE DUBAI
CARNIVAL ISLAND FRI 27TH APRIL - SNOOPY ISLAND
DJ JAZZY JEFF MAY-04 @ BARASTI BEACH
HEART BREAKFAST WITH TIM, FARIS & SHERON WEEKDAYS 6AM - 10AM
Shock Middle East | www.shock-me.com | +971 4 557 7666
LOOK AND
LISTEN
Music be the food of love, so read on...
Music News TUNISAN ARTIST NAWEL BEN KRAIEM DROPS NEW SINGLE “MER PROMISE”
The French/Arabic single Mer Promise is a song about departure towards another realm, be it reality or a dream like state. The song aims to take the listener on an emotional journey through Nawel’s beautiful voice and strong lyrics. Nawel Ben Kraiem, signed to Universal Music Mena, dedicated the song to her younger sister, and all younger sisters, to help give them courage to overcome their anger and to never stop dreaming, never give up and imagine a world more honest and fair. ‘Mer Promise’ is available now on all digital platforms, listen to it here. Click here for info
EDM DJ RAVELAND DROPS ‘WAY TO TOMORROWLAND’
UAE based EDM Dj Raveland’s new dance single ‘Way To Tomorrowland’ has been released via Universal Music MENA. Raveland’s passion for electronic music was born after attending Tomorrowland 3 years in a row. Raveland’s music which his fans describe as having a festival vibe, full of positive energy and emotional melodies is now available for download on all digital platforms. Raveland ‘s main goal is to make it to Tomorrowland’s main stage and hopes that with the love of his fans, whom he calls ‘Citizens of Raveland’ he will make it to perform there one day. Listen to the track here.
Click here for info
MPFree
how music became disposable
onfession time: I knew where my Mum used to hide my Christmas presents, and one year – probably when I was 14 – I’d asked for 5 CDs for my Christmas. I used to have to save up for a few weeks for one album, so getting 5 in one go was like, well, Christmas and my first snog all rolled into one. Except, knowing what I knew, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on them. So I snuck in, recorded them, listened to them flat out, and then was a little disappointed when I got the physical albums on Christmas Day. Sorry Mum.
C
I can’t imagine myself having the same reaction today – just this week, my promo folder topped out at over 300 emails, on top of the countless PR emails I get telling me this new DJ is ‘re-defining dance music for his generation’ or this band are ‘like the Stones jamming with The Beatles, only betterer.’ That’s me tired of people trying to give me free music, something I could only dream of when I was a
sweaty-handed music-hooked man-child in Selectadisc. I used to love music, live for it, save up for it, look after it. I’m now drowning in it, cut adrift in a landfill sea of half-finished Ableton projects, bad band promos and anodyne, cookiecutter pop that’s as personality free as the team behind it. The moments of magic are still there, the tracks that still put your
hairs on end, the music that still makes you fall in love all over again. But finding them amongst the sheer volume of clutter out there has got so much harder. Music is so disposable, that people won’t pay Dhs2 for a new track on iTunes, but they will stretch to Dhs25 for a dishwater coffee that will give them a tenth of the buzz that the new Jamie xx album will. Music is so disposable that streaming is now seen not just a viable option, it’s the only real option – the streaming companies don’t make money for it, the artists don’t make a penny from it (0.0007Dhs per play ain’t going to pay your rent) but the record labels (surprise surprise) manage to scrape together a profit, boosted by the fact they own 20% of Spotify meaning they get paid twice for every stream. Music is so disposable that Pirate Bay is Bookmarked by millions as they illegally download Terra bytes of content, with virtually
no impediment, with music fansfrom Omaha to Oman downloading the new Chemical Brothers album that leaked early. Piracy is accepted, it’s part of the music industry now. Despite the internet obviously being the future, record companies were achingly slow to react to piracy, and to embrace the online world – Apple only recently launched their streaming service Beats while Guvera, the region’s dedicated music service, only came online in the last few months. Spotify and Apple offer free services, while Soundcloud and Mixcloud are both 100% free. So that’s all the music you could ever need, all for the price of an internet connection. Wow. No wonder the current generation places no value on music. It used to be the music business. Now it’s just music. There are also countless music magazines (oh, hey Infusion), blogs, online and FM radio stations, DJs, streaming sites and more shouting for your attention. Who do you trust, where do you go for music, what are you missing out on?
I’ve been part of the quantity over quality problem – I’ve got 18 tracks out there in the internet ether, only 10 of which I’m actually proud of in retrospect, the rest are musical misteps that are now cluttering up servers somewhere in Sweden and have been downloaded by my Mum and Dad. My first release went up against thousands on Beatport, on that day alone, not to mention the millions of tracks already up on their database. DAWs like Ableton and Logic have opened up the dancefloor to millions of people, while online record labels mean there’s no physical cost to making music, taking out one layer of quality control, making it easier to spam the world with your half formed musical thoughts. For every Soundcloud champion like Kygo there are thousands and thousands all fighting to get your attention. Further up the food chain, the charts have become increasingly
homogenized, with Twitter spats, ‘controversial videos’ and countless back-slapping award shows sight the norm. The way artists make money has changed. Music is how you get people interested, how you get them hooked: you pay your rent by playing live/DJing, by using the corporate/sponsorship world to your advantage and selling merchandise. Which is great, if you like the hustle and grind of 5 gigs a weekend, the red-eye of over-night flights and 2 hours of sleep, the highs and extreme lows of being a touring band playing to 8 people on a Monday night in Uttoxeter. As always, the answer is right infront of you/us. The good stuff is still out there – somewhere. It just needs more digging, more patience, a more trusting approach. Hopefully you trust us enough to point you in the right direction. Words by Andy Buchan
THE FLIP SIDE STAFF CHARTS
The Flip Side, an independent record store based in Dubai, hosts In-store sessions with DJs as well as monthly shows. Stocking music from various genres all across the board, Infusion got some inside information on the latest in store staff recommendations‌
SHADI MEGALLAA:
Tradition - Captain Ganja & The Space Patrol (Bokeh Versions) As a big collector of Dub records I can safely say that this particular record is incredibly unique. Thankfully this has been recently reissued by Bokeh Versions. This album by Tradition is a trip through the cosmos. Their focus on the keys, spaced-out effects & heavy baselines will stay in your head long after you've listened to it. You won't want to miss out on this Sci-Fi Dub Odyssey.
JEDD PERALTA:
Tommy Guerrero - Little Bit of Something (Be With Records) This album was originally released in May, 2000. This is the perfect Trip-Hop instrumental album with a touch of Spanish influence. I personally like this album because Tommy Guerrero is a legendary skater. He was well known for his relaxed style of street skateboarding. Being a skater and a musician myself, his music really touches my soul.
BOX-TALK with the BOXTONES
After meeting DJ Kristian Nairn (Hodor from Game of Thrones) prior to his “Hold the Floor” live set at MEFCC (Dubai Comic Con), we saw first hand just how much music can affect people of all ages! So in this issue’s “Box-Talk with The Boxtones” we’ll explore music of yesterday and today! Read on to find out more! GIG-TALK Wednesday, April 18th – Scottish rock titans Biffy Clyro are heading to Hard Rock Café, Festival City. Probably the biggest music news to hit this city in 2018 from the team at 117 Live, and The Boxtones will be 100% FRONT and CENTER for this concert! So take our advice, if there was only one rock show to attend this year, this is it!
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Friday, April 20th – Really hope you were able to get your tickets to the Backstreet Boys (though they are full grown men now) at Media City Amphitheatre! This show also features former Spice Girl - Melanie C, an under the radar UK singer Lemar and even though we heard that there would be no local support, Danny Aridi (newest signee to Universal Music MENA) will take the stage first! Congrats dude!
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TECH-TALK
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Roli Songmaker Kit – So our “keysmaster” Will Janssen has acquired a sleek and sexy tool for creating NEW music ANYWHERE he goes! This futuristic instrument from the UK lets anyone create a sick beat using the Lightpad Block M, add other expressive instruments on the Seaboard Block and then loop everything all at your finger tips with the Loop Block! Oh and the head of Artist Relations out of Brooklyn, New York, has let us know that it’s now available for purchase worldwide.
ART-TALK
A lady of many talents, and mother of Boxtones (aka MamaTone), Lynn Tierney has been creating musical artwork in various art forms. Here you can see a few examples featuring (from L to R); Paul Simonon the bassist of The Clash, Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones and a bold portrait painting of Jimmy Hendrix! To see more of her artwork, styles and creative designs, visit her Instagram page: @paintlynn_
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DJ BOOTH: CN WILLIAMS
CN Williams, (or Clifford to the tax man!) is a DJ, producer and presenter from London as well as being the owner of label, ReelHouse Records. The TV boss director at Ibiza Radio 1 is a self-proclaimed music lover at heart, with an especial love for everything house and disco. Forged in the raw rave heat of the 90s, he became one of London’s
underground stars, with a long-running residency at UK super club Escape that lasted nearly 15 years. These days Clifford can be found playing at popular long standing Dubai house nights such as 360, Jumeirah Beach Hotel as well as newer venues like Coco on 8, Mr. Miyagi’s, Sunstroke, Soul Heaven and popular brunch; Love parties ‘WE Brunch.’ Infusion had a quick chat with CN in the infamous DJ BOOTH… So CN, what’s your favorite part of Dubai’s clubbing scene? Dubai’s clubbing scene is getting stronger every day with so much variety. Personally, I love the soulful house and classic house scene, I love seeing brands like Mambo Ibiza and Elrow doing their thing. What needs some work in the scene? I love the Nu Disco scene, and with my track ‘Paradise’ becoming one of the Top 10 selling Nu Disco tunes of 2017 , I really feel Dubai is lacking in this genre. Hopefully, I’ll find a suitable venue for my own brand Discotique to open the scene up more to the clubbers in Dubai. What style of music you into? To borrow from some famous lyrics... “I remember the back in the 80’s when I first heard electronic music I knew back then this illegal computer sound was gonna be my call My heart got hooked on 4x4 beats when house took its journey with Jack, Chicago and Acid House Now my heart is hooked forever It’s in my soul, In my veins, On my mind 24/7 Don’t care if it’s Jazz, Soul, Tech, Minimal, Funky, Vocal or Hip-house Name it I love it. It’s all about the House music and it always will be..!” Basically I agree with NOIR – I’m all about House Music!
To Sync or Not Sync? Not To Sync, but it’s a handy tool and can be used to be more creative if it’s used correctly. My favorite ever record is… Hmmmm, well can there be a one favourite record? In my current mood and if my life depended on picking one today, it would have to be Patti Labelle ‘Music Is My Way Of Life,’ but ask me tomorrow and I’m sure my answer will be different! Biggest DJ achievement to date is… I’m very lucky to have had some amazing achievements, from playing all over Ibiza, Los Vegas, Miami, New York to the Ministry of Sound, Hed Kandi and being resident at ‘Escape’ super club for over 13 years, not forgetting my current residency at 360 Dubai. But I’ve said it before: playing at Escape In the Park Festival to Over 10K people, between Graeme Park and Erick Morillo and seeing my Mum front and centre is something I will never forget, she is truly missed. Favorite musical era? It has to be the 70s and early 80s for me, with dance music and the art of DJing being forged. There were so many strong influences you can still hear today, It truly was the birth of dance music as we know it with the pioneers like Larry Laven, Frankie Knuckles, Ron Hardy, Larry Heard. DJ Hero? Frankie Knuckles! Where do you play these days? You can catch me in Dubai at 360 (Jumeirah Beach Hotel), Mr. Miyagi’s & Coco On 8 (Media One Hotel), We Brunch and Marina Social (Intercontinental), Sunstroke, (Various) and occasionally at Tribeca (Ocean View Hotel). Plus I also have several gigs coming up in London, Ibiza, Wales, Bahrain, Malaysia and Los Vegas so stayed tuned! soundcloud.com/cnwilliams
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MOLECULE UNVEILS TAPAS MENU TO SATISFY YOUR AFTER-WORK CRAVINGS
Looking for a mid-afternoon or after-work spot to enjoy bites and beverages? Look no further, Molecule, the design-led dining and art gallery concept in D3 has unveiled a delicious Tapas menu sure to satisfy. Offering a range of hot and cold tasteful options complemented with refreshing drinks, Molecule welcomes friends and colleagues to fill the gap from Sunday to Thursday starting at 3pm onwards. Indulge in the signature cheese spread and a glass of vintage grapes combination, or the Mediterranean inspired hot dishes such as the succulent Spanish crispy cod fritters and patatas bravas, cooked to perfection and drizzled with bravas sauce and aioli. So for vibrant art and flavours alike, you know where to go!
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ATLANTIS, THE PALM LAUNCHES ‘AQUAVENTURE AFTER DARK’
Waterpark fans can now splash into the weekend with the launch of ‘Aquaventure After Dark’, a brand-new evening concept that will see Dubai Atlantis waterpark open its doors for moonlit fun set to the backdrop of a live DJ! In partnership with Coca-Cola® and 104.8 Channel 4 radio Aquaventure will be lit up from 7:30pm – 11:30pm and will offer children and adults of all ages the chance to take on over 20 of it’s scariest waterslides, whilst listening to the latest beats from DJ Shef Codes and Saif&Sound in three epic DJ zones. Channel 4 radio presenters will also be hosting fun and games throughout the evening including ‘The Leap of Faith’s Loudest Scream’ and ‘100 Grand in the Sand’ where contestants can dig in the sand to uncover AED 100,000 worth of prizes including a night in Atlantis, The Palm’s Underwater Suite. Tickets will be 135AED at the door or 95AED if purchased beforehand. Perfect timing for the summer ahead!
IS THERE REALLY ‘NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH’?
The old saying “There is no such thing as a free lunch” refers to the idea that it is impossible for a man or woman to get something for nothing. Marc Blacha, a popular Dubai nightlife promoter, is turning that idea upside down with a new concept called Bite Club. Multiple times a week, foodies and food lovers now have the opportunity to dine for free in an array of restaurants across Dubai. INFUSION caught up with Marc to learn what the hype is all about… Hi Marc, so tell us what is Bite Club? Bite Club is a food-centered social club. We meet several times a week to network and socialize in restaurants all over Dubai. We are passionate about discovering and promoting new venues.
How does one become a member? Invitations to our events are sent out through WhatsApp. We currently have 6 Bite Club chat groups with 200+ participants in each one. If you would like to join, you simply message me or one of our event managers. Most of our events are free to attend and we don’t have any membership fees. Tell us about your events. We specialize in food tastings. The typical Bite Club event starts at 8 PM on any given day of the week in a chosen restaurant. Over the course of the next three hours our members are served a selection of bites which represent the venue’s culinary style. The food is free of charge, all we ask is that you pay for your drinks and share the experience with your followers on social media. What do the restaurants gain from a Bite Club event? Bite Club can bring any restaurant up to 100 guests. We can make any night your busiest night. Our members are outgoing, social people who like to eat, drink and have a good time. We enhance the atmosphere in your restaurant, we increase your beverage sales and we provide unparalled marketing and repeat business for you. Bite Club is the ideal marketing solution for restaurants in Dubai.
How did you come up with the idea for Bite Club? I have organized club nights in Dubai since 2010. The nightlife has been great to me but I don’t have the same enthusiasm and passion for the scene as I had 8 years ago. Today I enjoy dinners, more than I do parties. Towards the end of last year I convinced a few restaurants to serve free food for a small group of people. It proved to be a hit, our small group grew to a large group and eventually I found a formula to not only make it an enjoyable experience for the members but also a profitable business for the venues. That’s how Bite Club was born. What’s next? I am proud of what we have achieved so far and excited about the future. In just a few months, we have managed to attract more than 1,200 people to join Bite Club simply through word-of-mouth and WhatsApp. We don’t rely on Facebook or Instagram to market and promote our events. We are in the process of creating our own social network; the Bite Club app. Mark Zuckerberg changed the world through Facebook. My goal is to change the restaurant business through Bite Club. Our concept works in Dubai and I am confident we can open in other cosmopolitan cities with similar success. Wish me luck!
So if this is up your street and you want to MEET EAT REPEAT with Dubai’s most dynamic food society then make sure to check out Bite Club’s Facebook page or follow the link below for their Bite Club Whatsapp Chat. Stay tuned for the app! Click here for info
Gadgets
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SURFER CHIC MEETS MOTORSPORT MANIA AS PUMA AND RIHANNA GEAR UP FOR SPRING-SUMMER Global Sports Brand, PUMA, and FENTY Creative Director, Rihanna, turn up the heat with the introduction of the fourth season of FENTY PUMA by Rihanna. Two worlds collide with these two distinctive creative directions: beach chic and motorsport. Beachy and badass, the collection is a vibrant, unexpected mashup of high fashion, extreme sports and beachwear. Masculine motorsport gear meets laced-up lingerie. Oversized, androgynous silhouettes are paired with sexy skintight swimwear. Summer vibes are in full effect with bold branding, daredevil detailing and splashes of neon. It is a collection born to hit the beach, and ready to make waves.
“This collection is a mix between two worlds: motocross and surf. It was a challenge to bring them together but it ended up being the perfect combination,” Rihanna
Update Pieces: The classic Track Suit – Now with a surf inspired twist with neon bungee cords and super lightweight rubber coated leather. The iconic lacing leggings Refashioned with bungee cords and cut outs in pop colors from Cherry Tomato, Bae and Evening Blue. The Creeper gets a makeover with neoprene materials, gravity-defying translucent stacked soles and bungee cord laces. FENTY slides this time designed as an espadrille slip-on and a combo leather-neoprene neon pool slide. New To The Collection: The collection introduces Swimwear for the first time with curve- hugging mono-kinis and body confident bikinis, perfect for streetwear and pool parties. PUMA’s Motorsport Gear: Paying homage to PUMA’s history, Rihanna has transformed classic performance racing gear into runway-ready looks. Technical race suits and driving pants rendered with checker flag graphics and sporty decals. Summer Accessories: Puffy Barrel Bag, Surfer Ankle Straps, Chokers, Summer Visors, classic Baseball Caps, the unique Scuba Duffle, Backpacks, and Bum Bagsall splashed with FentyxPUMA branding round-up the season’s accessories. The FENTY PUMA by RIHANNA Spring/Summer ’18 collection drop 1 is now available at lifestyle and fashion retailers in the GCC, with further drops following through May and June.