#1 HYPE | february 20138

MIXTHE

HUSKY BEARS “It made us happy just saying it, and it sounded like we deserved a hug, which we firmly believe we do.”

RATMAN & BOBIN “Just the thought of growing older and having to say that we were either ‘Ratman’ or ‘Bobin’ amused us.”

THE BENDY STRAWS “Do I even need to explain why we liked that one – an excellent suggestion.”

Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please!’ Starting as they mean to

go on, Hollaphonic, Dubai’s newest and possibly only electro-pop duo, are determined to make a big splash. Debut single I Don’t Want It To End sees the Hollphonic duo – Olly Wood and Greg Stainer – out of the blocks with a bang, combining Wood’s hip hop-inspired emceeing with Stainer’s big house sound for a cut of catchy, uplifting electro. It works; so much so that music giants EMI Arabia scooped them up as only the second non-Arab act to be signed to their roster.

“We feel there is a big opportunity to make a name for yourself in the UAE compared to, say, the UK,” Stainer tells Hype. “The reaction to the single has been crazy – local radio stations have been inundated with requests, and we are getting tweets of support from Example and Zane Lowe. We’re really excited.”

“We have big aspirations,” adds Wood. “Our dream is to travel around the world making money by playing live music to people who genuinely love it.”

Despite the tidal wave of good feeling, the duo realise that there is still a lot to do. “Life doesn’t end now that we have

a record deal,” insists Stainer. “We’ve been given a platform to go and make our music, so now we have to go and do it.”

One thing’s for sure – they certainly have our attention.

I Don’t Want It To End is released worldwide on February 15

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Hollaphonic’s TOP THREE REJECTED NAMES

Freshly signed to music moguls EMI

Arabia, Dubai’s newest electro-pop

duo release their debut single

HOLLAPHONICON THE LIST

Dubai-based duo Greg Stainer and Olly Wood

08 hype feb '13_Hollaphonic.indd 8 1/30/13 12:06 PM