infusion # 270 may 1-15 2016

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MUSIC PEOPLE LIFE Laughter Factory Turns 20, Carl Cox, Sonny Fodera, Solomun, Ten Walls, Armin Van Buuren, Disconekt infusionmagazine infusionmagazine infusionmag BOW OUT WITH ADAM BEYER, DJ TENNIS AND MORE!

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Groove on the Grass grace our cover as they bow out for the season with a mighty techno line up including Adam Beyer and DJ Tennis, while inside we have features with Defected hot-shot Sonny Fodera, talk to the Laughter Factory as they turn 20, and Ibiza favourite Camilo Franco. We also tell you how to - and not to - take your DJ press photos, and have the news on up-coming gigs by Carl Cox, Armin Van Buuren, Ten Walls and loads more. Grab your copy from around town from today, or check out this online version now!

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Infusion # 270 May 1-15 2016

MUSIC • PEOPLE • LIFE

Laughter Factory Turns 20, Carl Cox, Sonny Fodera, Solomun, Ten Walls, Armin Van Buuren, Disconekt

infusionmagazine infusionmagazineinfusionmag

BOW OUT WITH ADAM BEYER, DJ

TENNIS AND MORE!

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TALAL BUDEBS Publisher

CHARL CHAKA Managing Partner [email protected]

ANDY BUCHAN [email protected]

VIP PATEL Magazine / Sales Director [email protected] +971 050 169 8712

CHRIS RAYNER Online Guru [email protected]

PAULA MANGUEIRA Design [email protected]

CONTRIBUTORS: Vip Patel, Chris Rayner

INFUSION IS PUBLISHED BYMilehigh Media, LLCPO Box 53443 – Dubai, UAETel/Fax: 04 368 8098

OUR PARTNERS

We can’t wait to watch Raving Iran, a behind the scenes

documentary on the underground techno scene in the country, currently being shown at film

festivals across the world.

Karak Beats’ star MoCity has teamed up with ace new pub

Brunswick Sports Club for an all day party to celebrate a year of his Motellacast, including a live

session featuring Dan Greenpeace, Emote, Siamik Amidi and Satwa

3000.

Maya Jane Coles playing at Blue Marlin’s 4th Birthday on May 13?

See you front and center!

Too many DJs, too few clubbers - in the words of Russell Peters, someone’s gonna get a hurt real

bad and see their event flop.

Birthday shout outs during a DJ set. You are not that important

and no one really cares. Jog on…

RIP Prince. It was hard to believe the musical year could get any

worse after Bowie passed away, but it somehow did.

BLACK LIST

GUEST LIST

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RUMOURS

OLD JOKES HOME:

SAY WHAT?Ex One Direction star Zein Malik has been confirmed for a show in Dubai this October.

Q: What do you call a Mexican peeping-tom?

A: Senor Minge.

instagram.com/infusionmagazine

IF GAME OF THRONES STARS WERE DJS…

MEME CORNER:

Flux Pavilon Brienne of Tarth Francesca Lombardo Ellaria Sand Bob Sinclar Benjen Stark

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WE LOVEJazz @ Pizza

Express

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So often in this city, live music is an after-thought. The sad reality is often a lone keyboard player working their way through ‘Imagine’ for the millionth time at an empty bar.

Not so at Jazz @ Pizza Express. The pizza chain have given local acts a platform to shine, 7 days a week. Throw in good pizza, cheap drinks and live music, and you have a sure-fire winner.

It’s hard to pick a favourite night of the week, but the Swing Revue every Wednesday is something special – you’ll be doing the Jitterbug in no time. The venue also lives up to its name: there’s no Starbucks sick jazz on display here, as anyone who headed down to the Jazz Club (nice) recently will attest. And any venue that houses Abri and the Funk Radius on a weekly basis, knows what’s up.

facebook.com/jazzpizzaexpressdubai

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What we did

Are you feeling lucky, punk? It was a question the House of Afrika DJs had to face on the night’s 3rd birthday as they all pulled a number out of the bag – the higher the number the later their set.

Not only did they play lucky dip with the sets, there was also a Joker card for the night which allowed the DJs to jump in at any point and drop a track. With 5 DJs buzzing around the DJ booth, it didn’t take long for that infectious energy to be translated to the dancefloor, as the House of Afrika faithful celebrated the 3rd birthday in style. Here’s to 3 more!

Up next: House of Afrika feat. Pierre Ravan & DJ Dazz, Friday May 6

HOUSE OF AFRIKA 3RD BIRTHDAY @ DEK ON 8

Looking Back

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When asked the question “If you could only eat one style of food for the rest of your life, what would it be?” I immediately said Sushi. Which is why I got very excited when I heard about the unlimited Sushi, Sashimi and Nigiri at GQ every Sunday for just AED150 per person. Located in the JW Marriott Marquis, the bar’s sleek and modern interior offers a beautifully lit, cosy environment to dine in, with the subtle sounds of commercial house playing in the background. As we sat down to order from the a la carte menu, our attentive waitress recommended we go for the platter, and when it arrived we were not disappointed. The platter consisted of over 30 pieces of sushi and sashimi perfectly crafted and served with the usual combination of soya, wasabi and fresh ginger. We even attempted a second round, picking out our all favourite pieces, but we collapsed into a sumi coma half way through, belt loosened. A great way to combat those Sunday blues, our chopsticks are at the ready as we’ll be back for more.

Vip Patel

ROLLUP SUNDAYS @ GQ BAR

Looking Back

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Situated on the 68th floor of the JW Marquis in Business Bay, this new addition to the restaurant and bar scene comes direct from Toronto Canada and brings with it an old fashioned feel with modern twists. We were led to our table through the bustling bar area where a DJ was dropping a very mixed bag of classic rock tracks to a lively after-work crowd. Our table was right in front of the partly open kitchen so we could watch the guys work the grill throughout the evening. We started with the Devilled Crab Toast and the shaved Brussel Sprouts Salad. Yes, you read that right – brussel sprout salad. Not being a huge fan of sprouts I wasn’t expecting the dish to be so good. It was full of flavour, fresh and was polished off in a matter of minutes! For the mains we went for the Grilled Lamb Chops and the Tenderloin Steak. Both were expertly cooked on the $60,000 4m grill right in front of us and were accompanied by the onion rings and mac and cheese, probably our favourite dish of the night! We finished off by manfully struggling through two huge pieces of pie: the Key Lime and Banoffee both of which were outstanding. The service, ambience and food were all top notch and we can’t wait to get back there and indulge in some high end comfort food!

Chris Rayner

WESLODGE SALOON @ JW MARRIOTT MARQUIS

Looking Back

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Naya, meaning ‘new’ in Hindi, has added a range of items to its menu in keeping with chef Pravish Shetty’s theme of traditional street cuisine and family style cooking. Set on the first floor of Jumeirah Beach Hotel, the first thing that strikes you on entering is the vibrant décor. Warmly greeted by staff we opted to take full advantage of our long winter and sit outside with a grand view of Burj Al Arab. We started with a creamy Dhai Puri Chaat, Tangy Prawn Samosa containing a unique blend of spices and flavourful, tender Chicken Tikka Kebab all cooked and presented perfectly. For mains we opted for the classic Butter Chicken which was a delicious take on a northern classic, alongside Bengali Lobster, a dish touted on the menu as an acclaimed ‘regional speciality dish’ by Time Out, although very well prepared and presented this was not our stand out dish of the evening. That accolade went to the ‘Naya’ Lamb Chops Masala. A 24 hour marinated, char smoked spice disch slow cooked to perfection so the meat melts in your mouth.Even though we were stuffed we managed to sample desert, the mango kulfi coming up trumps as its delicate sweetness gave us the necessary sugar boost required to prevent us from slipping into a curry coma.

Vip Patel

NAYA @ JUMEIRAH BEACH HOTEL

Looking Back

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2CHAINZ @ CIRQUE LE SOIR

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BRAZILIAN SPIRIT @ DEK ON 8

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DANCE MUSIC CONFERENCE @ PACHA IBIZA DUBAI

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DECIBEL FEAT. TONY VARGA @ LEVEL 41

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DWA FEAT. LIL JON @ THE ACT

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MILK’N’SUGAR @ XL

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NEON SPLASH @ DIMC

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SOMETHING BIG OUTLOOK LAUNCH PARTY @ STORY ROOFTOP

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EMIRATESGOLF CLUB

2 STAGES 5PM - 3AM

TICKETS180-240AED

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EMIRATESGOLF CLUB

2 STAGES 5PM - 3AM

TICKETS180-240AED

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Local NewsCARL COX PLAYS BLUE MARLIN IBIZA UAE

There’s not much that’s not already been said about this dance music institution – there at the birth of acid house, he’s an Ibiza veteran, a larger than life ambassador for dance music and one of the most infectious, charismatic DJs in the world. In short, Carl Cox is a modern day icon, and as such you should be front and centre when he plays at Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE on Friday May 6. As if that wasn’t reason enough, he’s joined by Canadian dark house DJ and producer Art Department for an almighty line up.

Looking Forward

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Much-loved funky house outfit Sunstroke turn 5 in style this May as they have Swedish house star Mad Mats headlining. As part of acclaimed record label Local Talk, he’s one of the leading house DJs at the moment, and has a strong following in the UAE after several stand out shows. It all takes place at 360 on Thursday May 5, with CN Williams, Jack Woodcock, John Spoor, Miss Foster and Da Sendri on support, with free entry from 5pm.

SUNSTROKE TURNS 5

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It’s been a good year for trance fans in the UAE, and it’s about to get even better as Armin Van Buuren is playing the city on May 20. Held at Meydan, his world tour Armin Only Embrace will be making its only Middle East stop with guest vocalists rumoured to be appearing live on stage. Doors open at 8pm, and tickets are available from arminonly.com

IT’S ONLY ARMIN

Looking Forward

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TRIBECA TURN BACK TIME

Tribeca, one of our favourite bars/restaurants in town, just got that little bit better as they’re launching their new Thursday night concept DXB54. An homage to the classic sounds of the legendary New York club Studio 54 that epitomized 70s and early 80s club culture, it’s helmed by CN Williams, a well known international DJ who’s recently set up in the UAE. A versatile DJ, he’s been part of the Pacha Ibiza and Ministry of Sound set

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There’s a lot to love about Bad House Party. There’s their punk and indie playlist, then there’s the fact they put all their club earnings back into live music, bringing over breaking bands to play at their Casa Latina home. And they’re doing just that again on Thursday May 12 as they have hotly-tipped girl-pop four piece Black Honey coming over from the UK. Tickets are AED100, and doors open from 9pm.

BAD HOUSE PARTY GO LIVE

Looking Forward

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A new documentary that’s causing waves on the film circuit, Raving Iran is a look behind the adventures of several house and techno fans who are looking to bring dance music culture to the strictly controlled country. Directed by German filmmaker Susanne Regina Meures, the film exposes the struggles, dangers and persecution faced by DJs Anoosh and Arash who, “tired of hiding from the police and their stagnating career, organize one last manic techno rave under dangerous circumstances in the desert.” It’s currently doing the rounds at the world’s film festivals, we’ll bring you more on its official release date as we get it.

RAVING IRAN

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DANNY BOY

Once a big name star with festival and club appearances across the world, with a huge hit in ‘Walking With Elephants’, Ten Walls’ popularity sank faster than you could say LGBT after his homophobic rant on Facebook was splashed across the internet late last year. After several sincere apologies, and behind the scenes repatriation, he’s back and is playing at Iris on Yas Island on Thursday May 5.

Back2Basics continue their voyage back in time as they’ve booked Danny Howells to play at their Pacha Ibiza Dubai party on Thursday May 12. An English DJ and producer, he was one of the biggest names on the house market in the 90s and 2000s, playing an upfront mix of house, progressive and tribal sounds.

TEN WALLS RETURNS

Looking Forward

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TOGETHER AT LAST

Techno night Dysfunktion return to action on Friday May 13 with a new venue, a 3D concept and a heavyweight line up. They’re taking over Story Rooftop for the night, and will be handing out 3D glasses on arrival so you can take in the trippy visuals. Musically, they have Warped’s Adam going head to head with Analog Room’s Shemroon, while Dysfunktion founders Ju Lovett and Tobie Allen will also be trading musical blows. The party starts at 10pm, with entry AED100 or AED75 for EK crew.

Relaxed house and techno affair Together With bow out for the season with a highly commendable line up of local talent taking over Dek on 8. Seasoned techno star Adam Rahman will be joined by Cyril, Paul Josef (pictured) and Maks, all relatively new names on the scene, but all packed with dance music pedigree. It all takes place on Thursday May 14 starting from 6pm.

DYSFUNKTION GO 3D

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Just when you thought club land couldn’t get any bigger and better, Eden Beach Club pull one of the largest line ups we’ve seen out of the bag. They’ve paired up Diynamic main man Solomun and larger than life American house and techno DJ Seth Troxler (pictured) for a double header of epic proportions on Friday May 13.

Expect future Ibiza anthems, hands in the air (that’s from the Djs) and plenty of underground house and techno music from two of the most exciting Djs in the world. Eden opens from 10am-midnight, and they’re advising that people get down early or book their tables well in advance.

EDEN GO LARGE WITH SOLOMUN AND SETH TROXLER

Looking Forward

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050 991 0400 / [email protected] CODE: STRICTLY FABULOUS / NO EFFORT NO ENTRY

Diamonds are Forever

Ladies NightEvery Tuesday

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STEP INTO -18˚

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GET DISCONEKT-ED

Advertorial

Congratulations on one of the most talked about events in the city – what’s your secret?Mostwntd, Frederick Stone and Aidin Karami have come together to build a team of passionate and driven industry professionals joining forces to pioneer a new night in the city focusing on electronic music. Having independently been imbedded in the nightlife scene in Dubai for many years it made sense for us to collaborate on Disconekt, bringing back the mayhem of a midweek party every Wednesday night at Vii Dubai. This is a night dedicated to electronic music and with our eclectic mix of enthusiastic

revelers dominating the dancefloor, there is no mistaking the people make the party,

And what’s your Thursday morning advice if we’re heading to work after a night at Disconekt?Disconekt is not for the faint hearted. Those prepared to push the boundries and kick start the weekend early will be elevated by the energy of the night before and prepared to suffer slightly the next day. It’s nothing a strong coffee can’t fix!

What music can we expect on the night?With our residents delivering

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Mid-week house night Disconekt are one of the most talked about nights at the moment thanks to their superb music selection and up for it crowd. We caught up with the guys behind the Wednesday night party at Vii Dubai, Conrad Hotel

their own unique style, the diversity of music presented expands over many genres of underground electronic music, differentiating the musical experience every week. And who are the resident Djs?We have a team of talented local resident DJ’s including Frederick Stone, Aidin Karami, Michka and Mario Bazouri who have played for some of the city’s most prominent nightlife brands and club nights spanning years of industry experience both locally and internationally.

Mid week clubbing has become huge in the region

in the last few years – why is that do you think?We are fortunate to have the option to go out every night of the week and with the ever expanding entertainment industry club, nights have spread across the week captivating a large majority of people who commit to midweek clubbing as preference to the weekend depending on their preferred taste in music, atmosphere and experience.

Disconekt, every Wednesday, Vii Dubai, Conrad Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road

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Cover Feature

6 things you need to know about Adam Beyer Groove on the Grass return for the final time before their summer break on Friday May 6, and they’ve gone back to their techno roots with a line up featuring Swedish Drumcode star Adam Beyer, Italian dark tech-house king DJ Tennis as well as Dutch DJ Bart Skills and rising German techno double act The Das. We take a closer look at main stage headliner Adam Beyer…

Groove on the Grass feat. Adam Beyer, DJ Tennis, Bart Skills, The Das, Friday May 6, Emirates Golf Course, 5pm-2.30am, tickets from Platinumlist.net

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He’s married to Techno Queen Ida Engberg, who played at Groove on the Grass in 2015. Together, they’re the King and Queen of the techno scene.

He’s the driving force behind cult techno label Drumcode. Founded 20 years ago this year, it originally only released house and techno from Swedish producers but is now home to Bart Skills (who’s also on this Groove on the Grass line up), Alan Fitzpatrick, Gary Beck, Christian Smith, Maceo Plex, Marco Carolla and Steve Lawler. So pretty much everyone that matters, then.

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Cover Feature

He played Creamfields Abu Dhabi in 2014 and decimated the house stage with a techno masterclass, with thousands of clubbers from Dubai making the hour long journey to see him in action.

His Adam Beyer presents Drumcode Radio Live show is now syndicated across the world to over 40 different countries and more than 40 online radio stations.

His first musical loves were hip hop, hip house, acid and techno, but it’s his punishing, hard and percussive brand of techno that he’s developed that’s seen him become a main player on the dance music stage.

He’s an in-demand DJ. In May alone, he’s playing 3 dates in Scotland, before heading over to Europe to play the Czech Republic, Rotterdam, Northern Ireland before embarking on an American tour that takes in New York and his very own Drumcode Detroit festival.

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It’s always sunny with Sonny

Once a rising star of the house music scene, Defected’s Sonny Fodera is now very much a star in his own right, with tracks flying up Beatport charts, global tours and a Sankeys Ibiza residency. Ahead of his May 6 show at Zero Gravity we ask him some important (and not so important) questions…

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A very warm welcome back to the UAE – every time you play, you get to play on a bigger stage, is that how it feels to you? Yes. You guys get bigger and better at a crazy speed!

What have you heard about Zero Gravity?I have heard it’s one of the best clubs in Dubai. A few of my friends have been and really rate the venue.

You’ve worked hard to get where you are, do you ever wish people could see behind the scenes on what a DJ does, how tough it can be?It is true, I definitely have put a lot of work in. I think a lot of people think with DJing you turn up to a venue and just play music. There is a lot that goes into it, I literally am doing this around the clock, but it isn’t work for me because I love what I do. It is also making music and doing edits which takes up a lot of time. Also the travelling takes it out of you. I always try to make the most of being somewhere, it’s all about exploring the world – one gig at a time.

Do you feel like you’ve made it in the house music business now, what other accomplishments are there still left for you?I guess so. Next I am running for president.

Are you sympathetic towards Djs like Avicii, who stop Djing as the touring is too hectic/unhealthy? I definitely feel for the tour life! It gets hard sometimes it has its ups and downs. But DJs need to get over it – you get to see the world and share your music with all different kinds of people. What a job!

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Dance music in 2016 is… House.

My favourite tune of the year is… Get Real – Mind Yo Business.

Best DJ I’ve heard this year is… Will Clarke.

Gig I’m most looking forward to is… We Are FSTVL.

My show in Dubai will be… Vibes.

Sonny Fodera plays Zero Gravity Friday May 6. Free entry until 10pm, ladies free until midnight, AED100.

How would you describe the Sonny Fodera sound in 5 words? House, Music, Groove, Bass, Sexy.

Ibiza plans for 2016? Residency at Sankeys.

You started out as a hip-hop producer and DJ – does that genre/style instruct your Djing or music making now? What other types of music do you listen to to get away from house music? Yeah. I still listen to hip-hop all the time. I love re-working rap vocals into house tracks. I really love what Amine Edge & DANCE have been putting out on Cuff. Dope styles. When I am chilling I listen to jazz, hip-hop, trap music and grime. Also a bit of blues.

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What was the first ever gig like – busy? Funny? What were the nerves like? Our first gig was at the Premiere night club at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Deira. 20 years ago that was the best nightclub, in the top hotel, in the centre of town. We had landed on our feet!We were sold out because people had nothing else to do other than watch ‘The Bold and

the Beautiful’ 6 times a week on TV. The first show was amazing, the second a disaster. We had a fella called Derek Acorah, who was a mind-reader and went around telling people they were going to get cancer. I can’t believe The Laughter Factory survived that. We were lucky.

What have been the highs? And the lows? You’ve had

The Laughter

Never Stops

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A true Dubai institution, the Laughter Factory has been around longer than the Burj, outlasted most of the clubs in town and is twice as old as Infusion. On their 20th anniversary, we sat down with founder Gail Clough to talk us through the night’s history…

The Laughter

some big big names come down – who have been your favourites over the year? A high, was watching all the Indian hotel staff abandon their posts to watch Russell Peters from the back of the room (that was before he was famous).We knew he was going to be special. Frankie Boyle also had his scissors taken off him at the airport and then had to sit next to a bird of prey all the way to Doha. We have never seen him so quiet.Dara Ó Briain spoke so fast, no one could understand a word he was saying. He has since slowed down a lot. Michael McIntyre went quad biking in his suit and Gina Yashere came off the bike and broke her arm. He spent the whole day in hospital with her.

What are comedians like when you get to know them, are they typically dark and funny, drink a lot, is there a stereotype?All comics are strange in one way or another. I love their

intelligence and the unique way they can look at the world. They tend to be quite fragile and easily upset in person, the opposite of how they are on stage.

Which 3 comedians from the 20 years would you invite back and why? Tom Stade as he is one of the funniest people on earth, he tells stories not jokes. He has the audience in the palm of his hand from start to finish. Sarah Millican, as it’s nice to see a woman make it so big in comedy. I would love to spend time with her again. Micky Flannagan was non stop laughs and a lovely bloke. I wish we could still afford him.

There must have been some close to the edge humour over the years – have the authorities ever got involved, do the comics censor themselves? We’ve never had a problem with the police, so far so good. We

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just want everyone to have a good time, it’s really simple.

How has comedy changed over the last 20 years? Over the last 20 years audiences have become more comedy literate. The comics can do more interesting stuff and the audience tends to go with it. Most of our crowd come several times a year. It can be quite addictive, I am definitely a comedy junkie. I couldn’t live without those extra laughs in my life.

Is the city more open to comedy now, to laugh at itself? Definitely. Dubai has a vibrant comedy scene. You can see big names in the Trade Centre, but I still prefer to watch a comic up close, where I can see the comic’s face and feel the

atmosphere around me. It’s a personal choice.

And what’s in store for the next 20 years of the Laughter Factory? We have just started pre-show brunches and comedy supper clubs, we want to take care of people all evening and make it as affordable as possible. People like to know what they are spending, especially on a party. We just want to provide an exceptional night out for comedy fans.

Wednesday 11th May – Park Rotana, Abu Dhabi (8 PM)Thursday 12th May – Moevenpick Hotel JBR (9 PM)Friday 13th May – Moevenpick Hotel JBR (9 PM)Tickets AED140 thelaughterfactory.com

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APPLY NOW, just follow these three simple steps.

WITHOUT A LIQUOR LICENCE YOU COULD BE, DON’T TAKE THE RISK!

For more information please contact our Liquor Licence team on04 304 0331/0332 or e-mail [email protected]

mmidubai.com /mmidubai @mmi_dubai MMIDubai

STEP 1Complete the Application Form and get it stamped

by your employer.

STEP 2Attach copies

of the requireddocuments.

STEP 3Visit any MMI shop to

submit your Application Form and documents.

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CAMILO FRANCOTHE LAST TIME

We have a table and drinks to give

away – head to infusion.ae to

enter

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Mahiki are changing up their bookings, and have Space Ibiza resident Camilo Franco headlining on Friday May 13. We caught up with him to ask the last time… The last time I came to Dubai I thought… How cosmopolitan it was and how many amazing friends from all over the world I have here.

The last time I laughed out loud was… Everyday I laugh out loud! I´m a happy person…

The last time I read a book was… I´m actually reading my father´s book, it’s amazing, all about all his life. I’m feeling super proud!

The last time I missed a flight was… I think last year?

The last time I wished I did a different job was… Never.

The last time I cried was… The last time I watched a very deep and emotional movie.

The last time I lied was… I don´t remember. I don’t lie!

The last time I Googled myself was… Ohhh thanks for reminding me this, maybe 2 years ago.

The last time I bought something expensive was… Christmas!

The last time I had to explain what I do for a living was… 2 days ago when I wet to the doctor and did a test and checked my ears.

The last time I listened to something other than techno was…Today when my girl sent me some soul song links…she has amazing taste in music.

Camilo Franco plays Mahiki, Friday May 13

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Advertorial

WORLD TOP DJSWho is DJ Cowboy?I started DJ’ing at the age of 15 years old. I’m a well recognised DJ in the middle east, a DMC champion in Lebanon, a business owner of Bigfoot Entertainment. I own 3 nightclubs and I have a range of sports cars that I consider them as my play toys.

What sets DJ Cowboy apart from the rest of the DJs?I would say that I’m a real DJ. I’m a guy who plays on vinyl. I’m a guy who mixes 50 songs in 10 mins live. I play to entertain the people and not for just people to hear what I want to play. I consider DJing as an artform and not just a dream to get famous.

What is your genre and style of music you play?I like to be creative when it comes to playing music. I have set a new style and trend of music called Megamix which is a variety mix of Arabic and English top hits of today’s music. I do a music style that my fans love to hear from me. It’s a trend I created and now other people and top franchise nightclubs are trying to copy it.

What are your thoughts on DJs today and social media?

I believe DJs today can get easily noticed with the help of social media channels. The downside of this is there are also a lot of fake DJs who takes advantage of social media. And I am referring to those who just learned to DJ overnight just because they bought a set of CD players and laptops to do the hard job for them, or DJs who have the budget to boost themselves by these means. But for me, I’m in a different level wherein I make lots more money than any club DJ per set or even monthly. But the reality is people should see the real me who is very passionate for what I do. I have the fame, I’m thankful for what God gave me and more.

How selective are you with gigs?If you like how I play music and have the budget for DJ Cowboy then bring it on.

What are your thoughts on DJ Habibi 2000?It’s obvious that most of the magazine’s readers are not into the kind of music that I create or play with.I did Arabic and some started making fun of it. Thus, the thought of DJ Habibi 2000

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Ahead of their globe-spanning DJ Competition, World Top DJs caught up with Mohamad Kraidie AKA DJ Cowboy…

sort of became a comparison to me. Some other names came up like DJ Cow without the Boy. But I took all of this in a positive way and considered it as a challenge and maybe that’s why i always win any competition, simply they don’t know what they are making fun of and in competition they become the joke not me. Whats are your thoughts on the upcoming WTD and MOS DJ competition?if I join, I know that I have a great chance of winning… I’m confident I can win. I’m in it to win it, and I will! What can we expect with DJ cowboy in the future?I’m coming up with something big, something which big record labels will recognise, something new and definitely on a different level which no other DJ can do and the future will prove that big surprise, expect something great about to unfold from DJ Cowboy.

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ON THE RADAR

MAY 20 ARMIN VAN BUUREN

Meydan Racecourse

MAY 20 DIXON

Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE

MAY 19 KARAK BEATS FEAT. BARELY LEGAL

Velocity

MAY 20 AUDIO TONIC CLOSING PARTY

360

MAY 19 DECIBEL FEAT. MARC MAYA

Level 41

MAY 20 FARLEY JACKMASTER FUNK

Zero Gravity

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JUNE 3 GABRIEL IGLESIASAutism Rocks Arena

MAY 20 FLYING IPSISMusic Room

MAY 26 SANDER VAN DOORN

Zero Gravity

JULY 29 EINMUSIKLevel 41

MAY 26 ARMAND VAN HELDEN

Q43

JUNE 3 RICHY AHMED

Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE

For a full list of what’s on, please head to infusion.ae

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We’ve re-worked our listings – one-off events will appear in the magazine, for everything else please check infusion.ae for our day-to-day listings. For inclusion, email [email protected]

Pick up a copy from our Infusion Magazine stands at these locations and more across the city

Every A+E outlet, Every MMI outlet, Double Decker, Media One, Zero Gravity, 360 club, Casa Latina,

Barasti, Pure Sky Lounge, Beatz and Cuts, McGettigans JLT/DWC, Music Room, Nasimi, Story Rooftop

BurgerFuel, Bliss Lounge, Zinc, Cinnamon - Raddison, La Terrasse, Fashion Lounge, OcactI, The Scene

THURSDAY 5

Martin Solveig, Zero Gravity French commercial house star Martin Solveig returns to the UAE to play Zero Gravity’s sprawling outdoor stage. 6pm-3am, free before 10pm, ladies free before midnight, AED100.

Bad House Party, Bassworx More indie and punk magic and mayhem from the award-winning team. 8.45pm-2.45am.

Socio feat. Mahony & Azteca, Dek on 8 Deep house and tech-house cuts from the Romanian DJs. 7pm-3am, free.

Sunstroke feat. Mad Mats, 360 The funky, soulful house night celebrates their 5th birthday (shots on you, guys) with Local Talk DJ Mad Mats supported by Da Sendri, Jack Woodcock, Miss Foster and more. 6pm-3am, free.

Analog Room feat. DVS1, Story Rooftop American techno DJ DVS1 plays an extended set at the new Story Rooftop set up. 10pm-3am, AED100.

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FRIDAY 6

INFUSION PICK! Carl Cox, Blue Marlin Ibiza UAEUndisputed house heavyweight Carl Cox returns to the UAE for what could be his last show in the country. Get down early as this will be rammed. 11am-late.

INFUSION PICK! Groove on the Grass feat. Adam Beyer, Emirates Golf CourseThe boutique house and techno festival bow out for the season with Drumcode’s Adam Beyer and Life and Death’s DJ Tennis the big draws. 5pm-2.30am, tickets from Platinumlist.net

House of Afrika feat. Pierre Ravan & DJ Dazz, Dek on 8 Spiritual, free-flowing house from Pierre Ravan, with SA’s rising star DJ Dazz on support. 6pm-3am, free.

Lockdown feat. Pied Piper & MC Kie, Story Rooftop UK Garage night with the ‘Do You Really Like It’ MC joined by renowned Garage MC Kie. 8pm-3am.

Pukka Up, Nasimi The last Pukka Up party of the season before the Ibiza brand jet off to the White Isle for the summer. 2pm-3am, free entry.

INFUSION PICK! Sonny Fodera, Zero Gravity Now an established big name on the house circuit, Defected signing Sonny Fodera makes his Zero Gravity debut. 6pm-3am, free before 10pm, ladies free until midnight, AED100 after.

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THURSDAY 12

Analog Room feat. Sergio Dimoff, Story Rooftop New Yorker Sergio Dimoff plays his brand of house and techno, with support from Siamak Amidi. 10pm-3am, AED100.

Back2Basics feat. Danny Howells, Pacha Ibiza Dubai More retro house classics from the Back2Basics team, with 90s UK DJ and producer Danny Howells headlining in the main room. 10pm-3am.

INFUSION PICK! Bad House Party feat. Black Honey, Casa Latina Indie and punk night Bad House Party invite over rising UK quartet Black Honey for a live show. 9pm-2.45am, AED100.

Together With, Dek on 8 The house and techno night features Cyril, Toubba, MAKS and more for its last party of the season. 6pm-3am, free.

FRIDAY 13

INFUSION PICK! Maya Jane Coles & Anna, Blue Marlin Ibiza UAEBlue Marlin celebrate their 4th birthday with a female-centric line up including Maya Jane Coles and Anna. Midday-late.

Dysfunktion, Story Rooftop The techno night goes 3D (pick up your glasses on the way in) with a heavyweight line up including Analog Room’s Shermoon and Dysfunktion residents Ju Lovett and Tobie Allen. 10pm-3am, AED100 (AED75 EK staff).

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House of Afrika feat. Steve Paradise, Dek on 8 90s house star Paradise returns for the House of Afrika crew after impressing on his debut last year – expect Italo-fuelled house and tribal grooves. 6pm-3am, free.

INFUSION PICK! Plus Minus Arena feat. Soul Clap, Level 41 Sexy, deep house from the American duo from Boston behind the EFUNK album. 10pm-3am.

One Big Friday feat. Markus Schulz, Zero Gravity Zero Gravity’s mini festival returns, with trance from Markus Schulz, Chicane on sunset duties and deep house from Wanklemut. 3pm-3am, free before 6pm, AED150 after.

INFUSION PICK! Solomun & Seth Troxler, Eden Just when you thought line ups couldn’t get any bigger, Eden pull this out of the bag – Diynamic main man Solomun trades blows with alternative house hero Troxler. Big. Very, very big. 11am-midnight.

INFUSION PICK! The Other Side feat. Teleferik, ANDLounge Live music night The Other Side return to action with French rock band Teleferik playing alongside local live acts. 9pm-3am, AED100 advance.

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SoundstageGUSTO

Newly formed electronic soul outfit Gusto are looking to make their mark on the music scene this year – let’s hope their Phil Collins fixation doesn’t hold them back…

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My first musical influence was… Bill withers, Bill Evans, Pink Floyd and Queen.

The last pop star I liked was… Jack Garratt, Depeche Mode and Bruno Mars.

Our sound is best described as… Electronic soul.

Best piece of advice you’ve received? Don’t make music for other people to love, make music that you love.

What’s your musical guilty pleasure? Nigel is obsessed with Phil Collins, he claims it’s not a guilty pleasure.

The best band in Dubai is... There are lots of great acts coming through, we hope to be one of them.

Lamest claim to fame? Rich once snogged a member of S Club 7 and Nigel told Usher he was a good dancer

When we make it, the one thing we want on my rider is… A Cliff Richard calendar and blue Flamingos.

Our musical motto is… Big ears, small ego and never stop learning.

Best gig you’ve played? Rich & Nigel’s was Nigel’s wedding anniversary in Leeds last year.

And the worst? We try not to think about them.

Best lyrics of all time? You can’t always get what you want, but if you try some time, you might just find, you get what you need.

soundcloud.com/Gustothebandfacebook.com/gustotheband

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If you build it, they will come

As two wise men named Wayne and Garth discovered, building a live music venue is the key to success. Newly formed live events company 117 Live have taken that mantra to heart. Firstly, they’ve created a temporary stadium near Outlet Mall that’s hosted Nicky Minaj, Flo Rida and Tyga, and are now working on a permanent super structure that will be the biggest – and by the sounds of it – the best live music venue in the Middle East. We sat down with the company CEO Thomas Ovesen to find out more…

Congratulations on the new venue launch, and well done on the naming rights – how did the Autism Rocks charity connection come about? We were talking to a handful of mainly conventional naming rights partners, Blue Chip companies involved with entertainment and venue deals elsewhere when one of our long standing clients enquired about the benefits for a charity organisation of having its name on the door. Once the talks had started things went really fast and aside from a great way to raise awareness of autism and

how it affects kids and adults amongst us, we have worked out some unique ways to also contribute towards donations and financing research into the causes and treatments of autism.There have been custom built stadiums in Dubai before – notably the Palladium – that haven’t worked. Why was that do you think, and why will this be different? The Palladium was/is a great sized venue but the owners have decided not to run it as the theatre it was planned to be – end of story. In addition to

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our large-scale venue projects there is certainly a room for a 4-6,000 seat or standing indoor venue and also for 1-3,000 seat theatre. But someone has to not only build these but also commit to programming, as without proper programming the venues will make no business!

As an event promoter, what’s the best part of the job for you – meeting the talent, the show starting, the feedback afterwards? The job is a project management type of job really where each and every event has its own

project format and dedicated team and so I enjoy that process a lot. However the pay off if you like is seeing fans leaving the venue with smiles on their faces. Working with amazing artists and talents from all over the world is interesting and sometimes rewarding too.

We often hear that a lot of artists inflate their fees when they see dubai on the offer sheet, have you seen that in evidence, do people pay too much for talent in Dubai? Yes is the short answer – artists

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expects more money here because at least on occasion this market will offer up premium and top dollar fees. Best way to fight this is to say no and let someone else pay for the gig! When we get ourselves sorted we could easily see a doubling or trebling in international artists performing here annually just by finding a more realistic artist fee level and at the same time get our industry suppliers to charge internationally comparable rates. The current dip in the economy might help that process!

Looking further ahead, you’re building your own complete purpose built venue – when’s that likely to come online? The Autism Rocks arena is most definitely a purpose built venue – the real upside here is that we can leave a lot of the infrastructure on site hence the usual costs in fencing, building platforms, pulling cables, setting up generators, staging etc will not apply for any event staged in

this venue. The 2017 permanent venue is several steps up though as it includes a pavilion with air conditioned VIP suites, terraced seating areas, club levels night club and restaurant. It should be online before end of 2017!

The artist impressions look great – was there a lot of travelling around the world for gigs as research for the build? The initial idea of an amphitheatre-style open air venue with an air-conditioned pavilion is not new but our 25,000 capacity project borrows designs from sports facilities as much as from indoor arenas. The end result will be an entirely unique Dubai facility, with the fan experience at the centre of everything. From the cheapest standing area to a set in one of the 40+ VIP suites, the concert experience will be unique and one no one can currently offer in the Middle East.

117live.com

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If you hadn’t noticed, there’s been an explosion in the city’s music scene, with open mic nights hosted by local champion Abbo a big part of the success. He teamed up with RecordPro Records to release their debut album, Go Play The World which hit the iTunes top spot, knocking Adele off her perch in the process. We caught up with Joshua Williams behind Fair Played to find out more

Congratulations on your compilation album – to people who might not know, what exactly is it about? Thank you so much! The “Go Play The World Playlist Vol. 1” started out with Abbo putting on weekly open mic nights at Pizza Express in JLT. The popularity and success of the open mic spread across Dubai. His company which is called “Go Play The World” and my record label/ production company called RecordPro Records

Abbo

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decided to team up to record a playlist of some of the stars from the nights. Volume 1 is six artists from the open mics feat. Vandalye, Hasan Malik, Chris Thomas, DaisyGrim, Leone Murphy, and Imbue.

And we hear you knocked Adele off the No.1 spot on UAE iTunes? Has she been in touch to congratulate you yet? Wait, I got a call… I think it’s her management. Nope, just Etisalat. Anyways, it’s great to have the first official release from RecordPro Records top the charts and beat a really great album like Adele’s 25. What I love the most is how excited everyone else involved was when they all found out. The support for the local scene is at an all time high and because of that, there is nowhere to go but up.

You’ve been in the music scene for a long time – why has this come together now? In Dubai, the majority of listeners are focused on electronic dance music which is not my forte or passion. My background was working in one of the top studios in Los Angeles mainly with live musicians and amazing singers. What’s been great recently is the fact that Dubai pays musicians more than pretty much anywhere else in the world to perform in their hotels, so because of that, there

has been an influx of amazing musicians coming to Dubai forming our “underground” music scene. My session musicians all played together for 4 sets a night, six nights a week and they’re tighter than most famous groups touring.

And why has there been an influx of albums this year, with Craig Perry, Carl & The Reda Mafia, Josh Monteath, The Recipe and lots more all releasing excellent new albums? The times they are a changin’. Dubai has long had a sort of superficial reality. People are now wanting to hear something real and something that represents those that have made this city their home rather than the ones who come just to party and show off. Craig, The Mafia, young Monteath and the Recipe are all showcasing the sound of the UAE. There’s a lot more going on under the surface and it’s an exciting time.

What would you change in the UAE to help support the live music scene? Is it in a healthy state? It’s moving in the right direction. I have no doubt that direction will eventually make the Dubai music scene a competitor to the rest of the world. Short term, we need more music venues. For the first time in this city, the demand is higher than the supply for live music.

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Which bands are you most impressed with recently, who’s got star quality? I was born in 1980, so the 90s Seattle scene is highly influential on my thinking. No one would’ve ever predicted that Nirvana would be their torch-bearer compared to all the other amazing bands in that region during that time. I honestly believe that the best in this region will be a bit unexpected. My personal favorites are Vandalye, Hasan Malik, DaisyGrim, Josh Monteath, Jamil, Gaya, and DaVinci Park. You can hear most of those artist on the “Go Play The World Playlist Vol.1.”

Is Dubai becoming a viable music hub, can people make a living from original music in the city? Not if you’re a music producer or Record Label owner, haha. As I mentioned earlier, musicians get paid more in the UAE than almost anywhere else in the world. The only issue at this point is there’s a relatively low ceiling. Becoming a star in this region has never happened yet. But, Dubai is on the verge of becoming a massive music hub in my opinion. There’s a new platform called Fair Played Music that is starting to transition the old UAE music way of thinking in to the new way of thinking regarding music in this region.

Go Play The World Playlist Vol. 1 is out now

Joshua Williams

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The Tripland and Sho Cho resident talks us through recovering from a coma, his new releases and getting competitive at FIFA football…

DJ

BOO

TH: M

AG

A

One thing you might not know about me is… That I was a cycling professional and had to stop my career at the age of 18 after a massive accident during a tour of Italy after spending 2 weeks in coma and 1 year in hospital.

My worst ever job was… When I was working in this ***** hotel in Monte-Carlo delivering breakfast room service, I was starting my shift at 3.30am, that meant I

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was arriving at work from the club which meant I was already drunk.

My favourite ever record is... Mees Dierdrop, ‘Las páranas.’

DJing is much like… Opening yourself to the world to describe you own musical journey every time you perform.

Dubai’s clubbing scene is… Getting bigger but saturated in my opinion.

I’m really proud of… My first production release on the 28th February, a new track called ‘Destinesia’ that’s out on one on my favorite label, Akamundra (Mexico). I’ll also have a anther track coming out on Voyeur Music (London).

What track could you drop in every set? It’s actually an unreleased track that has been given to me by Tamer Malki & Rami Abousabe from Bedouin, and is a remix of Fairouz. This track will never be released and is the perfect close to a set.

My biggest DJ achievement to date is… This summer I played a B2B with Dyed Soundroom from Apollonia for 9 hours straight at an insane after party.

What is your guiltiest pleasure? Kicking my flatmate’s ass at FIFA.

If you could DJ in any decade which would it be… The early 1980s when house music was born in Chicago.

I’m not a politician but… If I was I would try to put my country right again as I have the feeling France is falling apart.

soundcloud.com/magaofficial

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Weird News

WEIRD PIC

Ex Magnetic Man DJ Artwork did the seemingly impossible and got a Domino’s pizza delivered to his train mid journey. Realising that he had nothing to eat on his 5 hour journey to Glasgow for a gig, he took to social media and asked for advice. Dominos stepped in and delivered his Hawaiian pizza at a 1 minute stop at Darlington station, as thousands followed his live Tweets. DJ Artwork said: “They were blinding. People on the train could hear me trying to order the food, and when the lady asked for a postcode I had to say ‘it’s a train, it hasn’t got a postcode’.

We’ve all been there – you get mad at a previous employer, and want to take revenge. Not everyone is equipped with a large digger, however, which they can then smash your aircraft apart. After being let go by Russian company UTair, one man took his revenge and smashed a Yak-40, a three-engined airliner that’s popular in the country.

Face-swapping is a pretty tedious social media craze, but this take on the new Royal Family portrait had us laughing out loud.

PLANE SAILING

EASY PIZZA

Looking Closer

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THE SPINISSUE 41MAY 2016

DUBAI CLUBS BEING USED AS TAX WRITE OFFS SAY TWAT OFFICIALS

*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.

Night clubs in Dubai have been labeled a tax write off haven according to one official source at the Taxes Without Added Tax or TWAT Office.

Nightclubs open up in the region as a legal way of offloading tax expenses from elsewhere in the company, says Michael Smith. ‘There’s no way that any of the clubs with ludicrously big line ups can be making money, especially when it’s free entry on the door and there’s so much competition. So the only logical outcome is that they’re tax write offs, there to save the owners some money. We looked into the receipts of several of the biggest clubs and found they’d the books had been so well cooked they should come with Michelin stars.’

PAGE 217

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Eat Sleep Rave Repeat

Theatre by Gary Rhodes Andy Buchan test runs Gary Rhodes new outlet, his fine dining cinema concept…

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So, last time we went to the cinema, we definitely weren’t offered Earl Grey and watermelon tea and Truffle and Parmesan popcorn. But if you head to Gary Rhodes new concept, ThEATre, then that’s exactly how you should be starting your experience. Having re-vamped the VOX Gold cinema section, there are now 6 cinemas, each hosting custom-made lazy boy seats, with waiters serving a selection of finger foods lovingly crafted by the award-winning UK chef. Sold out every weekend, we went mid-week to ensure we got 2 of the 32 seats in each cinema. A discrete lamp rests on the mid-section between the chairs, and there’s enough room to for most people to pile their plates – not for us, however. After devouring the Truffle and Parmesan popcorn, one of several specialities on offer, we opted for the nachos and meat balls to start. The Signature Nachos had a fine crisp to them, that indicated they’d been freshly made, and weren’t overly seasoned. The meat balls came in a perfectly thin batter and

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were full of filling, with the red pepper dip the best of the 3 served. This was quickly followed by the Trio of Burgers. The duck burger (cue salivation) was rich, tasty and perfectly seasoned, while the accompanying skinny fries were wafer thin, crisp and crunchy. Gluttony got the better of us, and we ordered the 3 of the mini hotdogs from a choice of 4 including the New Yorker, Mexican and the Works. They went in several satisfying bites. With a small break to enjoy the film – the excellent Oscar-winning 1920s romance Brooklyn – we were then into the desserts. Pro tip: if you can’t afford the prices, simply eat elsewhere, book your seat but leave room for the dessert. The Belgian Chocolate and Honey Comb Ice Cream Sunday almost defied words. The indecent haste with which it was eaten is perhaps more telling. At AED110 some of the dishes (the enticing sounding Lobster and Chicken Ceasar Tacos for example), the price is on the high side for finger food. But the food was excellent, came quickly and allowed you to have 2 of the greatest pleasures together in one place – great food and great film (unless you laugh at Adam Sandler movies, then there’s no hope for you). Oh and Pro Tip number 2: choose a long film so you can savour more food, and make the lazy boy experience last longer.

ThEATre by Rhodes, VOX Cinemas, Mall of the Emirates, 600 599905

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Say cheese!

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Is the general rule ‘keep it simple’ for press photos?I personally believe that simple shots often work best, as they allow focus to be given to the artist. This could mean straight forward studio shots, or the more engaged live shots of a DJ in their element. The important thing is that the result should reflect the personality of the DJ, the genre of music, and be appropriate for where the images are to be used. You can

of course Photoshop the hell out of an image and get some pretty funky results, it all depends on what style the DJ is looking for.

Are props ever a good idea? Well over the years I’ve seen some pretty “weird” props being used which will definitely make you remember the picture, but not necessarily in a good way! I think that as long as it is related to the brief of the shoot it’s all good.

Your DJ photo is your first introduction to the greater world, your first digital handshake – so don’t make it limp wristed and pathetic. To show you how not to do it, we’ve trawled the internet for some of the worst DJ promo shots out there, and also spoke to crack DJ photographer Sami from Three Dots Photography to get some pro tips…

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Can an iPhone camera work, or do you need something better? With the constant evolvement of phone cameras over the years, they are more than enough to get your cheeky Instagram/Facebook pic, but I would never recommend them as a substitute for a professional shoot.

Who have you taken press photos for in Dubai/UAE?Most of my DJ shots to date have been “in action” shots of DJs across the UAE. I’d say at some point or another pretty much every local DJ in Dubai has had one of my shots used whether it be for press releases or simply their online profiles!

Where are some of your favourite shooting locations?Again when it comes to DJs, the most common shoots will either take place in a studio where controlled lighting can be used, but I often prefer capturing them at live events to get a more real feel of the artist in action. I personally prefer both as they can each have their own benefits in creating a great picture.

How much would a photo shoot cost?This would vary depending on what the DJ was looking for in terms of number of shots, is a studio required, if on location lighting equipment is needed etc. I would say it ranges between AED1-3,000.

www.3dotsphotography.comfacebook.com/threedotsphotography.

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JUST FOR

ALIFE X PUMA R698 BLACK

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Puma have released 4 limited edition sneaker collaborations between themselves and their ultra-cool ALIFE department. Our pick are the R698 black and suede numbers shown here. They come with a set of 3 laces (white, black and silver dotted on black), with the jet black our favourite. Part of their Trinomic range, they feature soft suede, nubuck leather, embossed branding and embroidery, and loads of little style details. They’re busy, but smart, and are the comfiest trainer we’ve tried since the Yeezy.

$115

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Two of Cirque Le Soir’s resident DJs go head to head in a battle of the cool. But who’s friends with Will Smith and who’s not?

Who’s the coolest person in your phone book?

Coolest word in the world?

What’s the longest you’ve gone without sleep?

Describe your best bass face…

DJ BLISS: Will Smith.

DJ BLISS: Bliss.

DJ BLISS: 24 hours. I don’t do too well without sleep.

DJ BLISS: Blowing your mouth full of air and releasing slowly.

DJ PEPELZ: It’s that cool that it will be very uncool to say it

DJ PEPELZ: Balagan (look it up!).

DJ PEPELZ: Every 2-3 months, I would average 5-6hrs of sleep in 72hrs…

DJ PEPELZ: I just go with it! I really enjoy getting into the bass so I wouldn’t want to know what my face looks like!

DJ BLISS VS PEPELZ

Coolest DJ in the world?

DJ BLISS: Mr Shef Codes.DJ PEPELZ: Probably Sven Vath because he’s not trying too hard and just radiates ‘cool.’

Cool TestCool Test

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Coolest track ever made?

Your best dance move is…

What’s your best claim to fame?

It’s not big and clever but…

What’s your answer to everything?

Best insult you could give each other?

DJ BLISS: Informer ‘Snow.’

DJ BLISS: The Dab right now.

DJ BLISS: My new album Made In Dubai, the number one album in Dubai, I am so grateful to fans of my music.

DJ BLISS: It’s small and stupid.

DJ BLISS: The universe always has a plan.

DJ BLISS: Insult Pepelz? Never!

DJ PEPELZ: To relax and get in a good mood, Michael McDonald ‘Sweet Freedom,’ it’s very 80s but so good!

DJ PEPELZ: I’ve just been to Sevilla for La Feria and I plan to become a very serious flamenco dancer.

DJ PEPELZ: It’s between the US Olympic Basketball Team (including Lebron and Kobe) dancing to my music in Barcelona, or receiving props and thank you’s from Alessandra Ambrosio last year.

DJ PEPELZ: The way I can react sometimes to requests during my sets.

DJ PEPELZ: Wait a second…

DJ PEPELZ: Javla Huit (it’s Swedish). I have worse, but I’ll keep it decent!

Catch DJ Pepelz and DJ Bliss in action at Cirque Le Soir

THE VERDICT: We’re going with Pepelz. Any dude that can insult in more than one language is cool with us.

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

Monkey Out...

Painting by numbers

So, I thought I’d genuinely seen it all. Topless DJs, DJs with masks on, DJs that can’t mix, Djs that get someone else to mix for them, DJs that hump the mixer like they’re working a XXXX shoot, DJs totally ignoring the mixer because it’s a pre-recorded mix playing. But no. Now I have seen it all. A local based DJ has actually started painting during her set. Because listening to the horrendously mixed EDM garbage that slurs from her speakers isn’t enough, she’s now interpreting that on canvas. And the end results? Well, it would be more at home on a proud 1 year old’s fridge than anywhere near an art gallery. The point? F*** knows.

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e m a i l : i n f o@wo r l dto p d j s . c o mfor more information on how to be part of this

prestigious DJ competition event

selection starts 1st may 2016

WORLD DJ CHAMPIONSHIP 2016

top ARAB djs PRE-QUALIFIED forthe middle east's no.1

6CONTINENTS

1WORLD CHAMPION

SAID MRAD IIDJ COWBOY

9X Middle East DJ ChampionClub Entrepreneur, Producer

2X Middle East DJ ChampionInt'l DJ, Radio Personality

Middle East Legendary DJMusic Producer

1X Middle East DJ ChampionClub DJ, Music Producer

MOE TIGER DJ JOHNNY JARJOUR

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