Latest news with #EmiratiMusic
The National
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Abu Dhabi Festival highlights Emirati music talent at London's Kensington Palace concert
Emirati musicians and composers took centre stage at a recital held at Kensington Palace in London. Organised by the Abu Dhabi Festival in partnership with UK non-profit the Peace and Prosperity Trust, the invitation-only performance on Friday was held in the presence of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. The evening featured soprano Fatima Al Hashmi and baritone Ahmed Al Hosani, and marked the culmination of a three-week residency in London, where both artists trained under Welsh tenor Dennis O'Neill. The London concert is part of the Abu Dhabi Festival's continuing international programme, which this year included the March premiere of its co-commission of Claude Debussy's Pelleas et Melisande at Paris Opera and a December concert by the UN Chamber Music Society at New York's Carnegie Hall. All these international initiatives serve a wider purpose, says Abu Dhabi Festival artistic director Huda Al Khamis Kanoo, from advancing the UAE's cultural diplomacy to supporting Emiratis in the creative industries through talent development and technical training. She describes the London performance as the first in an continuing partnership with the Peace and Prosperity Trust, a UK non-profit founded in 1995 that focuses on supporting cultural talent in the Middle East, and an example of how Emirati artists are appearing on international stages. 'What we are doing with these programmes is really more about what you are going to see in the future on stage, and that is more and more Emiratis performing in international spaces with world-class voices,' Alkhamis-Kanoo says. 'And these will be powerful moments because we didn't exist on these international stages before and now we have the exceptional talent to do so. When they are listening to the music, they are hearing who we are as nation and what we represent.' That principle guided Emirati composer Ihab Darwish in writing an evocative five minute piece Ruins of Time, which premiered at the Kensington Palace concert. Blending Arabic historical and contemporary melodies with elements of western classical music, the work was performed by an ensemble featuring strings, piano, qanun and the ney, a traditional Levantine reed flute. As someone who composed similar momentous pieces, including the Abu Dhabi Festival commissioned Symphony of Three: Peace, Love, Tolerance in 2023 to celebrate the arrival of the Abrahamic Family House, he says the personal satisfaction of these compositions are unparalleled. 'The impact for me is deeper and not only in the way the music is received, but how I essentially view myself – and that's more as a cultural ambassador than a composer,' he says. 'And as a musician from the UAE, we have so much inspiration to pull from, whether it's our own heritage or the fact we have more than 200 different nationalities who coexist together, that we have a responsibility to create music that at the very least provides an understanding of how we as people can understand each other more through peace and tolerance.' Al Hashmi, whose repertoire included arias from Camille Saint-Saens' Samson and Delilah and Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, says the London concert and residency programme pushed her creatively and offered valuable insight into the music industry. 'We've learnt about the different paths to becoming an opera singer, whether through full productions or recital work, because they require different approaches,' she says. 'It's been a wonderful three weeks of intensive vocal training with people from different cultures, backgrounds and experiences. We've learnt so much not just technically, but also about the structure of the music industry in the UK and Europe, and how it differs from the UAE and the wider Gulf region. We were introduced to the role of managers, how auditions are conducted, and how singers are selected for opera productions.' Al Hosani, who delivered stirring renditions of Neapolitan songs by celebrated 20th-century Italian composer Ernesto De Curtis, describes the experience as akin to an opera boot camp. 'Each day was filled with learning, refining technique, interpreting music more deeply, and collaborating with incredibly talented artists and mentors,' he says. 'It pushed me out of my comfort zone and reminded me that excellence in this art form demands constant dedication and humility. I came out of the experience more confident and more connected to my purpose as a performer.' That work, Al Hashmi says, is only half done. Trained academically as an architectural engineer, she views her pursuit of a career in opera not only as a personal calling but as a message to fellow Emiratis to follow their passions, and as a step towards helping build the UAE's infrastructure for a performing arts industry. 'I do see it as a huge responsibility,' she says, 'not only to develop myself, but to contribute to the growth of the nation as a whole.' Alkhamis-Kanoo echoes that sentiment, describing the concert as part of a broader professional and personal legacy-building effort. 'Whatever I built, I believe in giving opportunity. It's an investment. And when you invest, you don't just sprinkle funds and stop. It's a legacy you are building for a lifetime,' she says. 'If an Emirati is not on the stage, they could be backstage as a director, an engineer, a designer, or a sound technician. The talent and drive are there. We just have to keep opening doors and creating opportunities.
Khaleej Times
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
DJ Bliss talks music, 'Dubai Bling', and what's next for his global sound
In a city synonymous with opulence and opportunity, DJ Bliss has carved out a lane uniquely his own—one that fuses Emirati identity with global rhythm. For many, he's the familiar face on Dubai Bling, the entertainer behind the decks at FIVE hotel, or the man lighting up festival stages. But for Marwan Parham Al Awadhi, better known as DJ Bliss, it all started in a high school radio booth—hungry to be part of the party he once watched from the sidelines. 'I wasn't one of the cool kids who got invited to parties,' Bliss recalls with a laugh. 'So I thought, maybe if I became the DJ, I'd get to be a part of them. Now, I am the party.' DJ Bliss's career defies stereotypes that once constrained young Emiratis—those unwritten rules about acceptable careers, especially in the pre-social media era when Dubai's cultural scene was still taking shape. 'Sure, my parents probably hoped I'd become a doctor or engineer,' he admits. 'But I always kept them in mind. I wanted to make them proud, and I think the blend of music, media, and business helped with that.' What sets DJ Bliss apart isn't just his resilience, but the cultural lens through which he approaches his craft. In an era where being Emirati is often reduced to symbols of tradition or national pride, Bliss redefines it through a cosmopolitan sound. 'At first, I wanted to just mix in some Arabic sounds,' he says. 'But then I realised—Dubai isn't just Emiratis. It's the world. So I treat my music like a global meal—some Latin here, some Indian beats there, even a Brazilian vibe. That's Dubai.' If you've only seen him as the sharp-suited charmer on Dubai Bling, you've only scratched the surface. DJ Bliss is also an entrepreneur, radio and TV host, vlogger, and producer. But at the core of it all is the music. 'I've worn so many hats over the years,' he reflects. 'TV, radio, reality shows, business. I used to think maybe these were different versions of me. But at the end of the day, I always come back to DJing. That's my first love.' He references the often-misquoted adage 'Jack of all trades, master of none,' flipping it on its head. 'It didn't sit right with me. I wanted to be the master of one. So I made a conscious choice to put everything back into music—into DJ Bliss, the artist.' These days, you'll find DJ Bliss creating music at one of the most stunning studios in Dubai—perched atop FIVE Palm Jumeirah. 'The view alone can inspire a hit,' he jokes. But it's more than aesthetics. It's where local creativity meets global infrastructure. 'It's state-of-the-art. The studio is partnered with Warner Music Germany, and you get real-time feedback from international artists who pass through. It's not just about making music; it's about leveling up the sound of the city.' This evolution toward house and dance music marks a new chapter for DJ Bliss—one where he's not just spinning hits, but creating them. 'I used to play other people's music,' he says. 'Now I want to play mine. I want people to hear a track and say, 'That's DJ Bliss.'' Whether performing at his monthly residencies at FIVE or closing down the Untold Festival main stage in Romania—right after Martin Garrix, no less—Bliss is chasing a feeling: not just for himself, but for his audience. 'I want to feel blissful. And I want people to feel that way too.' And in typical Gemini fashion, he's already imagining his next move. 'I like to reinvent myself. That's the key to staying relevant. There's always a new version of DJ Bliss around the corner.'
