It makes sense that soulful R&B rebel Hamdan al-Abri couldn’t choose just one city for our Guest Navigator project. A multinational man with an international sound, Al-Abri calls Dubai home, but Miami is where he went to art school. This eclectic artist, whose debut self-titled EP has earned him buzz in Rolling Stone, is a tastemaker who has pioneered soul music in the Middle East. But he still goes to Miami to see old friends and dig for fashion gems in his favorite thrift store. Here he takes us on a tour of his preferred haunts in his two favorite cities.
The Renaissance Doha City Center Hotel celebrated its public launch last night with an enthralling RLife LIVE performance by acclaimed artist Hamdan Al-Abri. In the heart of Qatar’s dazzling capital, the cosmopolitan crowd danced late into the night to Al-Abri’s soulful R&B. Accompanied by his DJ, Yasser Anderson, his positive lyrics and (other)worldly beats perfectly captured the excitement of Doha, a rapidly expanding, international metropolis on the shores of the Persian Gulf.
Born in Zanzibar to a famous musician father and a mother who defied convention by becoming a doctor, Al-Abri is always confronting and stretching the so-called limits of his music. This has earned him widespread buzz, and performances with Erykah Badu, Ziggy Marley, Kanye West, Joss Stone, Kelly Rowland, and Arrested Development. After developing his unique sound touring with his band ABRI, Al-Abri recently decided to go solo, and just released his self-titled debut EP in late October. But don’t take it from us! Listen for yourself with this FREE download. Al-Abri’s sound certainly resonated with fans last night, who grooved to his electrifying performance, which included “Rebirth,” a song recently used in an episode of the hit crime drama C.S.I.. A pioneer of soul music in the Middle East, Al-Abri is set to break out worldwide with music that captivates and soothes. It was certainly a performance we’ll never forget.
There are bands whose music you can’t stop listening to, and then there are bands whose live show can change your entire life. That’s Bad Rabbits, a slick funk five-piece with buckets of swagger and a singer, Fredua Boakye, whose ripping vocals have been compared to Prince. Their 2009 debut EP, Stick Up Kids, won hearts and bobbing heads from a party-ready audience just as diverse as the band itself.
These Boston natives have been busy touring ever since, sharing the stage with such pop heavyweights as Mike Posner, Travie McCoy, Far East Movement, and Foxy Shazam. Before they take a well-deserved break from the road, be sure to see them perform at one of our upcoming RLife LIVE shows:
The annual MOBO Awards celebrates the UK’s finest urban music (Adele and Jessie J ring a bell?). Now in its 16th year, MOBO will honor the 2011 recipients at a star-studded event on October 5 at Glasglow SECC.
Spunky songstress Jessie J walked away with the most nominations – 5 in total – for Best Album, Best Newcomer, Best UK Act, Best Video and Best Song, with soulful singer Adele following closely with three nominations for Best UK Act, Best Album and Best Song. View all the nominees and cast votes for your favorites here.
For information on attending the 2011 MOBO Awards, visit http://www.mobo.com.
When Janelle Monae visits the new Renaissance Hotel in midtown Atlanta for its official opening on Sept. 15, it won’t be for a casual overnight stay.
To help christen the new place, the singer has been tapped by the Renaissance to perform a 45-minute set in a ballroom at the hotel.
The event is part of parent company Marriott International’s RLife Live program which entertains guests at Renaissance properties with free live performances by a mix of new recording artists and emerging stars.
RLife Live also aims to harness the appeal of up-and-coming artists to burnish the Renaissance brand, which consists of about 150 properties in 34 countries. Relevent Partners, an experiential marketing company in New York, is helping the hotel chain curate the program.
“Although music is subjective for what you like, at the end of the day it allows you to have a connective moment that touches you in a way that gives you an experience,” Relevent CEO Tony Berger says. “And you remember that experience as something that was given to you by Renaissance.”
How has performing small shows at Renaissance Hotels been for someone who routinely plays for larger crowds?
I actually love doing those intimate shows! It’s a whole different energy. Sure, the audience is quieter and more polite, but I think there are special moments that don’t happen in a bigger venue.
How’s the Sony + Renaissance partnership experience been for you?
It’s been great, thank you! I benefit because I get to stay in your beautiful hotels, so obviously I’m happy about it.
What’s your songwriting process — how do the ideas come about?
It always varies, but the most constant thing with me is to write a song when I’m just figuring out some way to feel better about life. Then I sit at the piano and capture it in a song to hopefully remind myself later.
Any recent memorable shows?
They’re all memorable! Minneapolis was really fun, a very spirited crowd. And it was the last show of tour, so me and my band mates were playing pranks on each other. We threw frozen peas all over the stage, which was fun but rather mushy.
So we’re very excited to offer our Facebook fans a FREE download of their song “When the War Ends,” off their album American Ghetto. If you weren’t able to catch them at SXSW, Bonnaroo, or Renaissance, this is the next best thing:
Memorial Day weekend just got that much hotter: the 11th annual Soul Beach Festival kicks off May 25 for five days of top R&B talent in Aruba. Previous performers include Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, Joe and Toni Braxton, and this year’s lineup doesn’t disappoint: Grammy winner Jennifer Hudson, Chrisette Michele, Tsunami and Heads of State will all take the stage. At night, hit the local nightclubs for some end-of-summer booty-shaking. And, of course, enjoy the white-sand Caribbean beaches all weekend long.
Yes, we’re offering more Bruno Mars concert tickets — this time to his Houston, Chicago, Seattle, Portland and San Francisco shows!
If you weren’t lucky enough to catch Bruno Mars on the RLife LIVE stage during our New Year’s Eve blowout, now’s your chance: the RLife LIVE alum has blown up as a Grammy-winning phenom, and we’re giving away a pair of tickets to 5 of his upcoming shows:
May 18: Houston @ Reliant Arena
May 27: Chicago @ Aragon Ballroom
June 2: Seattle @ WaMu Theater
June 4: Portland @ Theater of the Clouds
June 8: San Francisco @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
Sweepstakes open to U.S. residents only. Limit one entry per day per contestant. Email address and phone number required for notifying winner only. This Sweepstakes is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. For complete Official Rules, click here.
If you weren’t lucky enough to catch Bruno Mars on the RLife LIVE stage during our New Year’s Eve blowout, now’s your chance: the RLife LIVE alum has blown up as a Grammy-winning phenom, and we’re giving away a pair of tickets to 4 of his upcoming shows:
May 4: New York City, Roseland Ballroom
May 8: Boston, Agganis Arena
May 10: Atlanta, Fox Theatre
May 11: Miami, Fillmore Miami Beach
Sweepstakes open to U.S. residents only. Limit one entry per day per contestant. Email address and phone number required for notifying winner only. This Sweepstakes is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. For complete Official Rules, click here.
R Life is about your life. It's about bold style. Authentic experience. Real travel (even if it's right near your home). And inspired discussion, peppered with wit and joie de vivre. It's about looking to see what's around the corner, and savoring what's new and different once you're there. Learn More
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