Armin van Buuren has scaled many heights in the electronic dance music world.
As well as topping the prestigious DJ Mag Top 100 list five times (he is currently in fifth place), the veteran Dutch DJ’s latest feat involved a sky-high performance at Dubai's Burj Khalifa.
The 40-minute set took place on the 149th floor of the skyscraper and was shot in 4k by 18 cameras, including panoramic views captured from a helicopter.
Released on YouTube on Wednesday, the recording will serve as promotion for the music festival Untold Dubai, taking place at Expo City Dubai in February.
While the dates and full line-up have not yet been revealed, van Buuren confirmed to The National that he will be performing at the festival alongside other DJs and international and regional pop stars.
The National got a taste of what’s to come after witnessing van Buuren’s performance at The Big Slap Festival in Malmo, Sweden. More than 30,000 people danced along to the Dutchman’s signature trance tracks, including All On Me and This Is What It Feels Like – which blend throbbing basslines with emotive synths and vocals.
While the Dubai gig is still far off in the distance, van Buuren says he is already excited at the prospect of returning to Expo City Dubai. After all, this is the same location where he performed a 2021 New Year’s Eve concert as part of Expo 2020 Dubai.
“That was such an amazing event and what really excites me is that next time it will be for a full music festival and I do think that’s amazing for electronic music in the Middle East,” he says.
“This part of the world wants to become an important stop for this kind of sound and to see that happen over the years has been great to see.”
Van Buuren knows what he is talking about.
A frequent performer in the Middle East, including spectacular shows at Jordan’s Wadi Rum in 2005 and Saudi Arabia’s MDL Beast festival last year, one of his fondest memories is his first UAE show in 2006.
“My first gig was in the Fairmont Hotel in Dubai and it was in the large lobby-like room and the crowd was great,” he says. “So, to keep coming back and really witnessing the growth of EDM over there is a real blessing.”
Expect van Buuren to return with fresh tunes to play courtesy of his new album Feel Again, such as Computers Take Over the World – a taut festival anthem that's a wry take on artificial intelligence’s effect on music composition, the tongue-in-cheek lyrics performed by a virtual assistant.
“Let me prove we can create music by ourselves now,” the monotone female voice states. “You need a beat, you need a clap. Put in some hats and you need some bass.”
Describing the track as a bit of fun, van Buuren says it's too early to gauge how AI will affect fellow DJs and producers.
“I really can't answer how it will affect us and the future will eventually tell how it's going to be,” he says.
“At the moment, I am just using AI as another tool in my kit.”
One thing van Buuren is sure of, however, is that electronic dance music is in a healthy place.
He has been recording its progress on his hit online radio show A State of Trance.
Launched in 2001 on Dutch radio station ID&T, the show has grown from a cult following to each episode amassing, according to the official website, an estimated 40 million listeners across more than 80 countries through YouTube and 100FM radio stations.
A State of Trance also helped pioneer the wave of radio shows hosted by dance music acts including Hardwell (Hardwell on Air), Above and Beyond (Group Therapy) and Jacked Radio by Afrojack.
“I can play 16 or 17 songs on the show each week and there are still some great tracks that I can't fit in,” van Buuren says. “The fact that I have to disappoint a few producers every now and then by not putting their song on just shows you that there is a lot of good music out there.
“I feel lucky with the success of the show because it gives me the opportunity to be the lucky guy in the middle who gets the music from all these producers and DJs and passes it on to the audience. It's a great way of communication.”
BOSH!'s pantry essentials
Nutritional yeast
This is Firth's pick and an ingredient he says, "gives you an instant cheesy flavour". He advises making your own cream cheese with it or simply using it to whip up a mac and cheese or wholesome lasagne. It's available in organic and specialist grocery stores across the UAE.
Seeds
"We've got a big jar of mixed seeds in our kitchen," Theasby explains. "That's what you use to make a bolognese or pie or salad: just grab a handful of seeds and sprinkle them over the top. It's a really good way to make sure you're getting your omegas."
Umami flavours
"I could say soya sauce, but I'll say all umami-makers and have them in the same batch," says Firth. He suggests having items such as Marmite, balsamic vinegar and other general, dark, umami-tasting products in your cupboard "to make your bolognese a little bit more 'umptious'".
Onions and garlic
"If you've got them, you can cook basically anything from that base," says Theasby. "These ingredients are so prevalent in every world cuisine and if you've got them in your cupboard, then you know you've got the foundation of a really nice meal."
Your grain of choice
Whether rice, quinoa, pasta or buckwheat, Firth advises always having a stock of your favourite grains in the cupboard. "That you, you have an instant meal and all you have to do is just chuck a bit of veg in."
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
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The%20specs
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Match info
Who: India v Afghanistan
What: One-off Test match, Bengaluru
When: June 14 to 18
TV: OSN Sports Cricket HD, 8am starts
Online: OSN Play (subscribers only)
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
The Bio
Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village
What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft
Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans
Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn (4.30pm)
Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)
Sunday, May 17
Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)
Monday, May 18
Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Overview
What: The Arab Women’s Sports Tournament is a biennial multisport event exclusively for Arab women athletes.
When: From Sunday, February 2, to Wednesday, February 12.
Where: At 13 different centres across Sharjah.
Disciplines: Athletics, archery, basketball, fencing, Karate, table tennis, shooting (rifle and pistol), show jumping and volleyball.
Participating countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Qatar and UAE.
ALRAWABI%20SCHOOL%20FOR%20GIRLS
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Zombieland: Double Tap
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Stars: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone
Four out of five stars
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
