More musicians are bringing their shows to the region, but few have gone beyond one-off concerts to craft fully integrated, multi-stop tours.
One of the bands who have done just that are the brooding synth-pop group Ghostly Kisses. An act classified as indie in their native Canada, and by European promoters, they are undeniably a major draw in the Middle East.
Over the past four years, they have undertaken some of the region’s most expansive tours. Their latest return to the UAE, with a show at Dubai’s Bla Bla, follows two sold-out dates in Cairo, a headlining slot at Saudi Arabia’s Balad Beast Festival in Jeddah, and comes ahead of a performance in Bahrain on February 23.
It adds to their previous stops in Beirut and AlUla, where they performed at the stunning Al Maraya Theatre. Such extensive touring has given founder and singer Margaux Sauve an insight into the nuances of their growing regional fan base.
“The crowd in Saudi Arabia and Dubai has always been so warm, attentive, and lovely,” she tells The National from the Balad Beast. “In Cairo, they’re very expressive and so happy that we made the effort to come all the way there to play a concert. It feels just as special for us as it does for them, and they sing along to every lyric.
“In Beirut, it's different. The audience stays quiet during the show, but afterward they’ll wait in line for hours just to get an autograph. They’re incredibly grateful that we came.”
Beyond the painstaking effort to build a devoted fan base, another reason for their consistently strong crowds is the personal bond fans share with the group's music.
Formed in Quebec City in 2016 as a solo project by Sauve, a classically trained violinist, Ghostly Kisses evolved into a duo two years later with the addition of multi-instrumentalist Louis-Etienne Santais. Together, they crafted a signature sound, blending ethereal, languid melodies with cinematic production and unflinchingly emotive lyricism.
Their work, particularly the 2019 EP Alone Together and the 2022 album Heaven, Wait, became a soundtrack for a new legion of fans retreating and re-emerging in the wake of the pandemic.
“It’s always evolving,” notes Sauve. “It’s hard to pinpoint – did the pandemic help? In terms of our online presence, yes. But I also think it’s because our music asks questions. It reflects the experiences our fans have been through and how they’re processing them.”
It's an approach Ghostly Kisses take even further on their 2023 album, Dark Room. With lyrics exploring broken and healed bonds and the search for euphoria amid turmoil, the record feels like a collective therapy session – because, in many ways, it was. In the lead-up to recording to Dark Room, the group launched The Box of Secrets, an initiative inviting fans to anonymously share their worries through online entries. Sauve promised to read each of them in full.
“The purpose was mainly to offer a space where they could express something in secret, because we felt that many people wanted to connect with us but didn’t know how,” she recalls.
“What we found were recurring themes from people all over the world – most of them going through similar break-ups, questioning their lives, feeling lost, or dealing with grief. I thought it was interesting to bring those universal subjects into our songs because, in the end, no matter who we are, we’re all more connected than we sometimes realise.”
The intensity of the lyrics is balanced by Ghostly Kisses' most dynamic songwriting to date. While the signature melancholy and Sauve's whispery vocals – reminiscent of Canadian chanteuse Sarah McLachlan – remain, they are now paired with more upbeat tracks, all driven by an underlying mission to make listeners move.
This shift is notable in songs like Golden Eyes and Oceans, which feature assertive basslines and percussive elements rarely heard in the band’s earlier work. Santais explains that the evolution was partly inspired by their shows in the region.
“Once we started touring in the Middle East, especially, we felt such a deep connection to the crowds,” he says. “It was more instinctive, more emotional – more physical, even – because, suddenly, we were in packed rooms, feeling the energy of the audience. That made us think, ‘OK, we've explored all the ways we can connect emotionally and intellectually. Now, let’s tap into the physical beats.’”
That doesn’t mean the group is shifting into full-on EDM sound. While their Dubai show is sure to have the audience dancing, it won’t come at the expense of experiencing the 'feel' required at Ghostly Kisses gig.
“When we play live, we want to tell a story with ups and downs, highs and lows,” Sauve says. “There will be moments of surprise and moments of calm. We’ll take you on a journey – one where you’ll dance and cry.”
Ghostly Kisses perform in Bla Bla, Dubai on Sunday. Doors open 7pm. Tickets start at Dh239
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Simon Goddard
Omnibus Press
Where to buy
Limited-edition art prints of The Sofa Series: Sultani can be acquired from Reem El Mutwalli at www.reemelmutwalli.com
Draw:
Group A: Egypt, DR Congo, Uganda, Zimbabwe
Group B: Nigeria, Guinea, Madagascar, Burundi
Group C: Senegal, Algeria, Kenya, Tanzania
Group D: Morocco, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Namibia
Group E: Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania, Angola
Group F: Cameroon, Ghana, Benin, Guinea-Bissau
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The past Palme d'Or winners
2018 Shoplifters, Hirokazu Kore-eda
2017 The Square, Ruben Ostlund
2016 I, Daniel Blake, Ken Loach
2015 Dheepan, Jacques Audiard
2014 Winter Sleep (Kış Uykusu), Nuri Bilge Ceylan
2013 Blue is the Warmest Colour (La Vie d'Adèle: Chapitres 1 et 2), Abdellatif Kechiche, Adele Exarchopoulos and Lea Seydoux
2012 Amour, Michael Haneke
2011 The Tree of Life, Terrence Malick
2010 Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (Lung Bunmi Raluek Chat), Apichatpong Weerasethakul
2009 The White Ribbon (Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte), Michael Haneke
2008 The Class (Entre les murs), Laurent Cantet
The specs: 2019 Haval H6
Price, base: Dh69,900
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
Ballon d’Or shortlists
Men
Sadio Mane (Senegal/Liverpool), Sergio Aguero (Aregentina/Manchester City), Frenkie de Jong (Netherlans/Barcelona), Hugo Lloris (France/Tottenham), Dusan Tadic (Serbia/Ajax), Kylian Mbappe (France/PSG), Trent Alexander-Arnold (England/Liverpool), Donny van de Beek (Netherlands/Ajax), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon/Arsenal), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Germany/Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Juventus), Alisson (Brazil/Liverpool), Matthijs de Ligt (Netherlands/Juventus), Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid), Georginio Wijnaldum (Netherlands/Liverpool), Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands/Liverpool), Bernardo Silva (Portugal/Manchester City), Son Heung-min (South Korea/Tottenham), Robert Lewandowski (Poland/Bayern Munich), Roberto Firmino (Brazil/Liverpool), Lionel Messi (Argentina/Barcelona), Riyad Mahrez (Algeria/Manchester City), Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium/Manchester City), Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal/Napoli), Antoine Griezmann (France/Barcelona), Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool), Eden Hazard (BEL/Real Madrid), Marquinhos (Brazil/Paris-SG), Raheem Sterling (Eengland/Manchester City), Joao Félix(Portugal/Atletico Madrid)
Women
Sam Kerr (Austria/Chelsea), Ellen White (England/Manchester City), Nilla Fischer (Sweden/Linkopings), Amandine Henry (France/Lyon), Lucy Bronze(England/Lyon), Alex Morgan (USA/Orlando Pride), Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands/Arsenal), Dzsenifer Marozsan (Germany/Lyon), Pernille Harder (Denmark/Wolfsburg), Sarah Bouhaddi (France/Lyon), Megan Rapinoe (USA/Reign FC), Lieke Martens (Netherlands/Barcelona), Sari van Veenendal (Netherlands/Atletico Madrid), Wendie Renard (France/Lyon), Rose Lavelle(USA/Washington Spirit), Marta (Brazil/Orlando Pride), Ada Hegerberg (Norway/Lyon), Kosovare Asllani (Sweden/CD Tacon), Sofia Jakobsson (Sweden/CD Tacon), Tobin Heath (USA/Portland Thorns)
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last-16. first leg
Atletico Madrid v Juventus, midnight (Thursday), BeIN Sports
Honeymoonish
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Racecard
6.30pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah Group Two (PA) US$55,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm: Meydan Trophy (TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,900m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (D) 1,200m
8.15pm: Balanchine Group Two (TB) $250,000 (T) 1,800m
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,000m
9.25pm: Firebreak Stakes Group Three (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,600m
10pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,410m
The National selections: 6.30pm: RM Lam Tara, 7.05pm: Al Mukhtar Star, 7.40pm: Bochart, 8.15pm: Magic Lily, 8.50pm: Roulston Scar, 9.25pm: Quip, 10pm: Jalmoud
The Ashes
Results
First Test, Brisbane: Australia won by 10 wickets
Second Test, Adelaide: Australia won by 120 runs
Third Test, Perth: Australia won by an innings and 41 runs
Fourth Test: Melbourne: Drawn
Fifth Test: Australia won by an innings and 123 runs
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
