Saleh Hamed’s debut album is a throwback – and in more ways than one.
As well as its vintage synth-pop and hip-hop sounds, the project itself has been in the making for more than 10 years.
Not that Hamed, who released The Album under his stage name Dozenz, hasn't been busy.
In fact, the producer, pianist, rapper and sometimes vocalist has been involved in many landmark moments of UAE music history. His previous band, Gray Test, were one of the first home-grown bands to have their songs played on local radio, in addition to performing at a UAE music festival.
His stint with Juliana Down, meanwhile, had him co-writing songs to 2011's Empires, one of the first albums by a UAE rock band released on a major music label.
A man of action
Hamed recalls those moments with a certain relish.
“I always viewed myself as an instigator and provocateur,” he says from his Abu Dhabi home. “But then again, I had to be. Back then, you needed to work hard to get your work heard.”
That meant calling up hosts at Capital Radio and hounding them to play Gray Test tunes.
When one such host agreed to play the track Small Change on her Friday night show, Hamed drove all the way to Dubai to hand deliver the CD with a box of chocolates.
His approach also included building contacts with promoters, through both friendship and haranguing, in order for Gray Test to play at 2003’s Gig on the Green alongside headliners Fun Loving Criminals, Suede and Dexys Midnight Runners.
While the hustle may sound impressive, Hamed says it was the only way for rock bands to survive.
“Rock bands, in their nature, are very industrious and can adapt to many situations,” he says. “But ultimately, their livelihood all depends on being on that stage. So back then, you needed to fight and push your way in order to get those opportunities. There was no other way to do it.”
The fight continues
Hamed now finds himself in a new landscape.
DJs are the new rock stars and songs – and chocolates – can be delivered online. After a decade away from music to focus on raising a family and his government career, Hamed felt the time was right to get back to creating again.
“A lot of that, I think, is because now there is an appreciation for keyboardists, which is what I primarily play,” he says. “Keyboards have replaced the guitar and I thought it would be great to explore that and see what I can do.”
That enthusiasm is all over The Album, a fun and vibrant collection of barrelling synth-driven numbers recalling 1990s pop and dance music.
Euphoric opener Need Nobody, with its alternating male and female vocal leads, recalls Paula Abdul's Opposites Attract, while iLike has the kind of turbo-charged synth riffs that hark back to the Europop era. Hamed does nod to more modern styles with the trap music sounds of Falls Apart and the EDM pop of Invincible.
If all those eclectic flavours sound messy, then that’s the point.
Hamed says The Album, available at SoundCloud, is a snapshot of an artist with a restless muse. He confirms a more "streamlined" version of the project will appear on major platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music later in the year.
It is in the national interest that we foster the arts
Whether people will connect with those tunes, he says, remains to be seen.
“In a way, it is the same kind of fight that I had all those years ago,” he says with rueful chuckle. “Where back then it was just about getting your music heard, now it’s about having your voice cut through an already saturated field. With technology and the internet, thousands of songs are uploaded each day.”
Local music is a national interest
But that struggle can’t be faced alone, and Hamed calls for government intervention to support the country’s independent music scene.
“We need regulation in place that says radio must have 10 per cent local content, like they do in France, Canada and many other countries,” he says.
“We need to create those opportunities because radio stations ultimately look out for their interests. But I say that it is in the national interest that we foster the arts.”
Until then, Hamed says the fight continues. At least now, it is backed by a riotous soundtrack.
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
The bio
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite travel destination: Maldives and south of France
Favourite pastime: Family and friends, meditation, discovering new cuisines
Favourite Movie: Joker (2019). I didn’t like it while I was watching it but then afterwards I loved it. I loved the psychology behind it.
Favourite Author: My father for sure
Favourite Artist: Damien Hurst
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
TCL INFO
Teams:
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan
Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
When December 14-17
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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FA Cup quarter-final draw
The matches will be played across the weekend of 21 and 22 March
Sheffield United v Arsenal
Newcastle v Manchester City
Norwich v Derby/Manchester United
Leicester City v Chelsea
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
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
U19 World Cup in South Africa
Group A: India, Japan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka
Group B: Australia, England, Nigeria, West Indies
Group C: Bangladesh, Pakistan, Scotland, Zimbabwe
Group D: Afghanistan, Canada, South Africa, UAE
UAE fixtures
Saturday, January 18, v Canada
Wednesday, January 22, v Afghanistan
Saturday, January 25, v South Africa
UAE squad
Aryan Lakra (captain), Vriitya Aravind, Deshan Chethyia, Mohammed Farazuddin, Jonathan Figy, Osama Hassan, Karthik Meiyappan, Rishabh Mukherjee, Ali Naseer, Wasi Shah, Alishan Sharafu, Sanchit Sharma, Kai Smith, Akasha Tahir, Ansh Tandon
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
How to help
Donate towards food and a flight by transferring money to this registered charity's account.
Account name: Dar Al Ber Society
Account Number: 11 530 734
IBAN: AE 9805 000 000 000 11 530 734
Bank Name: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank
To ensure that your contribution reaches these people, please send the copy of deposit/transfer receipt to: juhi.khan@daralber.ae
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