It wasn't so long ago an Arab RnB artist would seriously consider moving to the US or Europe to kickstart their career.
However, with the regional music scene evolving over the years, from holding top notch events to being home to professional recording studios, that calculus is changing as more western pop acts record and shoot music videos in the UAE and across the wider Arab world.
Joining in on the act in recent years is Saudi Arabia.
The thrilling and rapid expansion of its arts and entertainment sector not only positioned the kingdom as a leading cultural hub, but exposed a vibrant and tightly knit music community formerly working underground.
An emerging scene in Saudi Arabia
Getting a first-hand look at the development is Tamtam.
The Saudi soul singer spends her time between Riyadh with family and Los Angeles working on her music career.
The latter yielded a strong collection of vibrant RnB tracks collected over two EPs, 2017's Identify Myself and 2019's Rough Around the Edges.
With the pandemic upending the US music industry, Tamtam returned to Riyadh last year to lay low until it was safe to return.
As it turned out, being back in Saudi is no longer just a holiday.
The thriving music scene at home meant Tamtam can pick up where she left off.
“A lot of the time, you go to these amazing cities like Los Angeles and Paris not just to record and collaborate, but to meet fellow musicians, connect and share experiences,” she says.
“I can now do that here in Saudi because there are so many different and amazing artists here, from classical Arabic poets to singers and rappers.
“All of these are here in my home in Saudi and that has just been really inspiring."
Tamtam provides a taste of that eclectic scene with a coming concert as part of Abu Dhabi Festival's Ramadan concert series.
Streamed on the festival's social media channels on Monday, Tamtam, on piano, and a violinist will present compositions featuring classic Arabic poems and reworked versions of original works.
The latter includes her most well-known single Rise, a 2018 release with over one million views on YouTube.
"It has been exciting as well as challenge," she says of the pre-recorded show.
"We incorporated a lot of different elements into these songs. I was writing melodies to these great works of Arabic poetry, this is something I am not used to and some people may not expect of me."
Building bridges
Then again, challenging expectations is something Tamtam is used to ever since the first recording session in Los Angeles six years ago.
"At the beginning the people I met were always shocked that I was singer from Saudi Arabia. They wondered how I found this love for what I do considering there weren't a lot of musical opportunities back home at the time," she says.
"But fortunately things have been changing, there are events in Saudi Arabia now and the music industry over in the US are more aware of what's happening over there."
It’s for this reason Tamtam intends to continue dividing her time between Riyadh and the US once it’s safe to do so.
She encourages fellow Saudi artists to travel abroad and seek collaboration with peers.
“Art really has a way of breaking down any barriers and misconceptions,” she says. "And this is what I love about music is that it doesn’t need translation.
“I love the fact that over the past six years I was there, I was able through my music, in my own small way, helped change perceptions of the Middle East and Saudi Arabia. That is very satisfying.”
Tamtam performs as part of Abu Dhabi Festival's Ramadan series on Monday at 9.30pm. Concerts will be streamed on the Abu Dhabi Festival social media channels including YouTube.
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Read more:
Why Nasser Al Qasabi believes Saudi Arabia will be leading the region's film and TV scene within 20 years
Ahmad Al Shugairi’s new show 'Seen' charts Saudi Arabia’s rapid transformation
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The Bio
Favourite vegetable: “I really like the taste of the beetroot, the potatoes and the eggplant we are producing.”
Holiday destination: “I like Paris very much, it’s a city very close to my heart.”
Book: “Das Kapital, by Karl Marx. I am not a communist, but there are a lot of lessons for the capitalist system, if you let it get out of control, and humanity.”
Musician: “I like very much Fairuz, the Lebanese singer, and the other is Umm Kulthum. Fairuz is for listening to in the morning, Umm Kulthum for the night.”
RESULTS
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Company profile
Name: Thndr
Started: October 2020
Founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: pre-seed of $800,000
Funding stage: series A; $20 million
Investors: Tiger Global, Beco Capital, Prosus Ventures, Y Combinator, Global Ventures, Abdul Latif Jameel, Endure Capital, 4DX Ventures, Plus VC, Rabacap and MSA Capital
The five pillars of Islam
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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
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Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
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Company%20profile
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The years Ramadan fell in May
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ANALYSTS’ TOP PICKS OF SAUDI BANKS IN 2019
Analyst: Aqib Mehboob of Saudi Fransi Capital
Top pick: National Commercial Bank
Reason: It will be at the forefront of project financing for government-led projects
Analyst: Shabbir Malik of EFG-Hermes
Top pick: Al Rajhi Bank
Reason: Defensive balance sheet, well positioned in retail segment and positively geared for rising rates
Analyst: Chiradeep Ghosh of Sico Bank
Top pick: Arab National Bank
Reason: Attractive valuation and good growth potential in terms of both balance sheet and dividends
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Scoreline:
Cardiff City 0
Liverpool 2
Wijnaldum 57', Milner 81' (pen)
Scoreline
Chelsea 1
Azpilicueta (36')
West Ham United 1
Hernandez (73')
Fanney Khan
Producer: T-Series, Anil Kapoor Productions, ROMP, Prerna Arora
Director: Atul Manjrekar
Cast: Anil Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai, Rajkummar Rao, Pihu Sand
Rating: 2/5
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The%20National%20selections
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Klipit%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Venkat%20Reddy%2C%20Mohammed%20Al%20Bulooki%2C%20Bilal%20Merchant%2C%20Asif%20Ahmed%2C%20Ovais%20Merchant%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Digital%20receipts%2C%20finance%2C%20blockchain%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%244%20million%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Privately%2Fself-funded%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
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The years Ramadan fell in May
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
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
Results
Stage 7:
1. Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal - 3:18:29
2. Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep - same time
3. Phil Bauhaus (GER) Bahrain Victorious
4. Michael Morkov (DEN) Deceuninck-QuickStep
5. Cees Bol (NED) Team DSM
General Classification:
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates - 24:00:28
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers - 0:00:35
3. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 0:01:02
4. Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:01:42
5. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo - 0:01:45
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The UN General Assembly President in quotes:
YEMEN: “The developments we have seen are promising. We really hope that the parties are going to respect the agreed ceasefire. I think that the sense of really having the political will to have a peace process is vital. There is a little bit of hope and the role that the UN has played is very important.”
PALESTINE: “There is no easy fix. We need to find the political will and comply with the resolutions that we have agreed upon.”
OMAN: “It is a very important country in our system. They have a very important role to play in terms of the balance and peace process of that particular part of the world, in that their position is neutral. That is why it is very important to have a dialogue with the Omani authorities.”
REFORM OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL: “This is complicated and it requires time. It is dependent on the effort that members want to put into the process. It is a process that has been going on for 25 years. That process is slow but the issue is huge. I really hope we will see some progress during my tenure.”
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
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