What's On Dubai's playlist?

These famous words of Julia Child ring in our head as we sit down for a meal at a restaurant in Dubai, “Some people like to paint pictures, or do gardening, or build a boat in the basement. Other people get a tremendous pleasure out of the kitchen because cooking is just as creative and imaginative an activity as drawing, or wood carving, or music.”

Courtesy of the culinary skills that Dubai is known for dining out is a much-loved activity with many of us, and that combined with live music coming from local and international DJs only combines our two loves i.e. arts in every form - music and food. Nicolas Hillman, general manager, musical director and DJ, The Birdcage, Pullman Dubai Downtown, said, “It’s the music which attracts people. At The Birdcage, our ethos is to connect and bring people together through the musical journey with the right atmosphere. When it comes to curating a music playlist for the UAE audience, I keep in mind the fact that they connect through the feelings and energy that House Music evokes.”

Reading the audience

“The key to a successful performance is about correctly reading the mood; the energy of your audience within the context of timing and location and playing directly to the moment at hand,” said Sam Starks, music director and resident DJ, FIVE Hotels and Resorts (FIVE Palm Jumeirah, FIVE Jumeirah Village and FIVE Zurich). “It always depends a little on the venue and genre of music that is being played. A ‘do’ is definitely reading your audience and playing on the variety to keep them engaged and connected with the music,” said JP Mäyeur, resident DJ, The Birdcage. Sam shared how he has been making playlists all his life, and now he plays a number of live gigs, alongside some of the world’s top DJs such as Lost Frequencies and Robin Schulz, “My playlists for FIVE’s music label, FIVE Music on Spotify reflect the ‘Sound of FIVE’ a multi-genre offering that plays to an international audience of music lovers.” Nicolas, who has over ten years of international experience in the nightlife, and restaurant industry stated that most of the UAE diners are music literate, “They’re seeking out places that not only serve good food, but also offer a good ambience. It’s no longer just about food anymore, it is about the perfect combination of factors like music, location and liveliness, et al. that keeps them engaged.”

What not to do when creating a playlist?