Wednesday | December 12, 2018

DUBAI MUSICIANS: ADAM LONG INTERVIEW

DUBAI MUSICIANS: ADAM LONG INTERVIEW
 
What brought you to Dubai? 
I moved to Dubai in 2008, working as a Quantity Surveyor on Motor City when that was being constructed. I studied music from 4, first of all the violin, moving onto the oboe before taking up the saxophone at 15. This was obviously a major part of my life playing in concerts, competitions and in bands throughout the UK. After making the move to the UAE my plan was to focus on my ‘corporate’ life, however, after a couple of years here working and playing the saxophone for a huge variety of venues and clients (outside of my day job) I was lucky enough to give up the “surveying World” and fully immerse myself in the music here.


 
What is your take on the live music scene here and how have you seen it evolve over the years? 
Evolve is exactly the word I would use. Music was mostly found in hotels/bars or at corporate events. In the past few years specifically the originals scene has really flourished and singer/songwriters, producers and artists are being showcased a lot more around the city performing their own music. Some of the larger events and venues are behind this and offer some of the top artists platforms now to play their music in front of bigger crowds. There are now also artists/bands available that really specialise in specific eras and genres of music as opposed to bands that cover a bit of ‘everything’. 
 
Tell us about your agency SOLE Agency and what services you currently offer?
SOLE Agency was founded in 2012. We provide music (incl. live artists/bands and DJs) and entertainment (incl. dancers, fire performers, mermaids, aerial acts) for venues and corporate and private events. In-house we provide event choreography and sound equipment for hire to clients.
 


You have recently signed an interesting artist called Marshall? Tell us more?
Marshall Robot is a 10ft tall giant robot who landed in Dubai earlier this year. He brings a unique style of entertainment to the region. Marshall is not a costume robot, but an automated entertainment robot – he talks like you and I having a conversation live, tells jokes, sings, laughs and dances with his audience. He has a large LED screen on his chest for any corporate branding and/or advertising and has recently made appearances at GITEX and, just last week, at the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix. 
 
You have also recently set up a studio, how is that going? 
SOLE Studio was launched in association with T3D. Since opening we have worked on a mix of corporate event video music and are working with a few particular local artists on their original music across rap, RnB and more commercial genres. We are currently looking at pushing these artists in both the local and international scenes. Teddy (producer) is also working on various global artist projects from before he moved to Dubai. The studio has a live rehearsal room available for booking. You will definitely here more from the studio in the coming few months!
 
The Green Room has recently opened up at City Walk, tell us more about the venue and how it differs from other live music venues in Dubai?
The Green Room is a jazz club based on hand-crafted cocktails and jazz - if you like either then this is definitely the place to head! It is an independent bar showcasing some of Dubai’s local jazz music talent with rotating artists and bands every night (Tuesday-Friday). 
 


What is your involvement in The Green Room and how this came about? 
John Gillespie (House of Negroni / Tonique Consultancy) mentioned to me a new project he was looking at and would I be interested in managing the music content for a new Jazz Club in Dubai. I have known John for about 9 years, played sax at numerous events of his, and we have worked on various events as industry professionals independently. We’ve talked a few times over the passed couple of years about projects that we think would work and the venue, styling and vibe of The Green Room leant itself exactly toward something we both have a big passion for – jazz. We are 4 weeks in now. I personally get to book all the talent that performs. The calibre really is world class. 


 
How important do you feel this venue is to the live music scene in Dubai?
Our approach is more of a jazz club for jazz musicians. John and myself have really set about making a jazz club that would stand on par with some of the finest jazz clubs around the World. We already have returning jazz loving enthusiasts coming back for more. 
One of the main attributes that we feel brings to The Green Room’s success is that we have different jazz artists each night of the week. No night is ever the same! Also the cocktails are fantastic as well. 
 
What is the best thing about being a working musician in Dubai? 
Musicians are all passionate people and we all love our job playing. The other thing is the people you meet. Every gig is different, whether it’s musicians or DJs your working with, venues, managers, staff or customers of venues, clients, the list goes on. 
 
Where can we see you perform this season? 
I will be playing each month at The Green Room so check out the line-ups online to find out when and with whom. I will also be popping up around town playing a variety or corporate and private events. I’ve just got back from a great weekend at F1 in Abu Dhabi for my 3rdyear playing at Amber Lounge – the official drivers after-party. 
 
Instagram
#saxdubai
#soleagencydubai
#solestudiodubai
#marshallrobotuae
#greenroomdxb
 
Facebook
Adam Long – Saxophonist
SOLE Agency 
Marshall Robot UAE 

The Green Room @greenroomdxb
www.sole-agency.com
www.greenroomdxb.com
 

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