Satellite Voices

Dubai

Exclusive Mix: Chill Out Festival Dubai

April 19, 2012

The Chill Out Festival returns to Dubai this weekend with a line-up that includes musical heavyweights Tony Allen, De La Soul and Moodyman alongside local acts

• Text by Simone Sebastian

This weekend, live music fans in Dubai will finally be able to ignore the slew of updates from Coachella, because this weekend, the city will be celebrating its very own homegrown music festival. While it may not play host to hippie hipsters, dip dyes and Kate Bosworth, The Chill Out Festival will bring out the city’s more musically-minded residents for two days of performances from the likes of De La Soul, Moodyman, Tony Allen and local artists Hamdan Al Abri, Noush Like Sploosh and Employees of the Month.

In the lead up to this weekend’s festivities, we reminisce with festival promoters Satyen Choksi and Nik Lall of Ohm Records, and pay homage to this year’s lineup with a Satellite Voices exclusive mix by Dubai-based DJ Conan Liquid. Conan had the unenviable task of stringing together the festival’s diverse sounds, but has managed to deliver a mix that jumps from Tony Allen to Algerian superstar Rachid Taha and hip hop royalty De La Soul. Nicely done.

Satellite Voices: What were your stand out moments from last year's Chill Out Festival?
Satyen Choksi: Besides being 90 minutes late on stage Erykah Badu delivered a spell binding performance. The Cinematic Orchestra raised a few goose bumps as well. On the local scene I was pleasantly surprised by the Brownies.

SV: Who are you most looking forward to at the Festival this year?
Nik Lall: Definitely De La Soul and Tony Allen for the internationals – but also looking forward to some of the new local acts like Niki & E.O.M.

SV: The Festival has been hosted by different venues every year. What is your favourite thing about this year's venue - the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre?
Satyen Choksi: Media City Amphitheatre is a standout venue with wide expanse of lush green grass in the middle of the Media City, which is probably the work address of the highest amount of musos per square footage in Dubai. 

SV: Can you share any backstage gossip from previous editions of the Festival?
Nik Lall: Royksopp almost got arrested for jumping into the water in their tighty whities...
Satyen Choksi: Royksopp. "...Brazilian twins in the jacuzzi."

Images:
Hamdan Al Abri
Tony Allen
Moodyman
Noush Like Sploosh
Employees of the Month