Prepare to get your rave on – DJ Sasha is coming to Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi residents have been spoilt lately when it comes to international music acts. Jay-Z and Rihanna headlined the biggest concerts of 2013, and this year The Rolling Stones and Macklemore and Ryan Lewis have already taken to the stage.
Yas Island has had a monopoly on this influx on superstars, but that’s about to change this month: Monte-Carlo Beach Club on Saadiyat Island is bringing one of the biggest names in dance music to Abu Dhabi. DJ Sasha, a pioneer of techno music and inspiration for the current wave of up-and-coming electronic music producers, will be bringing his box of tricks to the Saadiyat sands on May 16.
The British clubbing icon will headline a one-day music festival that will see up to 3,000 partygoers take to an extended dance floor across the venue’s sprawling grounds. Clubbers will be able to pull up a pew before the sun goes down and take in the spectacular views across the beach to the sounds of some of the hottest DJs in the UAE, before the maestro himself takes to the decks at 1am.
Monte-Carlo Beach Club’s uber-stylish venue is synonymous with glamour and the capital’s chic party set. With such a glitzy venue that draws a regular crowd to Saadiyat from all across the city, it’s little surprise that the musical festival is already creating waves with partygoers. The entire venue will be transformed to accommodate the large crowds that are expected to flock to the festival, with tables available to hire around the pool and into the grounds. Food stalls will also keep movers and shakers fuelled during the dance marathon, and the dress code is beachwear, giving ticket holders a true Abu Dhabi festival experience.
A limited number of tickets will be available on the door but partygoers are advised to book ahead, especially for VIP tickets and tables.
Whether you’ve been a fan of Sasha for 20 years, you’re new to the electronic music scene, you’re looking for something to do on a Friday night, or you simply want to keep the party going after brunch, on May 16 there’s only one place you’ll want to be. DJ Sasha at the Monte-Carlo Beach Club could prove to be Abu Dhabi’s biggest party of the year, so don’t miss it.
Fri May 16, 4pm-4am. Dhs195, VIP tickets Dhs320. Tickets can be bought prior to the event at www.timeouttickets.com. For VIP table reservations contact sobe@hmeevents.com (056 955 1213) for more information. Monte-Carlo Beach Club, Saadiyat Island, www.montecarlobeachclub.ae (02 656 3500).
DJ Sasha maybe playing the headline set on May 16, but like all good festivals the line-up of support acts looks just as exciting. TOAD sat down with some of the other DJs who’ll be exciting the crowd at Monte-Carlo Beach Club on May 16.
maDJam
MaDJam is a legend on the Middle East clubbing scene. The house music legend from Lebanon is a regular at the biggest nightlife venues across the UAE.
DJ Sasha at Monte-Carlo Beach Club is one of the biggest electronic music events Abu Dhabi has seen. Are you looking forward to being part of it?
I’ve been blessed to warm up crowds across the Middle East for Sasha over the last 10 years and admire the way he embraces new technology to make every set unique. In two weeks we’ll be back together again in the open air at the beautiful Monte-Carlo Beach Club on Saadiyat Island, marking our ninth gig together, so what’s not to look forward to? It’s going to be super special.
Are you a DJ Sasha fan yourself?
Oh definitely. Sasha’s sound is very different from all other DJs mainly because of his devotion to making new music, where he re-edits nearly all the tracks in his collection to better suit his sets. I’ve seen a lot of people trying to Shazam the tracks he’s playing but coming out with no matches. Watching crowds go crazy to music they’ve never heard before is something very few DJs have the courage to keep doing.
What are your thoughts on Monte-Carlo Beach Club as the venue?
Some of the best experiences in our lives happen at special places, and Monte-Carlo Beach Club is one of the most amazing venues I’ve ever played at. Driving on new highways and crossing massive bridges to get to the tip of the island is like going to a little piece of paradise. So of course it’s a great venue for an event like this.
DJ Koast, DJ Melohman and DJ Soulfisher
DJ Koast, DJ Meohman and DJ Soulfisher are long-time resident DJs at Monte-Carlo Beach Club. Each will bring their own flavour that’s certain to resonate with the Abu Dhabi crowd.
DJ Koast
You’re a resident DJ at Monte-Carlo Beach Club. Why that particular venue?
It’s an outstanding place to play music – it has state-of-the-art Funktion-One sound system, which makes a massive difference when I showcase the music that I love, especially as I only play uncompressed files. The high quality ensures that people really feel the music. There are not many clubs in the world that have such a high-quality sound, and especially not in the UAE. Also, the club has an amazing position – next to a natural beach and watching the sunset from there is incredible. It truly brings the glamorous lifestyle of Monaco to the UAE.
What tracks should fans listen out for?
There are a lot of hot tracks at the moment, but one that instantly comes to mind is an outstanding track from Lauren Lane called Everyday Weekend, the original mix that was released in March from an amazing record company called Saved Records.
How do you feel about sharing the decks with DJ Sasha?
Sasha is a pioneer DJ in his own right, he has developed a distinct style over the past 20 years, and he has millions of followers worldwide. It is a great moment for any DJ to share the same booth with him, especially when he is coming to play in the club where I have been a resident DJ for the last two seasons – it’s almost as though he is coming to play in my home. So of course I’m looking to this momentous event.
DJ Melohman
Are you looking forward to being part of the line-up on May 16?
I’m so excited to be part of this party, the atmosphere is going to be electric. Let’s dance baby! And it’s also a great event because I really appreciate the effort that Monte-Carlo Beach Club is doing to develop the music scene in Abu Dhabi. I think that the people in our city think the same – they are showing us week by week their love for proper music.
What’s your favourite track on top of your playlist right now?
My original mixes of course. Top of my playlist right now is Melohman’s El Camino (Original Mix), from Quantize Recordings.
DJ Soulfisher
You’re obviously very excited to be part of this music event in Abu Dhabi. Why are you looking forward to it so much?
It all starts with the venue. Monte-Carlo Beach Club on Saadiyat is a truly unique place to play, especially in Abu Dhabi. You have the spectacular beachfront setting accompanied by the most stunning sunsets, but there’s also the incredible sound and the classy crowd the venue brings in whenever I’ve played there.
What’s your favourite track at the moment?
Electronic music is booming, so I’m glad to say there’s a lot of fantastic music out there at the moment. For fans of the music we play, here’s a track to look up: Mountal – Bird (Giom Remix). It will probably make my set on May 16.
What does it mean to you to play alongside DJ Sasha?
Sasha has been one of the main influences to my sound since the early days of my career. His Northern Exposure and Involver albums are probably some of the most repeated recordings in my collection – and his remixes still make their way into my sets and radio shows today. I hold him in very high regard as an artist, so it’s undoubtedly an honour to be playing with him at one of my favourite spots in the country.
Never heard of DJ Sasha?
The British table-turner and producer cut his teeth in Manchester’s infamous Haçienda club, the epicentre of early 1990s acid house and rave culture in the North West, and hasn’t looked back since. Propelled to dance superstardom performing alongside fellow DJ John Digweed, Sasha developed a cult following that is still growing today as his sound continues to evolve. Known for his precision mixing and constant reworking of material for each individual performance, Sasha is regarded as perhaps the most technically accomplished DJ in the world. He was ranked in the top 10 of the most reputable ‘Top 100 DJs in the World’ poll for 11 consecutive years, and was placed third in the ‘Most Popular DJ of all Time’ (1997-2013) list compiled by the same magazine. On the commercial music stage, he has remixed tracks for the likes of Madonna, Depeche Mode and The Chemical Brothers.
