Saudi Arabia’s Soundstorm kicks off with Travis Scott, Calvin Harris, Metallica

Saudi Arabia’s Soundstorm kicks off with Travis Scott, Calvin Harris, Metallica
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The Thursday show was Metallica’s first performance in the Kingdom. (Instagram)
Saudi Arabia’s Soundstorm kicks off with Travis Scott, Calvin Harris, Metallica
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(AN/ Abdulrahman Bin Shalhoub)
Saudi Arabia’s Soundstorm kicks off with Travis Scott, Calvin Harris, Metallica
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(AN/ Abdulrahman Bin Shalhoub)
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Updated 16 December 2023
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Saudi Arabia’s Soundstorm kicks off with Travis Scott, Calvin Harris, Metallica

Saudi Arabia’s Soundstorm kicks off with Travis Scott, Calvin Harris, Metallica

RIYADH: MDLBEAST’s Soundstorm festival in Riyadh kicked off its fourth edition on Thursday with performances by superstars Travis Scott, Calvin Harris and Metallica.

Scott opened the night, performing his hits “Fe!n” and “Goosebumps,” as fans cheered and sang along.

The Thursday show was Metallica’s first performance in the Kingdom. The group sang their fan favorites “Too Far Gone?,” “The Memory Remains” and “Nothing Else Matters.”

One of the audience members, Peter Bannink, told Arab News at the event: “I have not missed an edition since the inception of MDL Beast in 2019 and it’s cool to see how it has evolved into such grand festival.”

“I wasn't sure if I should attend this year, but seeing Metallica live was something I did not want to miss. Their first appearance in Saudi Arabia in 42 years was certainly historic and did not disappoint,” he added.

Harris, a regular at Saudi festivals, has previously performed at Soundstorm and also hit the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix stage in Jeddah.

Nigerian singer and songwriter Wizkid gave a upbeat performance with a mix of songs from his albums “More Love, Less Ego”, “Made in Lagos” and “Ayo.”

The afrobeats icon preformed his top hit songs “Essence” and “Smile,” which featured guest star H.E.R.

A long list of stars also performed on Thursday, including Tiesto, DJ Snake, Black Eyed Peas, Alesso and Oliver Heldens.

Arab music sensations due to perform include Amr Diab, Elissa, Majid Al-Muhandis, Omaima Taleb and Rabeh Saqr.

The festival runs until Dec. 16, and will host performances by Martin Garrix, Wiz Khalifa, Chris Brown, David Guetta, 50 Cent, Swedish House Mafia and more.


Nasiba Hafiz unveils Japan-inspired ‘Koi Collection’ in Jeddah 

Nasiba Hafiz unveils Japan-inspired ‘Koi Collection’ in Jeddah 
Updated 13 sec ago
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Nasiba Hafiz unveils Japan-inspired ‘Koi Collection’ in Jeddah 

Nasiba Hafiz unveils Japan-inspired ‘Koi Collection’ in Jeddah 

JEDDAH: Saudi designer Nasiba Hafiz unveiled her latest Japan-inspired collection at Asian fusion restaurant Crustacean in Jeddah this week and she spoke to Arab News about the aquatic inspiration. 
The designer’s Koi Collection drew inspiration from Hafiz’s transformative 2017 visit to Japan, with the designer telling Arab News: “Koi fish often symbolize perseverance, strength, and transformation. In many cultures, particularly in Japan, koi fish represent the ability to overcome obstacles as they are known for swimming upstream and against currents.”

The designer’s Koi Collection drew inspiration from Hafiz’s transformative 2017 visit to Japan. (Supplied)

Koi is actually the informal name for this species — they are often referred to as Japanese koi or by their Japanese name, Nishikigoi. The fish is known as the “swimming jewel” in Japanese culture, which is apt given Hafiz’s use of vibrant colors in her sartorial creations. 

“Their vibrant colors and graceful movements can also evoke a sense of peace, beauty, and resilience. I felt so drawn to them when I visited Japan in 2017, I felt like they symbolized how I felt, and it all resonated with my own experiences of facing challenges, personal growth, or the desire to transform in life,” the designer explained. 

Nasiba Hafiz unveiled her latest Japan-inspired collection at Asian fusion restaurant Crustacean in Jeddah. (Supplied)

Reflecting on the journey to create her collection, Hafiz added: “I designed the collection before COVID and I wasn't sure how to proceed. Then, I decided to relaunch it with new fabrics and three-piece tailored suits, along with complementary pieces like neckpieces, creating a striking contrast. I am all about redoing, repurposing, and believe in sustainable fashion.” 
Each design in the Koi Collection features vibrant hues and exquisite detail, something the designer has built up a fanbase for. 
Meanwhile, Crustacean complemented the event with a coastal-inspired menu, enhanced by its modern Vietnamese interior, which features a sunken koi pond.


Elyanna performs with Coldplay in New York  

Elyanna performs with Coldplay in New York  
Updated 09 October 2024
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Elyanna performs with Coldplay in New York  

Elyanna performs with Coldplay in New York  

DUBAI: Palestinian Chilean singer Elyanna shared the stage with British band Coldplay on Tuesday on NBC’s “Today” show in New York, performing their song “We Pray.”

The track is part of Coldplay’s new album, “Moon Music,” which was released this month. Joining Elyanna and the British band on stage was Argentine singer and actress Tini, who is also featured on the song. 

Elyanna also released her own Arabic-language version of the track on Sept. 20.

Elyanna also released her own Arabic-language version of the track on Sept. 20. (Getty Images)

Elyanna made her “Saturday Night Live” debut over the weekend also teaming up with frequent collaborators Coldplay on stage to perform the song. The singer took to Instagram to celebrate the milestone after the show by re-posting footage of backstage rehearsals recorded minutes before she hit the stage. 

The “SNL” performance comes just days after the 22-year-old also appeared at iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas to perform the same song.

Elyanna is set to perform live with Coldplay again when the band heads to Abu Dhabi for four shows in the UAE capital in January 2025. The band will perform as part of the “Music of the Spheres World Tour” on Jan. 9, 11, 12 and 14 at Zayed Sports City Stadium.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Coldplay (@coldplay)

In August, she took to the stage in Dublin to perform “We Pray” in Arabic. She performed alongside rapper Little Simz, Nigerian singer Burna Boy and Tini.

“I’m still in awe of last night! Sharing this moment with all these amazing artists on @coldplay’s stage felt so wholesome,” she wrote to her 1.7 million followers on Instagram. “I sang ‘We Pray’ in Arabic, I sang for hope and most importantly for my hometown Palestine.”

The Los Angeles-based singer’s music is a mix of Arabic and Western influences, which she attributes to her multicultural upbringing.

Elyanna has been normalizing Arabic lyrics in the Western world throughout her career, taking inspiration from artists including Lana Del Ray and Beyonce, as well as Middle Eastern legend Fayrouz.

In 2023, Elyanna became the first artist to perform a full set in Arabic at California’s Coachella music festival.

She embarked on a North American Tour this year, gracing stages in Dallas, Houston, Toronto, Montreal, Washington, New York, Chicago, Detroit, San Francisco and Santa Ana.


Saudi artist Obaid AlSafi shortlisted for 2024 Sigg Art Prize

Saudi artist Obaid AlSafi shortlisted for 2024 Sigg Art Prize
Updated 09 October 2024
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Saudi artist Obaid AlSafi shortlisted for 2024 Sigg Art Prize

Saudi artist Obaid AlSafi shortlisted for 2024 Sigg Art Prize

DUBAI: Saudi artist Obaid AlSafi has been shortlisted for the Sigg Art Prize organized by Saudi Arabia-based curator Pierre Sigg, with the winner set to be announced on Oct. 10 during a ceremony at Asprey Studio in London. 
The award aims to redefine the boundaries of artistic creation through the integration of Artificial Intelligence and this year’s theme is “Future Desert.”
AlSafi studied computer science but discovered his passion was art. After realizing he could blend the two disciplines together, AlSafi’s work evolved into a hybrid of art, photography and graphic design.
“As an artist who merges digital knowledge with contemporary art, I felt this prize was a perfect fit for my practice,” he told Arab News. 

The creative said his proposal for this prize “challenges the contrast between perception and reality by questioning the concept of emptiness.
“Often perceived as a barren void, the desert, my birthplace, conceals a spiritual richness that far exceeds its arid appearance,” he explained via email. 
“By merging code and creativity, we aim to reveal the latent richness of this ancient landscape, inviting viewers to contemplate a profound question: Is emptiness merely a mirage, masking the boundless depths of existence waiting to be discovered?”
Relying on AI to create art presents many challenges, AlSafi noted. 
“It redefines our understanding of creativity, authorship, and the human experience. It paves the way for a new realm of artistic exploration, where traditional boundaries are fluid, and the concept of art is constantly evolving,” he said. 
More than 300 applicants from 70 countries applied for the prize with only seven shortlisted. The winner will be awarded $10,968.
The seven finalists for the Sigg Art Prize 2024 are Alsafi, Dana-Fiona Armour, Léa Collet, Agnieszka Kurant in collaboration with John Menick, Harrison Pearce, Aaron Scheer, and Sasha Stiles.

 


Mad for momos: Pakistan’s first dumplings-only café carves a niche

Mad for momos: Pakistan’s first dumplings-only café carves a niche
Updated 09 October 2024
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Mad for momos: Pakistan’s first dumplings-only café carves a niche

Mad for momos: Pakistan’s first dumplings-only café carves a niche
  • Maria Mushtaq opened first branch of Mariyah’s Den in Karachi in 2021, she now has two more outlets in Pakistan
  • Food critic Ahmer Naqvi says dumplings popular as they “fit into modern life in terms of convenience and fusion”

KARACHI: If by chance you are a lover of dumplings and based in Karachi or Islamabad, then consider this a good time to pay a visit to Mariyah’s Den, Pakistan’s first dumplings-only café.
While Chinese dishes like fried rice, chow mein noodles and chicken manchurian have long been beloved to the Pakistani flavor palate, a taste for dumplings, a globe-spanning culinary trope, has been on the rise in the South Asian city in recent years. This growing taste is what founder and chef Maria Mushtaq was counting on when she started Mariyah’s Den as a delivery service for ready-to-cook frozen dumplings which she made and sold from home in 2020, as people opened up to trying new recipes and dishes during coronavirus lockdowns.
“Then my husband, who is also a partner in this venture, said ‘The way you steam it [dumpling] and the way you make it and serve it in the sauce, it’s very unique, so, you should open a café’,” Mushtaq told Arab News in an interview earlier this month.
The first branch of Mariyah’s Den opened in Karachi in November 2021. Three years later, the cafe has another outlet in Karachi and one in Islamabad as well.
The restaurant serves nine types of dumplings including beef, chicken, lamb, prawn, a combination of prawn and chicken, vegetarian, mushroom and a sweet variety filled with chocolate.
“A lot of people did come up and say, ‘Oh, you’re very brave that you opened a restaurant just on the basis of one dish’,” Mushtaq said. “But I realized that in Karachi, we do have specific places where we go to eat specific foods like nihari and bun kebab so why not dumplings?”
The cafe was a “hit since day one,” the chef added.
“Dumplings as a dish in itself were not that popular a long time ago, but now people do consider that it’s a snack and they like it,” Mushtaq said, explaining that she had tweaked what she thought were the “bland flavors” of Chinese dumplings to Pakistani tastes.
The dumplings at Mariyah’s Den are also served in the sauce, rather than with the sauce of the side.
“Dumplings have been there for a very long time, it’s like a 2000-year-old Chinese dish and dumplings are present in every culture but everyone has adapted it to their own taste and liking,” Mushtaq said. “The Nepalese have their own version, we have mamtus in the mountains [of Pakistan].
Customers also said dumplings were the “perfect comfort food,” filled with both carbohydrates and protein ingredients. Others liked the ease of eating them.
“I think we live in an era of snack foods. Most people like me prefer [dumplings], because it’s instantly available to grab and go,” Mohammad Shams, who was visiting Mariyah’s Den earlier this month, told Arab News.
Ahmer Naqvi, a Pakistani culture and food critic, agreed that dumplings were a comfort food and “very common” across cultures.
“It’s actually one of the oldest and most familiar things going around, like a samosa,” he said, “It is a different dough texture but using the same logic. As a result of globalization, you are seeing a combination of a more Chinese style of the dumplings. It’s more popular now because of the ways it fits into modern life whether in terms of convenience or in terms of fusion.”
Dumplings were also very easy to cook and store, Naqvi added.
For the future, Mushtaq plans to expand her menu but wants to stay true to the cafe’s roots in Chinese flavors.
“We are slowly adding noodles also. So, we have chilly noodles. We have just added a soup bowl, which is noodles with chicken curry,” she said. “I think the genre is just going to be dumplings and we’d just keep on experimenting with that kind of food which is fast, not junk, and it’s very healthy.”


Chinese cinemas to showcase Saudi films for the first time

Chinese cinemas to showcase Saudi films for the first time
Updated 08 October 2024
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Chinese cinemas to showcase Saudi films for the first time

Chinese cinemas to showcase Saudi films for the first time
  • Special screenings from Oct. 21-26 in Beijing, Shanghai and Suzhou follow similar events in Morocco and Australia

RIYADH: A series of Saudi Film Nights will take place in China, the world’s largest cinema market, for the first time this month to showcase movies from the Kingdom. It follows similar events in Morocco and Australia.

The special screenings, organized by the Saudi Film Commission, will run from Oct. 21-26 in Beijing, Shanghai and Suzhou, before the films go on general release in Chinese theaters. The diverse selection of films includes features and shorts, and the screenings will be accompanied by discussions with filmmakers, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

This initiative reflects the commission’s efforts to develop and grow the Saudi film industry, highlight local talent, and promote cultural exchanges and collaborations.