Lime light

An enterprising organisation has given Dubai’s live music scene a much-needed shot in the arm.

February 2008

Sure, Dubai gets the occasional big-name performer coming to town. Robbie Williams, Aerosmith, Shakira and Mary J. Blige are among those who have played Dubai. Then there are other acts such as Status Quo and Bob Geldof who just make you wonder whether this is the place where has-beens come to make a few more bucks before they’re truly put out to pasture.

But what of the grassroots live music scene? Well, apart from a small group of affable blokes singing covers of ‘Hotel California’ and the entire U2 back catalogue in bars, there wasn’t much going on. Well, not much that was particularly original anyway. Until Dubai Lime came on to the scene last year. With the organisation hosting music nights at cafes and bars as well as live radio shows on Dubai 92, all manner of original performers came out of the woodwork. It became clear there was a definite need for this sort of entertainment around these parts.

Meet some of the entertainers who have gained wider exposure thanks to Dubai Lime’s music nights.

Cassiano De Sa

Brazil’s Cassiano De Sa has played in a band called Das Bandas da Paraeba which appeared on Brazil’s MTV. A man of many talents, he plays and composes in rock, reggae, classical, Brazilian jazz, blues and alternative gentres. In 1988, he won an international songwriting competition in Sao Paulo and has written 100 original songs.

Ramsy Phillips

Ramsey Phillips has been playing guitar since he was 10, starting his musical career on a religious bent by learning to play ‘This Is The Day That The Lord has Made.’ Since then, he has diversified somewhat and counts among his influences Counting Crows, Tracey Chapman, The Fray, Powerfinger and Frank Sinatra. By day he works for a structural engineering consultancy but away from the office, his interests are family, performing and his collection of musical toys which includes a Taylor 110 acoustic guitar, a Fender hotrod Deville 60 watt valve amp and a Korg keyboard.

Michael Drowley

The Aussie singer-songwriter (and engineer by day) has written more than 12 original tunes and is soon to release an independent EP – a three-song teaser that will be available online and at his gigs. His voals are fresh and melodic, his lyrics diverse with a message of hope. As a kid, he tried to learn guitar but soon turned his hand to piano, which he found easier. But he reunited with his guitar at the age of 17 when his brother, a guitarist, went on holidays and Michael was his replacement in a gospel band. His guitar-playing still needed work but his clear voice made him the band’s lead singer for four years. Since then, his guitar playing improved out of sight and he is now a very comfortable acoustic performer.

Jennifer Gove

The Canadian crooner is a long way from her freezing home town of Edmonton. Jennifer first exercised her vocal cords on long trips in the family campervan when she and her sister would sing along to songs on the eight-track while playing air-guitar and air-piano. Her parents got the hint and signed her up for piano lessons. But at 16 she picked up her first guitar – an old Fender from the attic – and the piano was soon forgotten.

Since then, she has been in an all-girl band, player her high school graduation and has been in love with songwriting and her guitar ever since. She says her genre is “folk-rock maybe” but has influences as diverse as Stevie Wonder, Lucinda Williams, Tom Petty and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Ish

The curiously named Sri Lankan is just 23 but he has already made an impression on Dubai’s music scene – in between his other job as cabin crew. Ish has been making music since he picked up a guitar at the of 13 and started writing songs at the age of 16. Describing his style as rock/alternative, he likes the musical style of Coldplay and the Goo Goo Dolls and admires the lyrics of Lifehouse, Travis and even the Bee Gees. His other retro influences include Van Morrison, Cindy Lauper and the Rolling Stones. When he’s not playing music or at high altitudes, Ish enjoys a spot of sexy salsa dancing.

Marcus and JaM

This duo from the Philippines have been playing music together since 1998. Marcus tried playing the drums when he was 12 and loved the skins right away. JaM claims to have been singing since she was in diapers. She also plays the bass but says she is a bit rusty these days and needs to brush up her skills! Marcus has been writing songs for 1 years and his first attempt at songwriting was a rap song – a fact he finds rather amusing today. These days, he likes rock, ballads and alternative tunes as well as a spot of rap metal – he has even released a single in the rap metal style. JaM is a Dave Matthews Band devotee and loves R & B and soul.