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Dubai is a city that has rapidly grown in the entertainment industry, and the music scene is no exception. From electronic dance music to hip-hop and traditional Arabic music, Dubai has a diverse range of artists who are worth checking out in 2023. In this article, we will highlight ten Dubai-based music artists you should keep an eye on this year.
Freek
Mustafa Ismail, better known by his stage name Freek is a UAE-based Hip Hop artist, record producer, and video director who is recognized as one of the artists who pioneered and conceptualized the Arabic “Drill” music genre. Freek rose to prominence after dropping his hit single Wala Kilma which reached listeners across the globe and set the precedence for the GCC’s drill/trap sound. Freek has had many notable performances including his debut tour in London and Leicester in December 2019, as well as Sole DXB, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and Expo 2020 where he performed alongside Future, Gucci Mane, and the Wu-Tang Clan.
Mohflow
Born in Syria, raised in Saudi Arabia, and currently residing in Dubai, Molham Homsi AKA Mohflow is a singer/hip-hop artist. Supported by his brother AY’s production, Moh started releasing music in 2005 and has been on a steady climb to the top of the music industry ever since. Some of Moh’s most notable projects include his widely distributed album This Is You released in 2016 and his collaboration with award-winning American rapper Pusha-t in 2017, which resulted in the release of their single “Options.”
Khalifa Santo
Khalifa Santo is a UAE-based music producer and the genius behind the mind-blowing mashups that mix classical Arabic music with vocals from mainstream rappers. Sound unfamiliar to you? Imagine Drake or the Weekend laying down a verse with Fairooz singing in the background. This is the Iconic sound that Khalifa has been able to pioneer, creating a new lane that only he has been able to thrive in so far. This led to him amassing a large following of over 78k followers on Instagram.
Saud Ibrahim
Saud Ibrahim is an Emirati hip-hop artist and music producer who is quickly becoming a major figure in the UAE’s music industry. Along with his close friend and fellow rapper “Ahmeedo Biggie”, he creates a unique style that mixes elements from Emirati culture with mainstream hip-hop culture in a way that is digestible to an international audience. The best example of that is their hit song Hoopay (a remix of the popular rap song Whoopty) which gained over 5 million views on Youtube.
VARSHAVINN
Dubai-based Indian artist Varshavinn is a talented musician that finds herself in a unique spot in the realm of pop which encompasses a dark yet electric sound. Her music explores themes of female duality, feminine power, vulnerability, strength, rebellion, confidence, love, and mental health issues. Her discography includes intriguing tracks such as, “Make You Mine,” “WOW,” “Muse,” “Reveal Me,” “AAJA,” “7 Seas,” and “Let You Stay.”
Danny Aridi
Danny Aridi is a Dubai-based Canadian/Lebanese multi-award-winning singer and songwriter, signed to Universal Music. He recently won the “Best Local Band Award
2019″ by WhatsOn magazine as well as the “Best Artist” Award with Virgin Megastore after performing for more than 10 years. With a soulful and raspy voice, Danny opened concerts for internationally renowned artists such as Calvin Harris, P!NK, Fifth Harmony, Katy Perry, The Backstreet Boys, Guns n Roses, and Post Malone.
Shebani
Shebani is a Dubai-based Iraqi singer and songwriter who started her career in 2015 with Youtube covers and performing at open-mic nights. After realizing that she had a real shot at making a career out of her musical talent. She released her debut, a 6-track debut EP titled ‘Alter Ego’. After studying songwriting at the British and Irish Modern Music Institute, she became a certified songwriter and performer in 2017 and continued to release amazing music. Her discography includes songs like “Rosemary Sage,” “Right By You” and “Break Me.”
Dina Stars
Dina Stars is a Jordanian singer/songwriter and guitarist who is currently making waves in the music scene with her sound and style. Her pitch-perfect renditions of popular R&B and Pop songs and her undeniable stage presence earned her a great name across the region along with several residencies. Dina has performed at Dubai’s Time Out Market, Expo2020, and was the opening act for Legendary British Boy Band ‘Take That’.
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