Friendspiration

As an artist, one thing that is the lifeblood for me is staying inspired. This can come through various mediums, such as music, color, motivating words, seeing a child playing, down to the even less obvious things...like humility, vulnerability and just good ole fashion hard work. For me, however, nothing inspires me quite like the love of my friends. Especially when you have friends like mine.

Since this blog is dedicated mostly to that which describes my life in Dubai, I'm only going to share the inspiration that has come with the friends that I have met here in the Middle East, starting with my very first Dubai friend, Reiner Erlings.

To say "nice" things about this guy would be patronizing at the least. To say he's genius, an understatement. To say that he inspires me...well, that might come close, but not quite. But it's a start.

Reiner and I met during one of my first weeks here at the launch of his newest album to be produced here in Dubai for singer, Jonas Desai. We became instant friends. The reason for that connection wouldn't be realized until much later on, but the important part was that it was made at all, and unlike some of my other "connections" in Dubai, this one really stuck.

At the time that I met Reiner, I was supposed to be writing online articles for Spin magazine, and meeting Reiner felt like hitting a gold mine, as he is one of the only and foremost music producers local to Dubai. Not only a Producer, he's also a Songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, Film/TV Scorer and orchestral composer. He does everything from composition and sound design for award-winning ad campaigns, scores for films, documentaries, features and shorts by acclaimed filmmakers, some of the most creative musicians from the Middle East, composition and arrangements for the UAE Philharmonic Orchestra to a number of internationally acclaimed artists, from Flo Rida, Snoop Dogg, to Lumidee & Sean Kingston.

"Awesome" doesn't cut it.

Immediately, I made a point of adding him to my "to do" list which meant interviewing him and meeting some of the artists that he was producing. Much to my luck, this warranted time in the studio with him, even during album rehearsals and recordings.

The funny thing about music producers is that their work and "art" rarely get seen to the full extent. Of course the musicians themselves get to see it and know it for the creative genius that it is, but all too often we take a song to be more about the musicians and less about the production of the music, when the production really is SO important and special. I, thankfully, got a chance to be inspired by that of Reiner's.

A happy addition to being in the studio with him during production, meant meeting and befriending one of his clients, Gayathri Krishnan, who has since become one of my closest friends here in Dubai.

Shortly after meeting her, the two of them began dating and I cannot tell you the explosion of creativity that happens when two musicians with opposite personalities come together to make music. They are absolutely STUNNING as individuals, but as a couple, they will knock your socks off.

Reiner produced Gayathri's first full length album, Disengage (title single can be heard here), which really put her on the map here in Dubai and abroad. Together, they are currently working on what I believe to be THE most creative musical project yet to be seen in the UAE, called Movement. Think of it as the symphony meets the underground. A collaboration of live visual artists, dancers, musicians and a full 24 person choir with Gayathri and Reiner writing and composing the entire production. To say the least, its an extraordinary project and one that I personally cannot wait to see come to fruition.

What inspires me most about the two of them is their dedication to their dreams. Reiner has a degree in business and was never formally trained in music. He doesn't even read musical notes on paper and yet has created his dream-career out of a passion and commitment to music that is all his own. He couples that talent with more humility and kindness than anyone I know here and keeps his feet firmly on the ground while enjoying his flight to stardom. Gayathri is a music machine. Plain and simple. She never stops going, moving, creating, brainstorming for ideas and then backs them up with the follow through that I personally find to be the most inspirational thing of all. She believes in her dreams and fights for them. Every single day.

These are the people that flank my social life here in Dubai. A day doesn't pass that I don't thank my lucky stars for being granted the gift of having the two of them as friends...and constant, constant inspiration.

"Now Playing" on my Playlist

Without Pandora, my playlist additions in Dubai have been cut by 99% I'd say. Not a welcome or happy admission, but it is what it is.

I've learned all the words to most of Beyonce's songs, Lil Wayne and I became buds, Justin Bieber showed me what "shorty" meant in slang terms and Armin Van Buren blazed a hole in my eardrum, but recently I am happy to announce two new favorite bands that I found while reading up online about some indie musicians who have yet to be discovered. My favorite kind.

Wye Oak (wyeoakmusic.com) is at the top of my list these days. From Baltimore, their new single Civilian literally makes my blood happy. If I could pick the sound that my voice would make when I sing, it would be the sound of Jenn Wasner. Love them. I just looked on their website to see that I'm missing them (opening for The National) in Edinburgh by 5 days. Oh immediate tummy aching knowledge there! That's ok...Arcade Fire at the Edinburgh Castle a few days later will make for a welcome bandaid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5B4KS7GP9A&feature=related

The other band that I recently found is called First Aid Kit. First Aid Kit indeed. The hole in my eardrum has healed, thanks to these super young sisters from Sweden. Their story pretty much epitomizes my dream of becoming a rock band. In 2007, they started composing songs together. They covered a Fleet Foxes song in 2008 and put it on YouTube. It spread like wildfire and they subsequently toured alongside Fleet Foxes just months later. Their sound is so good that after seeing them in concert, Jack White approached them to record a single for Third Man Records. In a few short years they've already had a tour of 100 concerts all over the US and Europe. Earlier this year, they collaborated with Bright Eyes during Lua. I would definitely keep them in your ears.



Here's my favorite of the songs I know so far...hauntingly beautiful sound:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAs5y2lvO-Q

Happy H(ear)ring!

Hot and Un-bothered

This might be my most unexpected entry of "Things I Love About Dubai". Yes, for one moment, I'm going to appreciate the Heat, of all things.

Living in San Diego means living in Heaven. Quite literally. The weather and outdoors there are SO beautiful and well tempered that it invites you outside, to participate in its beauty almost every single day, even every hour on the hour...and any denial of this leaves you feeling full-on guilt at times. As if you wasted the day or beauty away by staying indoors.

This beauty can be incredibly inspiring. There's something to photograph or marvel in around every perfect corner, but what it doesn't do is allow you to fully enjoy the INdoors very often and one thing I can say for Dubai is that you FULLY get to appreciate the INDOORS.

As an artist and creative person, having time alone and indoors to actually CREATE is vital to what we do. Dubai in the summertime affords you an abundance of this and I have to say that it's something that I can truly appreciate. No guilty feelings for saying no when pulled out to the beach by friends, no sunset bbq's, no morning runs along the ocean. Just full-on day in and day out of being inside, looking for ways to pass the summer time along...painting, reading, writing....creating.

So....

Dear Heat, thank you very much, but I will not be bothered by you! You are an artist's best friend.

The Library at One and Only Royal Mirage

To say that I love this place is an understatement. Its dark, warm and cozy. You can play chess on big over-sized wooden chess boards while sitting on a plush sofa next to the fireplace (not like you need a fireplace). You can order Moroccan Tea until you're mint green in the face and the afternoon tea there is deeee-lish.

What more do you want in a secret hide-away place to write, muse or just watch your waist expand? This place has it all! On top of being amazingly warm and inviting, the views to the gardens that prelude the sea are stunning. You're likely to see a wandering peacock or two in the garden and the food in the neighboring dining room is yummy from appetizing start through to the sweet end.

I haven't stayed in the hotel, nor have I lived in the residences, but the staff here knows me by name and every time I sit down, I'm met by the words that I love most to hear: "Moroccan Tea, Ma'am?"

Well, yes....I think I will! :)

(PS photos by others)

Gingerized

Anyone who knows me knows that when I first came to Dubai, it was a tough adjustment period. And during that time, I found two things that kept me sane: 1) my new friend, Mahsa Page and 2) our new bestest friend, Miss Ginger.

For me, there are a few key elements that I look for in a best friend and a few of the top criteria are as follows:

1) Trustworthy and Reliable - this means that when they say they're going to be somewhere, they either show up or let you know they're not going to show up (and have a good reason). I can count on them to be there for me in times of fun, laughter and tears and in general, they're "there" for me. AND they can keep a dirty secret or twenty. :)
2) Fun - the best kind of friend makes you feel like dancing on the tables with happiness after you showed up feeling down in the dumps.
3) Easy to talk to and a great listener - non-judgmental, doesn't interrupt you, actively listens to everything you have to say, lets you cry on (or in) them and never complains of too many tears.
4) Makes you feel happier by just being around them - this one should perhaps be higher up on my list because it really is a very important one. You don't want to have a close friend that brings you down or makes you feel worse than being alone, right?

Well.....dear friends, let me introduce you to one of the best friends of my life, Miss Ginger. She's perfectly pink, chilly with a little "edge" to her but makes you feel so warm and happy inside, and at $13 dollars a pop, she's a godsend.

You can only get Gingerized at the Address Hotel (Downtown), however, and there's only one bar-tender there that does it right. For that Mahsa and I were semi-grateful. It kept her nice and exclusive for us and something that we can now share with our other close friends and still have the feeling that she's somewhat "secret".

I "would" give you the recipe, since Mahsa and I now have the keys to the Universe after spending multiple hours testing and tasting and re-testing and re-tasting and re-tasting (hey, we wanted to get it perfect for you guys), but you're just gonna have to make an appointment to have "one-on-one" time with me for this one. It's only to be shared in person. :)

So, here's to Ginger....the most perfect best friend a girl could ever ask for (and I don't even like to drink!).

Tea for One

I promised a showing of my favorite things in Dubai and the number one thing topping my list here is the Moroccan tea. I have a love for this stuff like it was made from Heroin itself. I cannot get enough of it and not a day goes by that I don't have some. Often alone. Sitting in pure, blissful silence.

Chris doesn't share my love for tea...and that's fine. This is one of those "me" things that I don't even WANT to share with anyone necessarily. It's been my comforting friend through this entire journey and make no mistake....I won't be coming home without it!

Some new pics...

The Chedi Hotel, Muscat, Oman - do yourself a favor: book immediately.