A creative multi-cultural blend of Grime, Afro pop and Hip-hop

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Nigerian star Zirra just unleashed an internationally flavored collaboration, this time with British rapper Malikand underground Iranian/Filipino artist Izzyon, “Payphone”.

The uplifting summery tune brings out exchanged verses from Nigeria all the way to Britain with an incredibly catchy chorus. The special fusion highlights Malik’s grime artistry, Izzy’s hiphop swag and Zirra’s afro-pop/RnB flavor. The trio recorded the track in Dubai as they lived in the same area at the time.

“Payphone” can be accurately described as a fun song that channels each boy’s persona and lifestyle when it comes to partying.

“We wanted it to sound like a party, and it truly felt like a party when we were making it as well,” said Zirra.

“Payphone” follows Zirra’s contagious debut single “Agbada” which stood out due to the mix of local afrobeat flavors that created an incredible jam celebrating a highly placed attire, in Nigerian pop culture.

Keep an eye out for Zirra. More music to be dropped throughout the year.

“Payphone” out NOW!

Play on Anghami: https://goo.gl/S2mYjJ

Stream on Apple Music: https://goo.gl/41hBKC

Buy on iTunes: https://goo.gl/41hBKC

Play on Spotify: https://goo.gl/EMRnCp

 Play on Deezer: https://goo.gl/5e97jh

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Love on the Internet” is OUT NOW!

Sony Music Entertainment Middle East is proud to announce the release of Project: Aloft Star UAE 2017 winner Stephon LaMar’s music video.

Watch video NOW!

In “Love on the Internet” Stephon LaMar is creating a conversation about our growing obsession with social media and how it takes over everything in our lives.

While the song title may at first seem romantic, the video is less so, featuring social media-obsessed friends who are spending their entire day on the phone and not enjoying the party. “Love on the Internet” suddenly takes on a whole new meaning. The love affair here is happening with the internet.

Produced, written and composed by Stephon LaMar with additional production by Hollaphonic and Charlie Wallace, “Love on the Internet” has a feel-good pop vibe that makes it a certified radio banger.

“Love on the Internet” was filmed in Aloft Al Ain. Since 2008, Aloft Hotels has been putting the spotlight on rising stars, offering an ongoing music concert series at every one of the brand’s 126 hotels.  Project: Aloft Star promotes the brand’s commitment to supporting self-expression by identifying the hottest emerging music talent from around the globe, offering them a chance to kick start their careers and take center stage at one of the most innovative hotel brands.

 

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Ammar Al Azaki Releases Debut Single, “Ghani Ghani” with Sony Music Entertainment Middle East

 

Ammar is predicted be one the biggest stars to come out of the Khaleeji space

Album lands this March in both digital and physical stores

OUT NOW

Sony Music Entertainment Middle East releases Ammar Al Azaki’s debut single, “Ghani Ghani” (Sing, Sing). The song is written by distinguished poet Sultan Mujalli, arranged by Mohanad Khider and tracks to traditional Yemeni heritage.

“Ghani Ghani” channels “Al Kokbani”, a celebrated music style in Yemen and all around the GCC and is a great start to set the mood for Ammar’s much anticipated debut album, “Kalam Abyad” due to drop next month.

Commenting on his own single, Ammar said: “It will give my fans a dose of what to expect from the album. Fans will be very surprised with my album as it is what I would like to call a well-rounded fusion of the different styles that exist in the genre of Khaleeji music. It’s going to be my birth in the music scene and I am confident that we will do wonders as Sony Music is by my side.”

“Ghani Ghani” Out NOW:

Watch on YouTube: https://goo.gl/zqPsse

Play on “Anghami: https://goo.gl/x4WumM

Stream on “Apple Music”: https://goo.gl/n8pvp7

Buy on “iTunes”: https://goo.gl/n8pvp7

 

 

Debut single “Agbada” out now

Album drops later in March

(18 February, 2018) – Sony Music Entertainment Middle East announces the signing of emerging singer Zirra, whose debut single “Agbada”— taken from his soon to be released debut album – drops today.

 

Born in Lagos, Nigeria and now based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Timothy Zirindza Tsakma, known as Zirra, first discovered his passion for singing and songwriting at an early age of 14. The 22-year-old credits Peter Tosh, Fela Kuti, Lagbaja and Kid Cudi as his musical inspirations.

 

Filmed in Nigeria, “Agbada” – the wide sleeved robe worn by men in much of West Africa – is a contagious track that brings in pop and afrobeats backed up by a simple yet catchy chorus, making you want to dance it out and sing along. “Agbada” is Zirra’s debut single from his album Zirra that will be released by Sony Music Entertainment world wide in March.

 

“Agbada” out NOW!

Play on Anghami: https://goo.gl/so7Ha2

Stream on Apple Music: https://goo.gl/Nusu2v

Buy on iTunes: https://goo.gl/Nusu2v

Watch on YouTube: https://goo.gl/8v11Zw

 

Follow Zirra:

Instagram:   @ZirraMusic

Facebook:  @Zirra

Twitter:   @zirrazirra

Youtube:  Zirra

 

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After signing with Sony Music Entertainment Middle East earlier this year, talented songwriter and fierce Urban Pop songstress Manal premieres her much anticipated debut music video, “Taj” with the label.

Directed by Tarik Azzougarh known as Cilvaringz, an officially affiliated producer and artist with the American rap legends Wu-Tang Clan, with whom he had sold the world’s most expensive album in the history of music, “Taj” was shot in the beautiful city of Marrakesh.

“TAJ” (Crown) is a song that was originally inspired by Manal’s disheartening experience with the Arabic music industry. But the song goes further, invigorating female empowerment and individuality and challenging social expectations as the music video showcases Manal in traditionally male professions while also addressing sexual harassment.

“TAJ is a song and music video like no other. It’s going to be enthralling to see how the fans and the Arab world are going to respond to it. I’m definitely holding my breath for this one…”. [Manal]

The song and music video incorporates the participation of a few well-established artists as well. The song was written by Shayfeen, considered to be one of the best Hip Hop acts in the Arab world. The music video also stars and features the choreography of dancer Shyvon Campbell, a prominent member of multiple world champion award winning dance crew Royal Family, better known as the dancers in Justin Bieber’s “Sorry” video. Shyvon was flown in specially from New Zealand to star in the video.

Manal is set to release another music video later this year. Ever the norm breaker, Manal did the unexpected and headed into the studio with the Moroccan rap group Shayfeen and their affiliated Wa Drari Squad in June 2017. “I have always been a major fan of Shayfeen and their whole clique. I could’ve done the obvious and go into the studio with a pop or soul producer/songwriter, but considering what I wanted to talk about I needed my boys to come in. It was the most exciting and fun recording session I had ever experienced and we are obviously going to be doing much more work together. Can’t wait for the world to hear and see what we cooked up together”. [Manal]

“Taj” available across all digital platforms:

Watch on YouTube: https://goo.gl/WuCFJy

Play on “Anghami: https://goo.gl/bRB46u

Stream on “Apple Music”: https://goo.gl/wYX38g

Buy on “iTunes”: https://goo.gl/PtDDwy

Play on “Spotify”: https://goo.gl/kdEywq

Play on “Deezer”: https://goo.gl/xC7jzW

 

Arab Idol Season 4 Finalist signs with Sony Music Entertainment Middle East 

Debut single drops later this month

Hotly anticipated debut album coming in March

 

(Dubai – February 8, 2018) – Sony Music Entertainment Middle East today has announced the signing of Ammar Al Azaki. The signing took place at the Dubai office and was attended by Ammar Al Azaki, his manager the distinguished poet Soultan Majli, Mike Fairburn the General Manager and entire team from Sony Music Entertainment Middle East.

Ammar is an accomplished 29-year-old singer with a youthful, contemporary spin on Khaleeji music who captivated the hearts and minds of the region during his time on Arab Idol Season 4 where he made the famous ‘final 2’.

With a strong stage presence, flawless vocals and magnetic charm, Ammar is destined to be one of the GCC’s biggest and most sought-after artists.

Sony Music Middle Entertainment Middle East beat a host of other labels to his signature, and will be representing and promoting Ammar in the Middle East and worldwide.

Speaking on the Ammar signing, Mike Fairburn, General Manager of Sony Music Middle East commented: “We are humbled and honored that Ammar has decided to join the Sony family. Working with him and his team has been a blessing. The album is a brilliant body of work and we are so excited to introduce his new music to the region and world.”

Commenting on the signing with the record label, Ammar said “I am extremely delighted to sign with a company with such great history and fantastic international repertoire and domestic artists, I’ve worked so hard on myself, my music and now I am ready to share my talent with the rest of the world. I know that Sony is the right outlet to take me to regional heights and we hope together internationally also.”

 With his debut single planned end of February and an album to follow in March, it plans to be a prolific year for the rising superstar.

 

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47SOUL  ANNOUNCE RELEASE OF FIRST FULL-LENGTH STUDIO ALBUM: BALFRON PROMISE

Balfron Promise dropped February via Cooking Vinyl, promoted across the region by Sony Music Entertainment Middle East

Balfron Promise dropped February via Cooking Vinyl

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47SOUL – the Arab electronic hip-hop supergroup, with members from Palestine and Jordan– released their full-length debut BALFRON PROMISE on 2 February 2018.

For the last two years the band have been living in London, and were temporarily residing in Balfron Tower-the setting of music videos by the likes of Oasis, The Verve and Wiley. Balfron Tower landlords opened several of its unused flats to artists on a temporary basis while evicting its long-standing tenants, having been bought by luxury property developer Londonewcastle.

While inevitable, the experience of watching their neighbours being removed from somewhere they thought of as home by bigger, more powerful, wealthier forces was only too familiar to the artists from Palestine and Jordan, a sentiment that has fuelled the explosive album.

The title BALFRON PROMISE is an intentional nod to the Balfour Declaration – the centenary of which has just passed. The songs expose the similarities between parts of the world we think of as distant, war-torn lands, and the culture and class wars happening on our own doorstep. It explores the idea that perhaps gentrification and occupation aren not as different as we think.

47SOUL have become renowned for inventing their own genre Shamstep (also the name of their debut EP), which fuses hip-hop and pop lyrics in English and Arabic. The electronic creation, featuring elements of Arab roots music have been kicked up a gear on Balfron Promise, with cinematic soundscapes and menacing rock undertones creating an extra atmospheric edge.

The quartet have gained a cult following from gigs around the world, including at the likes of Glastonbury and WOMAD in the UK.Their distinctive hooks and powerful political lyrics resonate with their fans with the YouTube music video for their debut single Intro to Shamstep currently sitting on 5.4 million views.

They also have a formidable reputation as a live act built on their energetic and intoxicatingly otherworldly live shows. This is demonstrated by their most recent sold-out live teaser performance of their new album at London’s Village Underground.

7SOUL ANNOUNCE RELEASE BALFRON PROMISE" width="733" height="175" />

Beyond their musical influence, 47SOUL are renowned as a voice on social issues – the band’s very name is an allusion to the occupation of Palestine. Their lyrics often tell stories of oppression and the efforts of normal people to combat it, not only in the Middle East but around the world.

Balfron Promise will be released via Cooking Vinyl whose founder Martin Goldschmidt is also a co-founder of the Palestine Music Expo, which aims to revolutionise the music scene in 47SOUL’s homeland. Sony Music Entertainment Middle East are promoting and marketing the album across the region, and who’s General Manager Mike Fairburn said ‘Martin is a real visionary, and we are delighted to be working so closely with Cooking Vinyl on this outstanding regional band and album. It continues our commitment to supporting Arabic talent near and wide, and helping music fans across the region experience quality artists and their music’

MORE ABOUT THE ALBUM:
Musically and lyrically, BALFRON PROMISE is a product of 47SOUL’s three year residency in London, a profoundly unique experience for the four members and their work. The album and themes are inspired both by modern-day London and the 100 year-old politics still influencing 47SOUL’s story to this day. Socially topical and lyrically astute, BALFRON PROMISE holds one promise, that their future will be written by no one but themselves.

ABOUT 47SOUL:
47SOUL is an Electro Arabic Dabke (Shamstep) band formed in Amman Jordan in 2013. The members are rooted in Bilad Al-Sham, spanning the divides from Amman to the Galilee to Ramallah and the rest of the Palestinian Diaspora. This new sound of 47SOUL has rapidly amassed fans in the Arab World, Europe, and around the globe by blasting the electric Arabic Dabke sound through alternative and street music scenes. On top of the beats that have been pumping in the Arab World for centuries, 47SOUL hypes it up with analog synthesizers, hypnotic guitar lines, group vocals, and melodic verses from the bands’ singers. Every show ends in relentless dance and trance from all audiences involved. Their lyrics, mixing Arabic and English, call to celebrate and advance the struggle for freedom and equality, inside Bilad Al Sham and throughout the world.

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HONG KONG – Media OutReach – 31 January 2018 – Sony Music Entertainment and Tencent Music Entertainment Group today announced in Hong Kong the launch of electronic dance music label, Liquid State.

Liquid State is the new home for electronic and EDM artists from the Asia region and internationally. The label will be discovering, showcasing and developing the abundant existing local talent to create original content, whilst providing unrivalled support for international artists in the region.

Liquid State will be the premier dance and electronic community and lifestyle brand across the region, also incorporating live touring, club events and special exclusive experiences.

Liquid State will further enhance the incredible growth of dance music in the Asia region, which has seen EDM festivals skyrocket to a record number and the evolution of a vibrant local club scene.

Liquid State will feature original content through the leading global record label expertise of Sony Music with Tencent Music Entertainment’s powerhouse marketing and digital services including QQ Music, Kugou Music and Kuwo Music. In addition, Tencent media channels such as WeChat, QQ, Tencent Video and QZone will also support Liquid State and its artists.

Global superstar and multiplatinum-selling Sony Music artist, Alan Walker, will be an integral part of Liquid State, with the talented 20 year old Norwegian set to release a string of exclusive collaborations on the label in 2018. In 2017, Walker took the number one position on the QQ Music charts with a record number of over six billion audio streams and featured as the highest climber on the Top 100 DJ Mag poll. He first entered the global music scene with his breakthrough single ‘Faded’ in December 2015, which has now sold more than 9.4 million units worldwide in addition to being streamed more than 1.6 billion times on digital platforms. He is the first in a wave of international DJs and collaborators to be a part of the Liquid State movement.

Furthermore, three of Asia’s most popular superstars have signed on as ambassadors for Liquid State across the region, with Chinese pop superstar Chris Lee as ambassador for Chinese mainland, internationally acclaimed singer and actor Nicholas Tse as ambassador for Hong Kong and Taiwan, and multi-talented phenomenon from BIGBANG, Seungri as ambassador for South Korea. Tencent Music Entertainment has enjoyed long-standing relationships and successes with the three ambassadors. Previously, Chris Lee’s digital album ‘Liu Xing’ and Nicholas Tse’s digital single ‘Yi Xiang Tian Kai’ were released on Tencent Music Entertainment music platforms and both artists are part of the Tencent Music Entertainment Music+ Project. With Liquid State, the three ambassadors will be involved in exciting music collaborations across the dance genre.

Alan Walker comments, “Asia has always been such a special place for me so I’m thrilled to be here today to help Sony Music and Tencent with the launch of Liquid State. They have each played such a huge role in my career so far, and now that they are joining forces, I’m convinced that Liquid State will grow to play a significant role in breaking new artists from Asia on a global scale, as well as enabling international artists to unleash the huge potential that lies within the Asian market.”

In addition to Walker, Liquid State’s initial roster sees more incredible talent from across the electronic music spectrum, with Grammy-nominated global star ZHU, and multi-award winning Dubai based duo Hollaphonic, both set to release music through the label in the coming months. China’s DJ Lizzy and Korean duo Junkilla are the first artists from the Asia region to be signed to Liquid State.

Denis Handlin AO, Chairman & CEO, Australia & New Zealand and President Asia, Sony Music Entertainment, comments, “I am delighted to announce the launch of Liquid State with Tencent Music Entertainment Group. These are exciting times for the music industry and Liquid State has been created to support and enhance the discovery and development of electronic and EDM talent across the Asia region. Together we will make Liquid State the destination for a wide range of highly talented new and established global and local artists. I would also like to thank Tencent  for sharing the passion and vision to provide music fans in China and around the world with exciting new music, unique experiences and incredible artists through Liquid State.”

Cussion Pang, CEO of Tencent Music Entertainment Group comments, “With the formation of Liquid State, our goal is to create an unmatched culture exchange between the East and the West through the power of electronic dance music. It is a music genre like no other, and together with Sony Music Entertainment, we aim to build a win-win solution for all of our stakeholders and believe that the collaboration will give birth to some truly memorable moments in both the music and culture sectors for years to come.”

About Tencent Music Entertainment Group

With three major music service providers including QQ Music, Kugou and Kuwo, TME is a leading online music service company in China, providing services such as digital music players, mobile online karaoke, live music shows, copyright delegation, advertisements, and other music derivative businesses. It is committed to providing music services optimised for China market needs, including bringing music listeners high quality digital music services serving multiple use cases, helping music producers drive authorized content development, and contributing towards the advancement of China’s overall digital music industry.

About Sony Music Entertainment

Sony Music Entertainment is a global recorded music company with a current roster that includes a broad array of both local artists and international superstars. The company boasts a vast catalogue that comprises some of the most important recordings in history. It is home to premier record labels representing music from every genre, including Arista Nashville, Beach Street Records, Black Butter Records, BPG Music, Bystorm Entertainment, Century Media, Columbia Nashville, Columbia Records, Day 1, Descendant Records, Disruptor Records, Epic Records, Essential Records, Essential Worship, Flying Buddha, Fo Yo Soul Recordings, House of Iona Records, Insanity Records, Kemosabe Records, Latium Entertainment, Legacy Recordings, Louder Than Life, Masterworks, Masterworks Broadway, OKeh, Polo Ground Music, Portrait, RCA Inspiration, RCA Nashville, RCA Records, Relentless Records, Reunion Records, Sony Classical, Sony Music Latin, Star Time International, Syco Music, Vested in Culture and Volcano. Sony Music Entertainment is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation.

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