Emerging Talent Competition open to local musicians from now until 3rd October at www.yasalam.ae #YasalamETC .
If you’re a musician in the UAE, read and rock on. FLASH Entertainment, organiser of Yasalam, has launched a landmark new competition giving aspiring musicians and bands a life-changing opportunity. The competition, titled Yasalam Emerging Talent Competition, is now open for applications.
What’s up for the taking? The winning act will get a money-can’t-buy break in the form of a chance to perform live at Beats on the Beach 2015 in front of tens of thousands of music fans. Add to that a house band residency in The Village, du Arena at the After-Race Concerts in 2015 and at upcoming major FLASH shows, and you know this is an unassailable opportunity.
Get Educated – Musically
To ensure the talent are given every opportunity to succeed, educational sessions will be held with music industry experts and competition ambassadors under the guidance of twofour54’s creative lab, allowing them to pass on their knowledge and experiences.
In addition, media training will be coupled with studio recording time, styling guidance as well as interviews with top TV and news publications, to build the act’s profile in the best possible way.
John Lickrish, CEO at FLASH Entertainment, commented on the competition:
“Year on year we continue to set the bar for the Yasalam festival and this year is no different. For 2015 we’re bringing the talent to your door-step and are calling on homegrown UAE talent to help us celebrate the race weekend.”
Get To Know The Judges
Continuing their music ingenuity, FLASH Entertainment is bringing industry know-how to the judging panel led by FLASH’s own Vice President of Operations Lee Charteris. Boasting 30 years of worldwide tour and event experience, Charteris has worked with the biggest names in live entertainment and knows exactly what the UAE’s Emerging Talent will need to reach the highest levels of performance.
Working with FLASH to judge the next top stars will be composition master Reiner Erlings. No composer’s work has permeated the UAE music scene more with ad campaigns, production and mixing for many artists from the region, film scores and compositions for brands including du and TEDx. With more than a decade in the business, Erlings will bring a crash course of industry know-how to the hopeful candidates.
Joining Charteris and Erlings on the jury is UAE rock ‘n’ roll favourite, Jay Wud. Vocalist, songwriter and guitarist, the Lebanese-born front-man is the one name for band success in the Emirates. Opening gigs for rock legends Guns ‘n’ Roses and personal inspiration Skunk Anansie, Jay has recently seen his international profile grow after travelling to LA to work with celebrated producer Howard Benson. Having performed on some of the biggest stages including Beats on the Beach, the respected rocker will provide guru-like guidance to the first crop of Emerging Talent bands.
“We’ve brought together an exceptional group of high-achieving individuals, which bring not only the industry know-how but the music ambition that is needed to make it to the top,” continued Lickrish. “Even bands that don’t make it to the final F1 FanZone™ stage will be able to engage with the ambassadors and receive a musical education that could boost their talents.”
Meet Your Mentors
The Emerging Talent ambassadors will also be on-hand to help bands face down the intimidating jury panel. Classical talent Clarita de Quiroz, who recently released her studio album Speak.Delete.Repeat to UAE number 1 after its release by Sony Music ME this past January, will provide insight of the day-to-day obstacles facing a rising band. Joining Clarita is Radio 1 personality Saif and Sound. Voted one of the region’s top personalities by the Ahlan! People’s Choice Awards for 2013 and 2014, the nightly radio host is a firm fixture in the UAE’s ears and is sure to bring his enigmatic style and support to his mentoring duties.
Soulful talent Jae Franklin will bring her Houston-raised musical joy and personal Yasalam experiences from the 6th year of the festival to the hopeful ingénues and will join musical entrepreneur Kamal Musallam. Born with an ear in both the Western and Middle Eastern music scenes, Kamal has made waves with his own blend of Arabic fusion more than a decade in the making. Having struck new ground with both his unique Arabic fusion style and launching his own independent label K&G, under which he released three studio albums, Kamal brings a country-merging mentorship through his own success stories.
How To Apply?
UAE-based vocalists, bands and budding musicians over the age of 16 can apply by submitting their application before 11.59PM on October 3 at www.yasalam.ae.
The race takes place November 27, 28 and 29 at Yas Marina Circuit with the international line-up for November 27, 28 and 29 remain to be announced. On November 26 Arabic music stars DJ Said Mrad, Fares Karam, Aryam, Cheb Khaled will take to the stage at the du Arena as the first night of the After-Race Concerts.
Visit www.yasalam.ae for further information and updates.