What does John Newman have in common with us, you ask? We’ve had our hearts broken in love all the same.

Headlining the launch #MeetD3 at Dubai Design District last night, John Newman performed amidst screaming fans, dancing and chanting along throughout his gig. With flashing white lights that synchronized with Newman’s black and white attire for the evening, the 23-year-old’s energy on stage was commendable.

Newman opened with a bang, singing the crowd favorite “Blame it on the night”, setting hearts pacing, with live drumbeats and powerful vocals. His upbeat numbers from then on were intertwined with love ballads, dedicated to his past lover and mother [Cute, huh?]. The performance was an absolute crowd-pleaser; Maryam Usman, who attended the launch with friends said, “I thought it was fantastic! From the set up to the location – everything is so refreshing and entertaining. There’s so much to explore.”

Perfectly complimenting the popularity of Newman, MeetD3 also hosted the alternative Lebanese band, Mashrou’ Leila, an absolute stunner with Middle Easterners.

To add to that, plenty of food trucks filled the space, together with musicians lining the walkways, and pop-up shops offering unique designs from emerging designers. Not a dull moment in sight. Our taste buds tingled as we were spoilt for choice; shall we gorge on the sushi  or opt for some spicy Mexican street food?

It seems MeetD3 hosted the best of music, art, fashion, and food on the first of the three-day event, and we can’t wait to see what they have lined up around the year.

The arrival of a concept where real estate is inspired by built for design indicates the growing culture of art appreciation in Dubai – a step away from being known as the commercial hub of the Middle East. Amidst the hustle of a city that changes every day, D3 hopes to create a go-to and live-in space for all those in search of inspiration [and going by the launch, it seems to be built for living up to its promise].

Featured Image Source: facebook.com/d3dubai