Dubai Design District (d3) will host a series of ‘d3 Unplugged’ sessions throughout January at the Design Quarter. The weekly sessions, to be held outdoors between Buildings 8 and 9, will seek to provide a platform to showcase homegrown musical talent and discover emerging artists.

Local artists will have the opportunity to perform at the open slot, available on 26 January through an Instagram activation. d3 invites musicians to submit their videos on its handle @d3dubai, with the community making the final selection. Each week will see a local DJ open the session and include a live performance by a local artist. The initiative is part of a wider programming schedule that d3 will roll out throughout 2019 to engage and support homegrown creative talent in all its forms.

DJs:

DJ Shef Codes

Inspired by the likes of DJ Jazzy Jeff and other hip-hop and R’n’B/urban DJs, Mr Shef Codes started his DJ career while in middle school. He also dabbles in music production and videography, has a keen sense of design and style, and models for fashion houses in Dubai.

DJ Don’t Touch My Hair (Novemberus)

Novemberus is an Omani fashion photographer who also goes by the DJ name Don’t Touch My Hair and divides her life between Dubai, Muscat, and Berlin. Her career spans diverse areas of the entertainment industry, such as event and party hosting, curating panel talks on women empowerment, and modelling

DJ Sizer

A young DJ making his first run through the city, DJ Sizer is also a music producer and rapper. His background gives him a deep understanding of what the next generation is championing.

DJ A’Y

DJ A’Y is a music producer, songwriter, DJ, and founder of the independent record label HRMNY, known in the region for consistently pushing the boundaries of music culture and boasts a keen eye for spotting talent. His work ranges from discovering and developing artists, including The X Factor Arabia 2015 winner Hamza Hawsawi, who will also perform at d3 Unplugged, to producing music for international names, such as Pusha T.

Artists:

Hamza Hawsawi

Born in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 25-year-old Hamza Hawsawi fell in love with R’n’B, soul, and pop at a very young age. The winner of The X Factor Arabia 2015 is currently working on his upcoming album.

Aleks

Born and raised in Serbia, Aleksandra Krstic, known under the stage name Aleks, is a neo-soul/alternative R‘n’B/chillwave artist. Her music style is influenced by jazz legends such as Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, and Billie Holiday, as well as the stars of this generation, including Lauryn Hill, Amy Winehouse, Frank Ocean, Lana Del Rey, SZA, and Solange.

Omar Dean

Lebanese/Australian R‘n’B singer/songwriter Omar Dean competed on The X Factor Australia in 2013, finishing in the top six. He has recently released his first original song Too Far Gone.

Ghaliaa

Ghaliaa is a 20-year-old Syrian-born, Al Ain-raised singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and composer. Her multilingual music reflects her passion for diversity and languages.

Fafa

Fafa is a 23-year-old Emirati/Honduran artist with a unique style of singing, influenced by Etta James, Amy Winehouse, and Sia. She is currently working on releasing her project in 2019.

Shébani

Sarah Shébani is an Iraqi songstress born and raised in Dubai. Performing under her last name, she quickly racked up a string of shows, juggling between playing covers and a handful of originals. Shébani is the first female singer-songwriter to face the challenges of modern-day relevance in music while embracing the significance of reflection and truth. She released her debut EP Alter Ego in 2016.

For the full performance schedule, please visit www.dubaidesigndistrict.com