After Dark Series

After each day, The Art Bar, located on Fort Island transformed into a night of music and dance. Titled ‘Art Dubai After Dark’, the programme showcased some of the best up-and-coming DJs from around the world and locally, delivering great vibes throughout the night.

The 2024 edition was curated by Megatronic, a cultural producer, DJ, and music enthusiast known for her expertise in global conversations and musical trends. Megatronic has curated events and venues such as XP Music Futures, The Guild, The Nice Guy, Femme Fest, Kenzo, as well as previous ‘Art Dubai After Dark’ events, among others.

The After Dark series, part of the after-party line-up, drew inspiration from the visual identity for Art Dubai 2024, reflecting the rich tapestry of regions and cultures from the Global South: Africa, Latin America, South Asia and the Middle East. The programme was an exploration of the rich heritage and contemporary musical and dance practices, celebrating the roots of people that comprise the DNA of Dubai.

The performances took place from 28 February to 2 March at The Art Bar from 9pm to 2am.

ARTIST LINE-UP

SABOR A MI

Sabor a Mi (Sophie Legay Peñaloza) is a romantic soul whose love for music led her to become a DJ/selector, sharing her passion for Afro-Latin rhythms globally. Raised between Mexico and France, she draws inspiration from diverse cultures and is driven by a passion for music’s history and the joy of sharing it with others.

PHO

PHO (Leonardo Rojas) is a DJ and music producer from Colombia currently based in Dubai. He’s been working in the music industry for over 17 years. PHO is influenced by musical encounters between Colombia, Japan and the Emirates. Keen on harmony-making, and scratching, he is an active selector, vinylist, and vibesetter.

DJ MOCITY

DJ MoCity, a Baghdad-born, New Delhi-raised selector, is renowned as co-founder of boxout.fm, South Asia’s pioneering online community radio. MoCity’s eclectic upbringing catalyzes his role as a musical tastemaker. With a keen focus on fostering creative communities across Asia and the Middle East, he uses his multicultural background to facilitate vibrant artistic exchanges between nations and regions.

DJ SHAZ

Shaz Mirza, a Toronto-based producer, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and DJ, embraces global influences without limits. Resident DJ for House of Yanos and HOY Sound System + in Dubai. He blends styles like Afrobeats, Amapiano, Afro House, Electronic, Baile Funk and UK Garage, His fusion of Desi and African rhythms ignites dancefloors worldwide.

RUUZ THE DJ

RUUZ the DJ is proudly part of London’s Always Inside group. With a musical range covering R&B, Afro Amapiano, Urban, UKG, bass, and house, RUUZ will dazzle audiences on February 29th. Catch him spreading his infectious energy and technical finesse not only in London but also in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and beyond.

SHAQDI (My Analog Journal)

Swedish/Palestinian ‘Shaqdi’ is a part of ‘My Analog Journal’, a successful YouTube channel with nearly 1 million subscribers which she programmes. She is an artist, producer and DJ with a passion for collecting and sharing soulful music especially from the late ‘80s to early ‘90s. In her sets she goes beyond this, exploring North African and Middle Eastern flavours.

SHADI (The Flip Side)

Kicking off his Djing career in 1999, Shadi Megallaa moved up quickly in the industry and made a name for himself. Megallaa was one of the pioneers of the Dubai electronic scene in the early to mid 2000s, where he continuously pushed the scene forward introducing new darker, minimal sounds to unsuspecting crowds at various venues. Shadi has been a part of the UAE’s underground music scene in the UAE since its early days & is still going strong today.

YŮSU

YŮSU, blending Amsterdam and Ghanaian roots, embarks on a musical odyssey akin to modern-day Dora the Explorer. From Lowlands to the Amsterdam Open Air Festival, she commands stages and airwaves alike. Yet, beyond accolades, she views music as a conduit for unity, spreading love through beats as a Music Evangelist.

FORUWAA

Foruwaa, calls herself a music evangelist and ‘A messenger of vibrating music’. You’ll never know what to expect as Foruwaa likes to combine different music styles. Music that can be traced to past centuries, the present and the future of the mother continent Africa. Try to experience Foruwaa’s playlists as a healing journey with many electronic, uplifting and relaxing episodes.

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ARTIST LINE-UP

SABOR A MI

PHO

DJ MOCITY

DJ SHAZ

RUUZ THE DJ

SHAQDI (My Analog Journal)

SHADI (The Flip Side)

YŮSU

FORUWAA

28 Feb | Latin America

Sabor A Mi and PHO

(9PM – 2AM)

29 Feb | South Asia

Karak featuring Ruuz the DJ, DJ Shaz and DJ MoCity

(9PM – 2AM)

1 March | Middle East

Shaqdi (My Analog Journal) and Shadi (The Flip Side)

(9PM – 2AM)

2 March | Africa

Oroko Radio featuring YŮSU and Foruwaa

(9PM – 2AM)

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