2 June 2024 This week marks my two-year anniversary of working with MAC Global. It seems like a lifetime ago that I was invited by my two long-time compadres, Dan Goldberg and Rob McIntosh, to join them and steer marketing and communications as they prepared to elevate their brand profile and ramp up event production … 68,000 Bums On Seats Read More »...

Darren has been involved in every facet of magazine publishing, from authoring articles and commissioning original works to design, artworking and selling advertising. He frequently writes under the pen name, Nick Stephenson. Hey Mag Darren founded “Hey Mag”, a music magazine, in 2018. It was distributed for free on digital platforms such as Yumpu.com. Collaborating … Magazine Publishing Read More »...

* 4x countries: Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates* 3x Emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah* 12 x venues* 20 x concerts & gigs* 15+ leading artists and one comedian! MAC Global’s 2023 diverse output embraced a range of genres from across the musical spectrum; from indie pop and boybands, through rock, soul, classical, opera … MAC Global: A Year In Review 2023 Read More »...

What a busy year, no wonder I was knackered … Previous Next Previous Next 4x countries: Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates 3x Emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah 12 x venues 20 x concerts & gigs 15+ leading artists one comedian and a twice-cancelled Lewis Capaldi gig FEBRUARY 2023▪️ André Rieu – Al Dana … 2023: As It Was Read More »...

MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT CREATION BRAND BUILDING EVENT MANAGEMENT With nearly three decades working in and around the music industry in the UK and the Middle East, I’ve been labelled a music industry ‘stalwart’ – a term as odd and ugly as it is fitting. An out-of-the-blue job offer led me to the UAE … Biography Read More »...

Our local music industry heroes deserve more recognition. So we’re launching the UAE Music Power List to honour the creative talent and business minds helping the UAE’s music scene evolve. iamCrü’s Music Power List is a celebration of the dedicated individuals driving the country’s music and nightlife industry forward. Like elsewhere, it’s been a tough … Who Deserves To Be On The UAE Music Power List 2021? Read More »...

“I’d rather discuss things like life’s mysteries and aliens,” admits singer-songwriter RXTH. “I am fascinated by the recent official military disclosures of UFOs and claims that otherworldly beings are a much bigger part of our history than is commonly acknowledged.” It’s no coincidence, then, that RXTH’s new track Braveheart is released on 2 July – World UFO … Your Close Encounter with 10 Great Tracks to Celebrate World UFO Day Read More »...

Editor’s Letter, Hey Mag, October 2019 “Everybody’s talking ’bout the new kid in town.” No! I’m not referring to me – I’m just deputising the editor’s role for this issue – I’m talking about the United Arab Emirates as a live music destination for big international acts. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have hosted some incredible … Editor’s Note: Hey Mag #6 Read More »...

Multi-platinum songwriter and founding member of the Songwriting Academy, Tim Fraser was also made a member of Hollywood Elite Composers, in Los Angeles, last year. Hey Mag catches up with Tim to discuss his songwriting chops. Words Darren Haynes  How did you get into songwriting? I started off, like any young teenager, thinking I’ve … Going For A Song Read More »...

2018 witnessed the 70th anniversary of the LP, the ‘long player’, also known as the album. For people of a certain age and for vinyl junkies, the album is everything. Hey Mag takes a look at the music format that is making a comeback. Words_Darren Haynes  Long before the days … More Is More: Album Appreciation Read More »...

IS LATIN MUSIC MORE POPULAR THAN EVER BEFORE? It’s been called the ‘Despacito Effect’ by industry observers but is it true that Latin Music is more popular than ever before? With increasing numbers of Latin artists, releasing more and more tracks each year and then topping the charts, not just in Latin America, but around … Welcome To The Latin Music Explosion Read More »...

JuanDa Lotero is a Colombian Reggaetón artist. He has officially released 20 singles as a solo artist; more if you include his work as a featured artist. His collaboration with Dani y Magneto (Ve y Dile) has received 1.4M views on YouTube. He is something of a local sensation with fans in the United States, … The Man From Medellín: Interview with JuanDa Lotero Read More »...

Rita Campbell is one of the hardest working people in the music industry. Having started writing songs at the age of 14, she learned her trade as a backing singer on the live music circuit. Her vocals and live performances made her famous in Russia and her songwriting skills took her to number one in the … The Songwriting Stuntwoman: An Interview With Rita Campbell Read More »...

Leah Depala is a 14-year-old British-Indian singer-songwriter, based in Dubai. Her first single, Cold, has been streamed across all international music platforms, including Apple Music and Spotify. A&R scouts, take note, she’s still unsigned Words__Darren Haynes  You released your debut single, Cold, in September 2018. Tell us a little … Introducing Leah Depala Read More »...

Hey Music’s, Darren Haynes, leads the appreciation of one of the greatest Asian composers of all time.  When it comes to dinner party discussions about music in Indian films, there are a couple of initials and a surname that you must quote to demonstrate some semblance of knowledge — A.R. Rahman. To call … Profile: The Mozart Of Madras – A.R. Rahman Read More »...

It’s been 42 years since Thin Lizzy released ‘Boys Are Back in Town’ and as songs go, this is dad music at its finest. Dad music or the better-known term ‘dad rock’ has a distinctive sound but defining it isn’t easy. Whilst there is no straightforward explanation, it is typically tied to classic rock hits … Ultimate Dad Rock Read More »...

The 10-song, 42-minute album – Bella Donna – was released in the summer of 1981. It was the Fleetwood Mac singer’s first release as a solo performer and, to date, is her most successful album. The album has sold over four million copies in the US alone and spent nearly three years on the Billboard … Rediscovered: Bella Donna – Steve Nicks (Modern, 1981) Read More »...

Quattro, Kuwait Street, Al Mankhool Dubai is well known for its melting pot of cultures, which in turn generates a wonderful and welcome array of cuisines. However, according to my cook books and culinary notes, Italian and Mexican have never been closely aligned in a fusion concept. Until now. Italian and Mexican cuisine (served exclusively … Quattro Read More »...

A.O.C French Brasserie, Sofitel Jumeirah Beach – Iftar If you’re already planning your Iftar locations for the Holy Month of Ramadan, then the A.O.C French Brasserie, Sofitel Jumeirah Beach may be a suitable option for your list. My dinner guest and I received the warmest of greetings from the PR team during a media preview … A.O.C French Brasserie Read More »...

Havana Party Havana Mondays at CATCH, Fairmont Hotel, Sheik Zayed Road, Dubai It’s a Monday night and you’re hankering after a bit of Latin spirit, I mean why wouldn’t you be? As far as I’m concerned there’s only one place to go to move your hips and feet to some live salsa beats, so brush … Havana Read More »...

The Big Novo Interview: King KhanBy Darren Haynes Sitting centre stage, beneath a gigantic movie poster of himself and flanked by four movie moguls and filmmakers, sits the reigning King of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan. “He’s incomparable; a phenomena; the biggest ever superstar on this planet” gushes the on-stage presenter about SRK (as he’s affectionately … Yes, He Khan: The BIG Interview Read More »...

Novo Now Meeting the stars of Kaabil By Darren Haynes He is Hrithik Roshan, one of the highest-paid actors in India and has won six Filmfare Awards; she is Yami Gautam, has appeared in numerous films and has proven her linguistic skills speaking six regional languages – Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Punjabi, Kannada and Malayalam; and … Meeting The Stars Of Kaabil Read More »...

It’s hip to be (pocket) square Product review of Rampley & Co’s pocket squares When is a gentleman’s handkerchief not a handkerchief? When it’s called a ‘pocket square’, of course. Drawing their design inspiration from the historical collections of the National Gallery, English Heritage and the Wallace Collection, among other arty institutions, Rampley & Co … Review: Rampley & Co Pocket Square Read More »...

Time Waits For No Man Well, that year has flown by and what an interesting year it’s been for BASCA. The highlight for me has been getting out and about to meet you. BASCA is its members so putting a face to the names that appear on membership application forms is a real joy. A … Editor’s Note: The Works #42 Read More »...

What more can be said about Ivor Novello award winner and BASCA member Kate Bush’s recent live performances at Hammersmith Apollo? Is there anything to top ‘perfection’?In the track ‘50 Words For Snow’, Kate lists fifty fanciful, fictitious and nonsensical words or phrases that Eskimos use to describe snow.As homage, Darren Haynes presents his Before … 50 Words For Kate’s Show Read More »...

Three songwriters – Charlie Dore, Emma Stevens and Jon Allen – took to the stage to combine performance of their songs, interspersed with discussion about the songwriting process. Each songwriter performed a powerful three-song set, before Sam York, our able compère, posed the questions. Following questions from the floor, instruments were left on the stage … Songs In The Round Read More »...

Nick Stephenson meets four songwriting legends to discover the story behind their songs. BARRY MASON was a leading songwriter of the 1960s, writing many songs in partnership with Les Reed. He earned numerous awards throughout his career including five Ivor Novello Awards. His songwriting credits include “Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)”, “The Last Waltz” … Their Life In Song Read More »...