ARKADYAN Gives Us the Lowdown on the Electronic Music Scene in Dubai

1 month ago 9

ARKADYAN shares their musical story ahead of their residency at SurfClub Dubai and how their event series has become one of the premiere parties in the city.

Born from the adventurous spirit of three musicians who set out to explore various musical influences inspired by their heritage, the rising production trio ARKADYAN crafts music that blends a unique combination of organic deep house and Afro-Balkanic sounds. Using a mix of tribal and modern instruments, the Dubai-based artists have been making waves with their rich production styles and distinct cultural perspectives within the global music scene.

For ARKADYAN, 2024 has already proven to be a massive year. From making their thrilling debut at Tomorrowland to headlining the ARKADYAN Voyage event series in Beachouse Ibiza from June to September, the trio has consistently dazzled audiences with their vibrant performances and infectious enthusiasm through the ARKADYAN VOYAGE event series.

Thanks to DJ Kaytek’s support, ARKADYAN VOYAGE debuted at SurfClub Dubai in 2022 as the band’s own curated party series. Initially drawing a modest crowd, the event has experienced remarkable growth over the years with its commitment to showcase a diverse lineup with many surprises that will delight the fans. Now, it has blossomed into a thriving event that welcomes over 1,000 people each month, with the band gearing up for the third season of their Surfclub Dubai residency this November.

Now that their summer residency in Ibiza has wrapped up successfully and the trio is poised for their new season in Dubai, it was the perfect time to chat with them about their ARKADYAN VOYAGE series, the electronic music scene in Dubai, creating music through a multidisciplinary lens, and more! Check out their latest release, “Dark Eyes,” on Spotify and read on for our conversation.

**Stream ARKADYAN – Dark Eyes on Spotify:**

Congratulations on wrapping up an incredible summer tour in Ibiza and kicking off a new season of the SurfClub Dubai residency. What were some highlights from your recent Ibiza residency?

Thank you very much! Yes, it was a busy summer with many cool highlights. Having our own residency in Ibiza is already the biggest highlight for us—who wouldn’t want their own party in Ibiza?! The competition in the Ibiza music scene is one of the toughest in the world, but we managed to build our ARKADYAN VOYAGE party into a successful place to be. Beyond that, connecting with the people at our shows is a huge reward for us.

ARKADYAN VOYAGE has quickly become one of Dubai’s top parties. Can you tell us more about what the VOYAGE series is all about? What’s the vision behind it?

Voyage, Voyage… like in the French song! For us, “voyage” means a journey—both “a journey with friends,” where we spend cool times together in different countries, and “a musical journey,” where we take people through different cultures and countries. During our performances, we aim to give the impression that we are traveling through music, from Africa to the Balkans, from the Balkans to the Middle East, from the Middle East to India, and beyond.

As the third season launches on November 3 at SurfClub, how is the preparation going? What can fans expect that’s new and different from previous seasons?

Of course, preparations are in full swing! This includes new music, decorations, guest artists, and a few surprises. The ARKADYAN show will definitely be different—stronger and more dynamic, but with the same happy energy as before. We can’t wait to share all the love with our friends and fans!

It’s amazing that ARKADYAN VOYAGE has opened doors to major festivals like Tomorrowland! What do you think sets this project apart from other events in the electronic music scene?

It’s incredible! Thanks to ARKADYAN VOYAGE, we performed at Tomorrowland this summer. One of Tomorrowland’s main bookers attended our party last year, saw us perform, and must have felt our energy and appreciated the music. She emailed us, saying, “We might have a slot for ARKADYAN at our Belgium festival this summer.” Imagine how thrilled we were to read that! We believe ARKADYAN VOYAGE stands out because of the strong exchange between the crowd and our music. We really interact with the audience—our energy, instruments, and happy mood are almost tangible. Plus, we bring a true musician’s experience where people see what they hear.

As an electronic trio based in Dubai, how would you describe the current electronic music and party scene there? How is Dubai different from other places like Ibiza in terms of electronic music events?

In the last two years, Dubai has opened many venues and festivals, and all kinds of music styles are played every day. In Ibiza or other party destinations, you have a few weeks with crazy lineups, or a full summer of parties. But in Dubai, all year long, every weekend has top-tier line-ups. On the same night, you might have to choose between acts like Keinemusik, Black Coffee, Marco Carola, Bedouin, Afterlife—and ARKADYAN!

How do you see Dubai’s electronic music scene developing in the coming years?

We see real competition in Dubai over “who’s bringing the biggest artist.” It’s great for the crowd, but it comes with political choices for artists. Some venues sign artists at inflated fees with exclusivity clauses. In our opinion, the venues that pay the most don’t always have the best vibe. Conversely, the venues with the best vibe can’t afford certain artists because they’ve already been locked in by bigger budgets. We don’t like that. Our residency at SurfClub Dubai is a great example. Some venues offered us triple the budget to move our party, but we refused because we knew the vibe and crowd wouldn’t match ARKADYAN.

We love the tribal percussion and deep electronic house beats in your music. Your latest release, “Dark Eyes,” showcases that fusion. What inspired you to incorporate these elements into your production?

When we decided to work on our version of “Dark Eyes,” we wanted to pay homage to this masterpiece of gypsy music. The idea of mixing its traditional orchestration (with percussion, cello, etc.) with our electronic vibe came naturally. We love the contrast, and it often works perfectly. We used to play this track at the end of our set—people think we’re winding down, but the track builds into a crescendo of energy. Surprising people is in ARKADYAN’s DNA.

Looking ahead, do you have plans to explore new genres or styles in the future?

In this industry, we always have to seek out new sounds. The three of us are influenced by many styles, and our travels inspire us. For example, a few of our upcoming releases will take people on a journey through Eastern Europe. One of ARKADYAN’s next steps is to create an album that blends different vibes and styles to take people around the world with us.

To wrap up, what are your aspirations for the future of ARKADYAN VOYAGE? Are there any specific projects or collaborations in the pipeline?

We’re launching the third season of ARKADYAN VOYAGE in Dubai next month with a fantastic lineup on every first Sunday of the month until May. Some big names will likely join us for what has become one of Dubai’s best Sunday parties! Next summer, we plan to continue ARKADYAN VOYAGE in Ibiza at a solid venue. We also want to create our first ARKADYAN VOYAGE Festival. You can expect an intense season for ARKADYAN. Are you ready to follow us?