Dhruv, one of the local bands shortlisted for MTV India’s Next Big Thing. Courtesy IndiaCast
Dhruv, one of the local bands shortlisted for MTV India’s Next Big Thing. Courtesy IndiaCast
Dhruv, one of the local bands shortlisted for MTV India’s Next Big Thing. Courtesy IndiaCast
Dhruv, one of the local bands shortlisted for MTV India’s Next Big Thing. Courtesy IndiaCast

Finalists named in MTV India’s first GCC Next Big Thing competition


  • English
  • Arabic

The successful finalists competing in MTV India’s first GCC-wide talent search have been named for the first time.

Following a gruelling round of auditions, 13 acts have been selected to compete onstage at a series of live concerts in Dubai.

Three semi-finals will take place at The Music Room every Saturday from November 7, with the best performers called back for the grand final on December 2.

A total of 83 bands and solo acts entered the audition stages of the competition, which is aimed at expats from the subcontinent.

“It was a tough decision to make,” said audition judge and Dubai DJ Shadow. “These shortlisted artists stood out because of their freshness and their ability to keep the audience entertained.”

The shortlisted bands include Rooh, Steel, Rajiv & Johan, Sur Aikhtalaf, Raag Addiction, Dhruv and Mohsin & Shahid and solo artists include Muhammed Zeeshan, Irawati Mulmule, Ricky George, Ranjini Hannah, Vaibhav Saxena and Morries Mana.

Each act will now be tutored by musician/actor and contest judge Luke Kenny and the MTV India team.

Check who will perform when below - all gigs start at 9pm and a free to the public:

November 7 – Steel, Vaibhav, Muhammed Zeeshan and The Scene

November 14 – Rajiv and Johan, Sur Aikhtlaf, Irawati, Ricky and Morries

November 21 – Raaga Addiction, Dhruv, Ranjini and Rooh

December 2 – Grand final, plus live set from judge Luke Kenny

 

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Sector: IT

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Stage: Series A

Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors

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Heather, the Totality
Matthew Weiner,
Canongate 

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma

When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

How to wear a kandura

Dos

  • Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion 
  • Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
  • Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work 
  • Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester

Don’ts 

  • Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal 
  • Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi

Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.

Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en

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Most wins by a jockey: Jerry Bailey(4)

Most wins by an owner: Godolphin(9)

Most wins by a horse: Godolphin’s Thunder Snow(2)

Grand Slam Los Angeles results

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56kg – Jorge Nakamura
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Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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Director: Jesse Armstrong

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  • Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
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  • Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
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Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
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Know your camel milk:
Flavour: Similar to goat’s milk, although less pungent. Vaguely sweet with a subtle, salty aftertaste.
Texture: Smooth and creamy, with a slightly thinner consistency than cow’s milk.
Use it: In your morning coffee, to add flavour to homemade ice cream and milk-heavy desserts, smoothies, spiced camel-milk hot chocolate.
Goes well with: chocolate and caramel, saffron, cardamom and cloves. Also works well with honey and dates.

Company Profile:

Name: The Protein Bakeshop

Date of start: 2013

Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani

Based: Dubai

Size, number of employees: 12

Funding/investors:  $400,000 (2018) 

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Recipe

Garlicky shrimp in olive oil
Gambas Al Ajillo

Preparation time: 5 to 10 minutes

Cooking time: 5 minutes

Serves 4

Ingredients

180ml extra virgin olive oil; 4 to 5 large cloves of garlic, minced or pureed (or 3 to 4 garlic scapes, roughly chopped); 1 or 2 small hot red chillies, dried (or ¼ teaspoon dried red chilli flakes); 400g raw prawns, deveined, heads removed and tails left intact; a generous splash of sweet chilli vinegar; sea salt flakes for seasoning; a small handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped

Method

Heat the oil in a terracotta dish or frying pan. Once the oil is sizzling hot, add the garlic and chilli, stirring continuously for about 10 seconds until golden and aromatic.

Add a splash of sweet chilli vinegar and as it vigorously simmers, releasing perfumed aromas, add the prawns and cook, stirring a few times.

Once the prawns turn pink, after 1 or 2 minutes of cooking,  remove from the heat and season with sea salt flakes.

Once the prawns are cool enough to eat, scatter with parsley and serve with small forks or toothpicks as the perfect sharing starter. Finish off with crusty bread to soak up all that flavour-infused olive oil.

 

How to apply for a drone permit
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