Plucked from the obscurity of a fishing village in Morocco, Yann'Sine Jebli became a household name in his homeland after a series of acclaimed performances on the influential reality-TV contest, Studio 2M.
Encouraged to take part by his father, the teenage singer was an instant hit on the 2013 series, only losing out in the final round. Now 22, he won over European viewers last year on The Voice France, impressing judge and coach Mika with his vocals and charisma.
Now making a name for himself away from the bright lights of TV, Yann’Sine performs a mix of classic covers and original material in Arabic, French and English, and promises to unveil some new material during his UAE debut in Abu Dhabi and Dubai this weekend.
How much has your life changed since finding fame on reality TV?
Studio 2M was an amazing experience. I was very young and I did not realise what was happening. Within weeks, I was known and recognised – and not only in Morocco. As I was the youngest, I became the mascot of the show. The atmosphere between all of us was very relaxed – I took it as a game, without investing too much in my voice or musical work.
How was your experience in Europe?
The Voice France was much more demanding, a very high level. It was the first time a candidate from Maghreb had participated in it, and the effect has been very important both in France and Morocco. I realised I was very popular in France, as I was in my country, and even in North Africa. Of course, it made me happy and I wanted to continue to answer my fans on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – but sometimes I had thousands of messages. The difficulty is to stay focused and manage priorities.
Do you miss your old life in Morocco?
I grew up in Tan-Tan Plage, a small fishing village 400km south of Agadir. My parents, my sister and brother still live there. Of course, I go back regularly even though I live for months in France or in other countries. Tan-Tan is my roots, where I found my childhood friends, and I spent long days fishing with my father. I do not always know where I’m going, but I know very well where I come from.
Your father was a sea merchant. How did this shape your life and your music?
For my 15th birthday, my father gave me a small, used phone. On this phone there was a recording of the song Bared Skoun Are Hawa by Abdel Hadi Belkheyat. Every day I walked 5km to college and I listened to this song, and even when I came back home. I ended up knowing the song by heart. One day my father heard me singing while I was drawing – because I loved drawing manga [Japanese comic-book art] – and he told me I had a beautiful voice. That’s how it all started.
Who are your greatest musical inspirations?
I love all kinds of music – Arab or western. As a singer, Mika taught me a lot because he sings and celebrates life at the same time. He sings in high tones, jokes and has fun performing his songs. But I also like the deep Arab vibrations that lift up your soul and touch your heart.
What is the greatest misconception about Arabic music?
I think Arabic music is not always understood or appreciated because it’s beyond understanding – it sometimes appears very repetitive. However, very long poetic songs, such as the songs of Umm Kulthum, find an attentive audience beyond the comprehension of words. Because there is a power in the voice and interpretation.
If you had not found music or your talent had not been spotted, where do you think you would be today?
Maybe I’d be drawing manga – or I’d have opened a small hostel on the sea shore.
• Yann’Sine performs as part of the Abu Dhabi Festival on Thursday, 8.30pm, at Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi – tickets cost Dh110 (Dh90 for Alliance Française Abu Dhabi members) from timeoutickets.com – and on Friday at Hilton Dubai Jumeirah Resort, JBR, 8pm, hosted by Alliance Française Dubai, free entry (registration compulsory at www.afdubai.org)
rgarratt@thenational.ae
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Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
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COMPANY PROFILE
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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Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
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ETFs explained
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
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RESULTS
Bantamweight
Victor Nunes (BRA) beat Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)
(Split decision)
Featherweight
Hussein Salim (IRQ) beat Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)
(Round 1 submission, armbar)
Catchweight 80kg
Rashed Dawood (UAE) beat Otabek Kadirov (UZB)
(Round-1 submission, rear naked choke)
Lightweight
Ho Taek-oh (KOR) beat Ronald Girones (CUB)
(Round 3 submission, triangle choke)
Lightweight
Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) beat Damien Lapilus (FRA)
(Unanimous points)
Bantamweight
Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) beat Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
(Round 1 TKO)
Featherweight
Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
(Round 1 rear naked choke)
Flyweight
Shannon Ross (TUR) beat Donovon Freelow (USA)
(Unanimous decision)
Lightweight
Dan Collins (GBR) beat Mohammad Yahya (UAE)
(Round 2 submission D’arce choke)
Catchweight 73kg
Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM) beat Islam Mamedov (RUS)
(Round 3 submission, kneebar)
Bantamweight world title
Xavier Alaoui (MAR) beat Jaures Dea (CAM)
(Unanimous points 48-46, 49-45, 49-45)
Flyweight world title
Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
(Round 1 RSC)
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Tom Fletcher on 'soft power'
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Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
The specs: 2018 Kia Picanto
Price: From Dh39,500
Engine: 1.2L inline four-cylinder
Transmission: Four-speed auto
Power: 86hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 122Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.0L / 100km
MATCH INFO
Azerbaijan 0
Wales 2 (Moore 10', Wilson 34')
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Summer special
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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The specs: 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor
Price, base / as tested Dh220,000 / Dh320,000
Engine 3.5L V6
Transmission 10-speed automatic
Power 421hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 678Nm @ 3,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.1L / 100km
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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