Musicians use social-media campaigns in attempt to get support slots with Ed Sheeran and Christina Perri

A couple of local music artists have launched online campaigns to sing with with their heroes.

Elias Sabella is campaigning to get a support slot on stage with Christina Perri. Courtesy Elias Sabella

Two UAE-based musicians have started off social-media campaigns to perform alongside their idols, Ed Sheeran and Christina Perri. The rocker Elias Sabella and the singer-songwriter Esther Eden are encouraging fans, friends and the general public to support their cause in the hopes that either their favourite artist or promoter will take notice and make their dreams come true.

Esther Eden for Ed Sheeran

Tickets for the English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran’s Dubai Media City Amphitheatre show on March 5 sold out so fast that even one of his most ardent fans didn't stand a chance.

This is why 17-year-old Eden is hoping to go one better by campaigning to be on stage with the ginger-haired musician.

The Abu Dhabi-based ­singer-songwriter has been steadily building her career, having performed in Dubai as part of The Fridge series of acoustic concerts, in addition to a slot last Saturday in the latest of the Metronome concert series in Khalidiya’s Urban Bites. Eden says her sensitive acoustic tales have their roots in her love for Sheeran’s work.

“Since I started writing songs, I have always been listening to him,” she says. “He has this amazing voice and poetic lyrics and he inspires me so much. I mean, he is the reason why I am the singer-song writer that I am today.” Eden’s online media campaign instructs supporters to post the campaign photo in their social media accounts; other options include a picture of yourself holding a sign stating #EDENsingswithED. While having a few songs of her own, Eden says the goal of her campaign is to sing a duet with Sheeran.

"I would love it to be one of his romantic songs," she says. "Perhaps something like Give Me Love, Kiss Me or Thinking Out Loud."

Elias Sabella for Christina Perri

The 22-year-old Sabella hopes to share the stage with Christina Perri. The American ­singer-songwriter is set to open the Dubai Jazz Festival alongside Britain’s James Blunt on ­February 25. Previously part of the band The Flaming Trees, Sabella has supported the likes of The Eagles, Nelly Furtado and 30 Seconds to Mars. Despite the pedigree of these acts, Sabella says the lesser-known Perri has had the most influence on him. “Her music and lyrics have so much emotion and meaning that they motivate me to show the emotional side to my music,” he explains. “To share these stories to thousands of people, including Christina, would be ­phenomenal.”Sabella is hoping a large enough number of the hashtag #EliasSupportsPerri, in addition to his live experience, could convince promoters to take the risk and book him for the prized slot.

The final approval

So how much of an effect do social-media campaigns have over a promoter’s decisions? Not much, according to Greg Dufton, the managing partner of Sheeran’s concert promoters DGT. He says the final decision on who steps on stage with Sheeran is not up to the promoter solely, but in some cases the artist themselves. Dufton says the Eden campaign is one of many social-media drives conducted by artists to perform with Sheeran. Such initiatives, he explains, ultimately have a limited effect in that it can only get you as far as being noticed. “There is a big difference between someone lobbying promoters in social media to perform and what the promoter, with his knowledge of music and what the concert crowd needs, actually decides,” he says.

“But I also admire these artists for being proactive because to be successful, you don’t only need to have the songs but a good social media presence as well.”

• Visit www.facebook.com/estheredenmusic and www.facebook.com/EliasSabellaMusic for more details