First Artist Program Dedicated to the Middle East and North Africa
with 19 Sister Programs for Global Emerging Artists Spanning More Than 50 Markets
Today, Spotify is excited to announce the debut of RADAR رادار, a new dedicated program for the Middle East and North Africa created to celebrate the diversity of the artists and talent that the region holds on every level, across all genres and languages.
A groundbreaking first for the music industry in the MENA region, the program identifies artists with the potential to break across borders by creating new recordings of cultural collaborations in Spotify Studios around the world.
The result will see Spotify selected artists from the MENA region given new opportunities to create new sounds in new ways with new unique collaborations to potentially reach new audiences world-wide.
Spotify first launched its global emerging artist program known as RISE in 2017, with the specific aim of spotlighting breakthrough artists and supporting their development at all stages. Its success has paved the way for RADAR, a newly named and re-launched initiative featuring 19 international programs, including the MENA region, featuring artists from more than 50 markets worldwide.
Speaking on the launch of RADAR رادارClaudius Boller Managing Director, Spotify Middle East and Africa, said: “RADAR رادار is one of the most exciting developments for music artists in the Middle East and North Africa. This region is rich in its musical heritage, diversity of cultures, and multiplicity of languages and dialects. And in simple terms we want to tap into that culture, to share it and to inspire something completely new that the world can discover.
“Music is truly global and as Spotify we’re creating connections for artists and audiences, while removing borders, boundaries to develop previously unimaginable collaborations. This is exactly the type of impact Spotify wants to have, as a catalyst supporting the culture and talent of the Middle East and North Africa.”
Spotify’s first MENA-based RADAR رادارcollaboration, is between Dubai-based Electronic duo Hollaphonic and Lebanese songstress Xriss. Spotify facilitated the partnership between Hollaphonic and Xriss, on their forthcoming single, “Save Me” which is set to be released on Friday 27 March 2020. The single was recorded at Studio 13, London, one of Spotify’s partner studios in the UK.
Hollaphonic, the first electronic act to sign to a major label in the Middle East, have been witnessing global acclaim over the years where in 2018, their original track ‘Spaceship’ enjoyed great popularity in Thailand leading to collaborations with Thai superstars including Peck Palitchoke and Violette Wautier.
“The pace at which we were able to achieve things, connect with labels and have serious conversations with the right people was so much quicker with the support and guidance of Spotify. It also gave us an objective ear to call upon as we developed the track, they didn’t change our sound but they certainly made us think about our approach and how to best represent ourselves through this collaboration.” Hollaphonic commented on theirRADAR رادار experience.
On the other hand, Xriss, who spent the better part of the past decade touring the Middle East” commented: “I couldn’t have been more excited to do something I didn’t – in a million years – think was going to sound this incredible. Spotify saw it before we did. They know exactly what they were doing when they flew us in to collaborate in London. What blew my mind is how they even knew we’d get along this well.”
Xriss is the lead singer of the band she founded 8è Art Entertainment’s “X.band”, covering countless royal gatherings, social events and top festivals. The Lebanese vocalist has worked with the likes of Quincy Jones in LA and British Producer Youth (The Verve) in London.
Under RADAR رادار’s mission to break local artists through exciting collaborations, Xriss has signed a recording and publishing agreement with Abu Dhabi’s ‘PopArabia’ & their US-based partner ‘Reservoir,’ with new music being produced and targeted for release in 2020.
Artists that will be part of RADAR رادارwill be supported across different verticals. From, first-hand editorial and on-platform support through the many curated Spotify playlists available on the platform, to Spotify Studios support.
Hollaphonic and Xriss,along with the other artists in Spotify’s programs across the world, will be joining a potent roster of Spotify’s past emerging artist programs globally, including Lauv, King Princess, Joji, Jorja Smith, Lil Baby, Rex Orange County, Official HIGE DANdism, The Blaze, and more.
Spotify is the destination for artist discovery. Through RADAR رادار, Spotify is continuing its commitment to supporting artists around the world on their journeys. Stay tuned for more RADAR رادارannouncements.