Three very different DJs have been named as part of the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 entertainment line-up — but they’re all connected in interesting ways.
DJs Tiesto, Carl Cox and Martin Garrix will perform at du Forum, Yas Island as part of Alchemy Project’s Beyond the Track festivities. Garrix will perform on November 24, Cox on November 25 and Tiesto on November 26.
The three DJs have crossed paths with each other in various capacities over the years.
Garrix, one of EDM’s youngest names at 21, told Gulf News tabloid! in 2015 that it was Tiesto, 48, who changed his life when he was only 12 years old. After watching Tiesto’s performance at the Summer Olympic Games in 2004, Garrix knew he wanted to become a DJ.
“So when meeting him for the first time, you might say that I was a bit star struck, but I think I played it cool... At times I still find myself star struck [when meeting people] and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I’m just a normal Dutch guy,” said Garrix.
He collaborated with Tiesto on the 2015 track The Only Way Is Up. (Garrix is also known for hits such as Animals and In the Name of Love, and was last year ranked No. 1 on DJ Mag’s Top 100 list.)
The budding star has another connection with Cox, 55, who comes from an older generation of DJs.
The two are the focus of a 2017 documentary, What We Started, which premiered in June at the Los Angeles Film Festival. The film explores Garrix and Cox’s careers, rooted in different generations, and how they diverge. It features appearances by Usher, Ed Sheeran and Tiesto.
Cox subscribes to a more old-school and underground mentality. He told tabloid! back in 2014 that he still listens to new DJs like Calvin Harris and Avicii.
“I listen to them all, because I wanna know what my neighbour DJs are up to, if I’m digging them or I’m not digging them. There’s so much great new music out there that when you’re sort of trudging the same old sound it gets boring,” Cox said.
“I think it’s good that they’re doing it, it’s just that I can’t get involved in the new music movement, in that sense, because my background doesn’t allow me to, because I grew up with the essence of the passion and the soul of music,” he added.
Tiesto, known as the Godfather of EDM to many, is no stranger to the UAE. The Dutch DJ had to cancel an Abu Dhabi gig in 2010 due to technical difficulties, but he’s been back several times since.
Tickets to see Tiesto, Cox and Garrix in Abu Dhabi will be available soon online, starting from Dh295.
