Open mics and a 'Sweet Child' of Dubai

One weekend this past January, a friend asked me to drop by at a gig-cum-open mic session at a resto-bar in Dubai for a little jam. The night’s main attraction was Indian actor and former VJ Luke Kenny. I didn’t know what I was going to play but I still went. My friend had said we would figure something out on the set and that Luke would also join us.

The stage was set up in the open-air section of the restaurant with Burj Khalifa towering over in the background, the weather was Dubai at its winter best and the audience had settled in with their favourite drinks as my friend kicked off the gig as a one-man band. My friend? Well, Nikhil Uzgare, front-man of one of Dubai’s longest-lasting rock bands -- Point Of View – which opened for Guns N’ Roses and Foo Fighters on their Middle East tours.

After delivering a couple of crowd favourites, Nik asked if anyone wanted to join him for a song. A little boy raised his hand and walked up to Nik on the little makeshift wooden circular stage. They had a little chat -- I guess the boy was telling Nik which song he wanted to do. Nik introduced the boy as nine-year-old Zeke Izyk and launched the song on his amplified acoustic guitar, backed by a groovy percussive beat coming from a drum machine pedal.

The first few bars and the way Nik played the rhythm gave no hint of what the song was. So we waited. Only when Zeke belted out the first line we got to know what it was: ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’ by Guns N’ Roses. It was a version so different from the original that it took some time to sink in but by the time Zeke reached the line “Where everything was as fresh as the bright blue sky”, he had won the hearts of those present.

As the song progressed, I and, I am sure, others too couldn’t help but pay attention to the little long-haired boy. Still, in his baby voice, he exuded a natural flair: his confidence a charm-offensive, his body language calm as a pro, and his attitude so fearless that he improvised his own showcase. I loved what I was watching and even the guy next to me heaped praise on the boy.

As the song ended, there was a huge applause for the boy and Nik had to say: “Sorry Luke, this is not your night anymore.” That sums up what Zeke walked away with.

It’s a wonderful thing that some open mic nights in our city allow kids to perform. The truth is a majority of the venues are off-limits to children due to age issues.

Sure there are talent shows and contests where children can perform before a live audience but that’s a totally different affair. A contest means stress, pressure and anxiety no matter how good the child is. In contrast, open mic sessions are far less intimidating and allow the child to perform naturally and also bring him/her in contact with other musicians in the city.

Talking of open mics, the scene in Dubai at the moment has never been so vibrant and helpful to aspiring artists and those who pursue music as a hobby.

“The open mic scene is booming in Dubai. It’s a great outlet for people with stage fear. It gives people the platform to showcase their talent,” says Nik, who is the founder of Rock Nation which has hosted over 100 local music showcases in Dubai since 2008.

“Of course, there are terrible performers and there are awesome performers as well. The awesome performers stand a chance of being discovered for better gigs and better opportunities."

One thing is for sure. There are scores and scores of hobbyist musicians in the city who spend hours in their bedrooms practising and creating music. Open mics are where they get to show it. And who knows who is watching?

Ed Sheeran and Tracey Chapman found fame through local clubs and open mics. And somebody rightly said: “Your future bandmate may also be in the audience or up next waiting to perform.”

As for Zeke, I will be keeping an eye on him.