Home-grown talent

The thing that immediately strikes you about Karl Wolf and Hamdan Al Abri when you meet them is just how darn nice they are.

The two artists wowed Dubai fans when they performed at the Gulf News Radio 1 LIVE concert at the Dubai Tennis Stadium last month.

Nice guy

Karl Wolf arrived at the Notes interview looking every bit like an R&B star with his designer shades, classic white Adidas sneakers, baseball cap tilted just so and sleeveless T-shirt that revealed his well-toned arms.

One would expect a prima donna but it was a pleasant surprise to find that he was anything but a stereotypical self-obsessed star.

The Montreal-based artist was warm, effusive and eager to talk about his music. "It's been a struggle (to break into the music industry), that's why I'm so happy. It (success) didn't come easy for me."

"And I appreciate the fans so much," Wolf said, adding that he always made sure he gave an autograph to every fan who asked.

Road to success

Over the years Wolf has become a "triple threat" in the music industry – singing, writing and producing material, often for other artists.

His most recent album is Bite the Bullet released in 2007.

Butterflies from the first album was widely acclaimed and got extensive radio play internationally. Summer Days is also a well-loved song, which speaks about his birthplace in war-torn Beirut, Lebanon.

Proud of his Arabic roots, Wolf incorporates these influences into his music and has a large fan base in the Arab world.

He has performed with industry heavyweights like Mary J. Blige, Akon and Ludacris.

Childhood in Sharjah

Born Carl Abu Samaha, Wolf hails from Beirut, Lebanon and then moved to Dubai when he was three years old because of the war in his home country.

He spent his formative years in Sharjah where he developed his music talents DJing at parties. His mother was a piano teacher, which also helped.

Wolf then moved to Canada where he studied film at Concordia University. Although he pursued a career in music he said he is still very "hands on" with his music videos because of his prior training.

When he comes to Dubai, he almost always stays with family in Sharjah. "I put my team up in hotels but I like to stay with family. They love it."

Down to earth

Where Wolf is a bundle of energy, Hamdan Al Abri is shy and modest about his group Abri's success in the UAE.

He is his group's vocalist and is joined by keyboardist Julian Symes, drummer Andre Atherley and bassist Rami Lakkis.

"I'm a nice, humble guy... it just takes a while when I first meet people," he said.

Al Abri also admits he feels a little "uneasy in the real world. On stage is where I want to be. I belong there."

Wearing a simple T-shirt, skinny jeans, high top sneakers, his trademark dreadlocks and a recently-acquired beard, Al Abri emphasises that the focus on their music is most important.

The Dubai-born musician admits his fashion sense is not a priority and approach to life quite bohemian.

Roots

Al Abri's is of Zanzibar and Ugandan (his parents moved to Dubai in the 1960s) stock but was born at Rashid Hospital, Dubai, and raised in Sharjah.

Al Abri said he inherited his "music gene" from his father who always played music in the house and composed Swahili tribal music.

Amazingly both Wolf and Al Abri attended the International School of Choueifat Sharjah and share a birthday, which falls on April 18.

"We missed each other by about a year at school. Me and his cousin were really good friends though," said Al Abri.
Al Abri went to college in Miami, Florida, where he studied visual arts at the Miami International University of Art and Design.

On stage

Although Al Abri is shy off stage, his onstage persona is the polar opposite where he is unrestrained and passionate.

The group's sound is a combination of funk, soul, jazz and reggae. Their music is catchy and great to listen to but also has depth – their track Little Girl is about the trafficking of women.

It can be found on Abri's new album, Sunchild, released in November last year.

The group has played with the likes of Shaggy, Fun Loving Criminals, Joss Stone, Kanye West, Ziggy Marley and Arrested Development.