Vogue Arabia is taking over the picturesque UNESCO heritage site–Al Balad–for a two-day block party coined Hai Vogue, from February 8-9. And the best part? It is open to the public, so get ready to celebrate the best food, culture, fashion, and celebrities the region has to offer. As expected, the line-up encompasses the Kingdom’s best talent, including Mishaal Tamer — Saudi’s rising pop star. Learn more about the singer’s creative process before you catch his performance on the opening day below, and find out everything about Hai Vogue — from how to get tickets, to the line-up of musical performances coming your way — here.
Photo: Instagram.com/mishaaltamer
5 things you didn’t know about Mishaal Tamer
His musical journey started in the most unexpected way
When Tamer was only nine years old, a dreadful injury left him with 32 stitches. Following the incident, his doctor suggested he should take up guitar to combat nerve damage, and the rest was history.
The tale of two cities (or four)
Being born in Jeddah to a Saudi father and an Ecuadorian mother meant that Mishaal Tamer was subjugated to a lot of bullying due to his mixed heritage; from fellow students and faculty alike. However, Tamer soon moved to Jordan to attend boarding school, which allowed him the freedom to express his creativity through music, starting a heavy metal band, and then moving to indie pop, and then jazz. This pursuit encouraged him to attend the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music in New York, where he flourished in his musical endeavors and went viral with his musical clips.
He experienced a meteoric rise to fame
Back in KSA, Tamer produced his very first, low-budget demo “Arabian Knights”, which caught the attention of renowned recording labels. Including Atlantic Records, Columbia Records, and RCA Records too, where he eventually signed up. The artist then performed at the MDLBeast festival both in 2021 and 2022, where his music reached thousands of fans.
Covid-19 improved his craft
During Covid-19, the artist was quarantined in his NYC studio, where he taught himself how to play the piano, drums, and bass. This exploration allowed Tamer to divulge into an array of genres including K-pop, metal, rock, Spanish, and urban Latino, along with Arabic from various dialects and eventually producing 800 songs.
He aims to share Saudi culture with the world
In a previous interview with Vogue Man Arabia, the talented savant expressed his will to share the beauty of the Kingdom, saying, “I want to give another part of me to the world of music. I want to share my culture, I have not seen enough of our footprint in the global music market, and I think it’s time for the world to discover S-pop. This is what I hope to offer with my upcoming projects.”
Vogue Arabia is taking over Jeddah’s Al Balad for a one-of-a-kind block party at the UNESCO World Heritage Site. On February 8 and 9, 2024, join us at Hai Vogue, where we will turn the spotlight on Saudi’s spirited youth and creative community, framed by the unique architecture and spirit of this historical neighborhood. Buy your tickets here.
