Part of the ‘Is R&B live music an untapped gem for Abu Dhabi?‘ Series, this will focus on artists The Travel Consigliere believe are capable of attracting between 1000 – 5000 attendees for their own standalone concert, and can still be considered for a supporting act role for major Abu Dhabi events. Can drive domestic tourists to visit the city in order to see their favourite star.
Jhene Aiko
Blessed with a sensually sweet and angelic voice, the American songstress could be a great option for R&B concerts, known for her given her fans magical and spiritual experiences. Having not performed in the region for a very long time, perhaps it high time she was due for a return.
Previous UAE Performance: Beats On The Beach Abu Dhabi 2015
Potential Venue(s): Emirates Palace, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Culture Foundation, Mubadala Arena
Potential Event(s): BRED Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi F1 Afterparty
Socials: IG: 16.8 million, Twitter: 2.8 million, Spotify: 11.4 million
Notable Songs: The Worst, While We’re Young, Sativa, B.S., P*$$Y Fairy (OTW)
Snoh Alegra
Swedish-Iranian R&B Sensation is a Prince Protégé known for her silky, dreamlike R&B style. Fans in the region have been clamoring out for her to finally make her debut in the UAE and she’s expressed interest.
Previous UAE Performance: N/A
Potential Venue(s): Emirates Palace, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Culture Foundation, Mubadala Arena
Potential Event(s): BRED Abu Dhabi
Socials: IG: 1.4 million, Twitter: 252k , Spotify: 4.2 million
Notable Songs: I Want You Around, Whoa, Find Someone Like You, DO 4 LOVE, DYING 4 YOUR LOVE
Bryson Tiller
The American R&B singer was quickly propelled to stardom following the release of ‘Don’t’ on Soundcloud and ushered in the ‘TRAPSOUL’ sound which cemented Tiller as one of the most successful R&B acts of the last decade. How he’s not been in the region previously is a complete mystery, but it would be most welcomed and given he’s back on tour, hopefully it comes to fruition.
Previous UAE Performance: N/A
Potential Venue(s): Emirates Palace, Culture Foundation, Mubadala Arena
Potential Event(s): BRED Abu Dhabi, Wireless Abu Dhabi
Socials: IG: 9.4 million, Twitter: 2.6 million, Spotify: 16.5 million
Notable Songs: Don’t, Exchange, Right My Wrongs, Wild Thoughts, Outta Time
Ari Lennox
American singer who has rejuvenated the Neo-Soul space and recently appeared in the region at Sole DXB. Whilst she has some current reservations regards to future touring, hopefully she will be open to returning soon.
Previous UAE Performance: Sole DXB 2022
Potential Venue(s): Emirates Palace, Culture Foundation, Mubadala Arena
Potential Event(s): BRED Abu Dhabi
Socials: IG: 1.9 million, Twitter: 825k, Spotify: 4.1 million
Notable Songs: Shea Butter Baby, BMO, Pressure, Up Late, Whipped Cream
Summer Walker
American R&B star dubbed the R&B It Girl by LA Times is now one of the biggest names in the R&B genre. Inexplicably she has escaped performing in the UAE, although she wants to come to the region. Hopefully she manages to put aside her issues with performing to finally mesmerize her UAE fanbase.
Previous UAE Performance: N/A
Potential Venue(s): Emirates Palace, Culture Foundation, Mubadala Arena
Potential Event(s): BRED Abu Dhabi, Wireless Abu Dhabi
Socials: IG: 5.3 million, Twitter: 1.7 million, Spotify: 19.3 million
Notable Songs: Girls Need Love, Playing Games, No Love, White Tee, Session 32
Masego
American singer and talented saxophonist Masego is the architect of the unique TrapHouseJazz sound, which invokes elements soul, jazz, dance music, R&B and hip-hop. With the release of new album Masego, hopefully it spurs the another return to the UAE.
Previous UAE Performance: Sole DXB 2018
Potential Venue(s): Emirates Palace, Culture Foundation, Mubadala Arena
Potential Event(s): BRED Abu Dhabi
Socials: IG: 941k, Twitter: 242k, Spotify: 7.3 million
Notable Songs: Tadow, Mystery Lady, Navajo, Queen Tings, Silver Tongue Devil
Jazmine Sullivan
2x Grammy award winning American R&B star is renowned for being a vocal powerhouse. Following the release of her critically acclaimed conceptual album Heaux Tales, she is finally being recognized her for the elite R&B talent that she is. She’s never performed in the UAE before, so is well overdue a debut.
Previous UAE Performance: N/A
Potential Venue(s): Emirates Palace, Culture Foundation, Mubadala Arena
Potential Event(s): NBA Events, BRED Abu Dhabi
Socials: IG: 2.3 million, Twitter: 668k, Spotify: 3.1 million
Notable Songs: Bust Your Windows, Insecure, Pick Up Your Feelings, Need U Bad, Let It Burn
dvsn
Canadian singer & producer duo whose alternative R&B sound was revealed to world via their label boss Drake at OVO Sound. The fact they seemingly have never performed in the region is puzzling, and maybe the Working On My Karma World Tour can potentially make it to the UAE.
Previous UAE Performance: N/A
Potential Venue(s): Emirates Palace, Culture Foundation, Mubadala Arena
Potential Event(s): BRED Abu Dhabi
Socials: IG: 489k, Twitter: 170k, Spotify: 2.4 million
Notable Songs: Think About Me, Too Deep, Hallucinations, With Me, Between Us
SiR
The incredibly talented and smoothing American singer and songwriter SiR dubbed the Gentleman of Soul was introduced to the masses through association with his former TDE labelmate Kendrick Lamar. With COVID-19 curtailing plans to tour his Chasing Summer album, hopefully he might be able to make it UAE for the greatly anticipated (You promised it last year!) Heavy album.
Previous UAE Performance: N/A
Potential Venue(s): Emirates Palace, Culture Foundation, Mubadala Arena
Potential Event(s): BRED Abu Dhabi
Socials: IG: 497k, Twitter: 140k, Spotify: 3.4 million
Notable Songs: John Redcorn, D’Evils, Hair Down, Ohh Nah Nah, You Can’t Save Me
PARTYNEXTDOOR
The enigmatic Canadian alternative R&B artist is the breakout star of Drake’s OVO Sound label is renown for his songwriting abilities for himself and other stars. How he seems to have never performed in UAE before is surprising, but hopefully this can change soon.
Previous UAE Performance: N/A
Potential Venue(s): Emirates Palace, Culture Foundation, Mubadala Arena
Potential Event(s): BRED Abu Dhabi, Wireless Abu Dhabi
Socials: IG: 4.2 million, Twitter: 1.5 million, Spotify: 16.9 million
Notable Songs: Recognize, Break From Toronto, Come and See Me, Believe It, Not Nice
Giveon
American R&B star Giveon has a deep & distinct baritone voice that following his breakout moment on Drake’s Chicago freestyle has catapulted him into the limelight and breathed new life into the contemporary R&B genre.
Previous UAE Performance: N/A
Potential Venue(s): Emirates Palace, Culture Foundation, Mubadala Arena
Potential Event(s): BRED Abu Dhabi
Socials: IG: 2.8 million, Twitter: 431k, Spotify: 24.8 million
Notable Songs: Heartbreak Anniversary, Like I Want You, For Tonight, Stuck On You, Still Your Best
Kehlani
Acclaimed American R&B singer and songwriter Kehlani has been lauded for her performances on the stage, so should be definitely be considered for a return in any future UAE events.
Previous UAE Performance: VidCon Abu Dhabi 2021
Potential Venue(s): Emirates Palace, Culture Foundation, Mubadala Arena
Potential Event(s): BRED Abu Dhabi, Wireless Abu Dhabi
Socials: IG: 14.7 million, Twitter: 83.5k , Spotify: 14.5 million
Notable Songs: Nights Like This, Toxic, Good Thing, Gangsta, Good Life
Lucky Daye
Grammy award winning R&B sensation Lucky Daye is at the heart of the redefinition of contemporary R&B. From American Idol elimination to the R&B spotlight, he continues to grow into R&B mainstream stardom. He’s never performed in the region before, so could be a good option for a concert.
Previous UAE Performance: N/A
Potential Venue(s): Emirates Palace, Culture Foundation, Mubadala Arena
Potential Event(s): BRED Abu Dhabi
Socials: IG: 732k, Twitter: 103k, Spotify: 7.2 million
Notable Songs: Over, Roll Some Mo, Love You Too Much, Floods, Real Games
Teyana Taylor
American singer and dancer extraordinaire Teyana Taylor is a bonafide star on the stage and is often compared to the iconic Janet Jackson, who happens to be her idol. Although currently sworn to retirement due to frustrations in the music industry, here’s hoping there can potentially be a one night only return to the stage in the UAE.
Previous UAE Performance: Sole DXB 2017
Potential Venue(s): Emirates Palace, Culture Foundation, Mubadala Arena
Potential Event(s): BRED Abu Dhabi
Socials: IG: 16.3 million, Twitter: 1.4 million, Spotify: 3.3 million
Notable Songs: Gonna Love Me, Issue/Hold On, How Do You Want It?, Bare With Me, Morning
Brent Faiyaz
American Indie R&B wunderkind and Sonder front man Brent Faiyaz is the current face of ‘Toxic R&B’, bursting onto the scene through hit Crew with rapper GoldLink. Since then he’s become one of the biggest names in modern R&B, all done without the backing of a major label and is certainly someone to be looked at for a near future debut in the UAE, especially since announcing a new F*ck the World, It’s a Wasteland 2023 tour.
Previous UAE Performance: N/A
Potential Venue(s): Emirates Palace, Culture Foundation, Mubadala Arena
Potential Event(s): BRED Abu Dhabi, Wireless Abu Dhabi
Socials: IG: 3.6 million, Twitter: 576k, Spotify: 17.8 million
Notable Songs: Trust, Clouded, Dead Man Walking, Rehab (Winter In Paris), Jackie Brown
Daniel Caesar
Grammy award winning Canadian R&B star Daniel Caesar is heralded for his golden voice, masterful intertwining of soft melodies and metaphor-heavy lyricism. With the release of new album Never Enough and Intimate Sessions tour, here’s hoping he will finally make his way to an appearance in the UAE.
Previous UAE Performance: N/A
Potential Venue(s): Emirates Palace, Culture Foundation, Mubadala Arena
Potential Event(s): BRED Abu Dhabi
Socials: IG: 1.6 million, Twitter: 417k, Spotify: 25.5 million
Notable Songs: Best Part, Get You, Japanese Demin, Cyanide, Who Hurt You?
Ella Mai
Grammy award winning British R&B singer and songwriter Ella Mai is known for her honeyed sound that leans on ’90s R&B. She’s shockingly never performed in the UAE, but as she is currently touring her new album Heart On My Sleeve, maybe now could be an opportune time for her to bless us with her presence.
Previous UAE Performance: N/A
Potential Venue(s): Emirates Palace, Culture Foundation, Mubadala Arena
Potential Event(s): BRED Abu Dhabi
Socials: IG: 4.1 million, Twitter: 1.6 million, Spotify: 7.8 million
Notable Songs: Boo’d Up, Trip, Naked, Shot Clock, She Don’t
Solange
The American Grammy award winning artist Solange is a creative in every sense of the word; singer, songwriter, choreographer, visual and performing artist. Known for her avant-garde approach to music, she’s built a cult-like following and become a star in her own right outside the orbit of her megastar older sister, Beyonce.
Previous UAE Performance: N/A
Potential Venue(s): Emirates Palace, Culture Foundation, Mubadala Arena, Louvre Abu Dhabi
Potential Event(s): BRED Abu Dhabi
Socials: IG: 6.4 million, Twitter: 4 million, Spotify: 2.4 million
Notable Songs: Cranes In The Sky, Losing You, Don’t Touch My Hair, Almeda, Binz
Kali Uchis
Grammy award winning Colombian-American songstress Kali Uchis is popular for her sultry, Latin-infused take on R&B singing bilingual in English and Spanish. She’s impressed in her recent Coachella mainstage performance, suggesting she might be prime for an opportunity to take her talents to UAE stages.
Previous UAE Performance: N/A
Potential Venue(s): Emirates Palace, Culture Foundation, Mubadala Arena
Potential Event(s): BRED Abu Dhabi
Socials: IG: 5.1 million, Twitter: 1.2 million, Spotify: 28.5 million
Notable Songs: telepatia, After The Storm, Dead To Me, Melting, Moonlight
Jorja Smith
British R&B star Jorja Smith smoky and sultry voice has been a hit globally, leading to her being recognized in the Forbes 30 under 30. The singer and songwriter has performed in Dubai previously, and can be relied upon as a audience draw
Potential Venue(s): Emirates Palace, Culture Foundation, Mubadala Arena
Potential Event(s): BRED Abu Dhabi
Socials: IG: 3.6 million, Twitter: 423k, Spotify: 9.3 million
Notable Songs: Be Honest, Blue Lights, On My Mind, Teenage Fantasy, The One
The Travel Consigliere 
One response to “Established R&B Artists We Want To See Perform In Abu Dhabi”
[…] Tier 3: Established Artists that can attract between 1000 – 5000 attendees for their own standalone concert, and can still be considered for a supporting act role for major Abu Dhabi events. Can drive domestic tourists to visit the city in order to see their favourite star. […]
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