From Paris to Jeddah — diversity shines at World Music Day

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Magali Cotta debuts Canine in Saudi Arabia, enchanting the audience with electro-pop, soul, and hip-hop infused with surreal arrangements and intimate lyrics. (Photo supplied)
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Magali Cotta debuts Canine in Saudi Arabia, enchanting the audience with electro-pop, soul, and hip-hop infused with surreal arrangements and intimate lyrics. (Photo supplied)
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Updated 27 June 2024
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From Paris to Jeddah — diversity shines at World Music Day

  • The musical evening at the Jeddah Cultural Club included electronic, soul, deep house, pop and more on the theme of “Franco-Saudi Friendship”

JEDDAH:  A World Music Day event organized by the French Consulate in Jeddah and the French Embassy in Riyadh featured local and French artists across a variety of genres.

The musical evening at the Jeddah Cultural Club included electronic, soul, deep house, pop and more on the theme of “Franco-Saudi Friendship.”

First established in France in 1982 under the patronage of then-Minister of Culture Jack Lang, who now serves as president of the Arab World Institute in Paris, the Fete de la Musique is celebrated in over 100 countries. Musicians at every level are invited to perform everywhere, from concert halls to the streets.

In Jeddah, two female voices were honored — Nadeen Linjawi, otherwise known as Fulana, and Canine, the brainchild of French composer and singer Magali Cotta.




Rising Saudi singer Nadeen Linjawi, known as Fulana, representing the emerging Saudi Arabian voice during the World Music Day in Jeddah. (Photo supplied)

Fulana, a rising Saudi singer, gave the opening performance and expressed her gratitude at being invited to represent the sound of young Saudis.

“Music has been my entire life; I don’t remember a time where I have ever been my most authentic self except here (on stage). This is the truest me,” she said.

“It seems that even when we are extremely happy to celebrate something luxurious or artistic like music, it is important to remember that when we say international, it often still applies only to those who don’t have to worry about basic human needs. What’s more important is to remember how lucky we are, be grateful for what we have, and send prayers for those who cannot celebrate International Music Day.”

Linjawi chose the name “Fulana”, which means “anybody,” because for her, the story she tells through her music could be anyone’s story. Her songs revolve around loss of identity, confusion, and loneliness.

In 2023, she produced seven songs and performed in Jeddah (Balad Beast) and Riyadh (Middle Beast), as well as Cairo, Amman, and New York during her “Notes on Swimming” tour. Her album “Banatafkar” was produced with Wall of Sound.

In the second part of the event, Canine took to the stage leading a group that captivated the audience with a blend of electro-pop, soul and hip-hop, woven through with surreal arrangements and deeply intimate lyrics.




Magali Cotta’s approach to music combines acoustic and electronic instruments. (Photo supplied)

The performance also featured excerpts from influential French personalities such as philosopher Gilles Deleuze, lawyer Gisele Halimi, and poet Charles Baudelaire.

In an exclusive interview with Arab News, Cotta shared insights into her creative process, inspiration, and the evolution of her unique sound.

She said the Jeddah event was “a journey exploring the core themes of hope, feminine strength, nature, and the night, transcending the traditional concert format to become an immersive experience.”

She added: “I enjoy collaborating with other artists. My most beautiful collaborations are with the musicians who accompany me on stage. Whether they are instrumentalists or singers, they are wonderful performers and add their sensitivity to the music I have written. Similarly, I consider the sound engineers who mix my music to be creators in their own right.

“Unfortunately we did not have time to collaborate with Fulana for this live performance, but I hope it will happen soon! I was very surprised to find a Saudi female artist in electronic music. I didn’t expect it, and it was a very pleasant surprise.”

Cotta’s approach to music combines acoustic and electronic instruments. She explained how she favors analog synthesizers for their organic warmth, while also incorporating acoustic instruments like brass and strings for a more delicate touch. This blend defies conventional boundaries, prioritizing emotional resonance.

“I use analog synthesizers rather than digital ones. Their sound is warmer and more organic. Sometimes, I need even more warmth and fragility, which leads me towards acoustic sounds. For me, there are no boundaries between acoustic and electronic sounds. They just need to be as moving as possible at any given point in the piece,” she said.




Cotta’s performance not only highlighted the Saudi Arabia’s growing electro-pop scene, but also underscored the universal language of music. (Photo supplied)
 

Cotta’s message resonated with the Saudi audience. She expressed a desire to move them, emphasizing the power of femininity and the group’s representation of musical roles that are traditionally dominated by males.

“We want to present a different image of what is expected of ‘femininity.’ For us, femininity is connected to nature; it can be fragile, but it also possesses immense strength,” she said.

Cotta’s performance not only highlighted the Kingdom’s growing electro-pop scene, but also underscored the universal language of music.

As for the future, Cotta is currently working on her third album and preparing new performances for the year ahead. She hopes to return to Saudi Arabia with a new show.

On June 27, the French Embassy in Riyadh in partnership with Alliance Française, Beast House and MDL Beast hosted a day-long event dedicated to promoting music culture.

Beast House came alive with rhythm, with the line-up including a special performance by Canine as well as DJ sets by JOJ, Vinyl Mode, and D’JULZ.


Saudi defense minister meets Swedish counterpart

Updated 22 November 2024
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Saudi defense minister meets Swedish counterpart

  • Discussions focused on bolstering cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Sweden

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s minister of defense, Prince Khalid bin Salman, met Johan Stuart, minister of state at the Swedish Prime Minister’s office, in Riyadh on Thursday.

They discussed ways in which relations and cooperation between their countries might be enhanced, along with other issues of mutual interest, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Other Saudi officials present during the discussions included Lt. Gen. Fayyad Al-Ruwaili, chief of the general staff of the Kingdom’s armed forces, and Hisham bin Abdulaziz bin Saif, director general of the defense minister’s office.

The Swedish minister was accompanied by a delegation that included Bjorn Kalvakov, charge d’affaires of the Swedish Embassy in Riyadh, and Sophie Becker, deputy head of the Middle East and North Africa department at Sweden’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.


Italian food festival highlights nation’s rich taste and culinary flavors

Updated 22 November 2024
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Italian food festival highlights nation’s rich taste and culinary flavors

JEDDAH: The Italian Consulate General in Jeddah hosted on Wednesday night a unique event celebrating the richness and uniqueness of Italian products and flavors on the occasion of the ninth edition of the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World. 

The event is being celebrated all over the globe from Nov. 16-22 by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Italian Ministry of Agriculture as part of their drive to promote the beauty and quality of Italian gastronomy.

Leonardo Costa, the Italian consul general in Jeddah, said: “We are glad to hold this Italian food street festival in the framework of the 9th Week of Italian Cuisine in the World celebrating Italian food culture. The theme for this year’s events is ‘Mediterranean Diet: Traditional Cuisine and Healthy Food,’ which is not a list of healthy food but a lifestyle.”

He added: “All the communities of the Mediterranean Sea share the same idea of hospitality and friendship. All concepts that fully applied to the great generosity and hospitality to the Saudi people and their way of conceiving food.”

Held at Al-Basateen Compound, the Italian Consulate General in Jeddah set up an elaborate street food scene around the pool area, ranging from big local Italian brands from shops, supermarkets, restaurants, cafes, and hotels in Jeddah with the attendance of guests drawn from the diplomatic corps, journalists, Italian expatriates, Saudi guests, the business community, and other selected food enthusiasts.

The festival contained multiple food stalls displayed by the sponsors and participants such as Danub, Lallo restaurant, Assila hotel, Margherita KSA, Montana water by Sharbatly, Ferrero, Loacker, and other brands, where everyone showcased different distinctive Italian delicacies.

Music was also played for the guests by DJ Ahmed Can.

Saudi businessman Mohammed Al-Zahrani — who became fascinated by Italian coffee during his visits to Catanzaro, the capital of the Calabria region in Italy, is the founder of Dell’Oro Store. He told Arab News how he turned his passion into a business.

“I am glad to be part of the ninth Week of Italian Cuisine in the World for the first time, and I am here to promote our coffee,” he added.


Spanish aerobatic pilot Castor Fantoba puts on a spectacular air display in Riyadh

Updated 21 November 2024
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Spanish aerobatic pilot Castor Fantoba puts on a spectacular air display in Riyadh

  • World-class pilot soars high at Sand & Fun event

RIYADH: A Spanish world-class powered aerobatic pilot on Tuesday put on a thrilling aerobatic display filled with loops, rolls, spins, dives and climbs at the Sand & Fun event at Al-Thumamah airport, Riyadh. 

Organized by the Saudi General Aviation, the event runs from Nov. 19-23. 

Castor Fantoba’s performance was one of 10 SkyVentures at Sand & Fun’s series of airshows.

In a sitdown interview with Arab News, Fantoba described how his passion for aviation began and what it takes to become a world-class aerobatic pilot. 

As a child, Fantoba lived in the Spanish region of Navarra, where he watched small planes flying in the sky.

“Every child is looking into the blue ... Near my village there was an older field and eventually there were small planes doing tours and I was always stuck to the glass of the car, looking into the window trying to see if there was something around. I think it was that simple thing that marked my life.”

After secondary school, Fantoba developed a deeper admiration for aviation, which led to him pursuing a career as an engineer. 

Fantoba graduated as an aeronautical engineer and gained his extensive flying experience in areas such as aerial advertising, skywriting, crop-dusting and water-bombing.

He then decided to take a different route and become a pilot, after working for several years in aircraft maintenance. 

Today, Fantoba is an airline captain qualified to fly Boeing 737, 757 and 767s, powered aerobatics in the world-renowned Sukhoi Su-26M and is also a certified flight instructor for ultralight motorized gliders, private pilot licence training, and powered aerobatics.

To prepare for his airshows, Fantoba has a precise regimen of physical training and technical training coached by retired pilot and former member of the Soviet and Russian national aerobatic team, Nikolai Nikituk, who is widely recognized as one of the best pilots in the history of aerobatics. 

“He (Nikituk) is the one who is pushing us and modeling us to arrive at that point in which we will compete and try to win.”

During airshows, pilots take turns performing and on some days the wind could work against them. In moments like those, endurance is key, a practice taught by Nikituk.

“If you control your stress, you get focused and you don’t get nervous and lose energy.” 

Aerobatic pilots draw geometrical figures in the sky using a unique composition of sequences. When performing advanced aerial maneuvers, pilots can experience a range of gravitational forces.

Aerobatic pilots are trained to handle these forces by tensing their muscles to maintain blood flow to the brain and avoid blacking out.

Fantoba said dealing with negative Gz force, when pushing a plane over into a dive, took him 10 years of practice to perfect it. 

“After 10 years of training, (previously) I was not able to get the good rotation or transition, but this year I got it so this for me is the most satisfying.”

To avoid problems in equilibrium, prevent dizziness and fade-out, Fantoba said a lot mental focus, physical conditioning, and training are required. 

“You need to do exactly what you are told to do in a sequence. A sequence is composed of about 14 figures that are very complex with rotations in all directions.” 

Fantoba spoke of an experience when he blacked out during a positive Gz flight. “I remember I was beginning a training camp and I was really relaxed during the beginning of the season ... I was not pushing my body … I remember I was going up and then a voice was calling me ‘Castor, do you hear me?’ (on the radio) and I saw all blue and suddenly realized I was flying.”

Pilots begin with 10 points and lose 1 point per 5 degrees of deviation, so precision is vital to a successful airshow. Pilots usually score an average five points, but Fantoba’s attention to detail allowed him to score 8.3 points in the previous World Championship. 

Fantoba encourages individuals to try flying. “With normal health, you can fly ... you have fantastic aircraft here in Saudi Arabia … call them (organizations) and ask them ‘how can I become a pilot?’ It’s easy and you will discover an absolute new world.”

“Aerobatics and generally all air sports, it does not matter if you are a man or woman, it’s based on skill … in aerobatics we do not have separation.”

Fantoba has numerous achievements to his credit. 

He was a runner-up in the 2022 World Team Championship, runner-up in freestyle at the 2019 World Championship; three bronze medals at the 2017 World Cup; double bronze medal in the 2015 World Cup, bronze medal in Classic and Freestyle in the 2016 European Championship, Absolute European Champion 2014, and nine times Absolute Spanish Champion.

He has been officially recognized as a high level athlete by the Higher Sports Council since 2005. He has bagged more than 50 medals in his sporting career, six medals in a single top-category competition (European Aerobatic Championships 2014). He has won 30 FAI (world governing body for air sports) medals, including six golds.


Man arrested for transporting nine border security violators in Jazan

Updated 21 November 2024
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Man arrested for transporting nine border security violators in Jazan

JAZAN: Authorities in Jazan arrested a citizen for transporting nine border security violators of Yemeni and Ethiopian nationalities. Legal procedures were carried out, and the violators were handed over to the authorities before being transferred to the Public Prosecution.

Authorities have warned that anyone who facilitates the entry of border security violators into the Kingdom, transports them, provides them with shelter, or offers any form of assistance or service, will face severe penalties. These include imprisonment of up to 15 years, fines of up to SR1 million ($266,318), confiscation of any vehicles or properties used in the offense, and public defamation.

Meanwhile, while enforcing environmental regulations in the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve, field patrols of the Special Forces for Environmental Security arrested a man for illegal hunting in a prohibited area. He was found with an air rifle and three trapped wild animals. Legal measures were taken, and he was referred to the authorities for further action.


Ehsan charity empowers non-profit organizations

Updated 21 November 2024
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Ehsan charity empowers non-profit organizations

RIYADH: Workshops arranged by Ehsan, the national platform for charitable work, are helping empower non-profit organizations.

The initiative will ensure leaders keep pace with the governance of charitable work, with sessions aimed at developing methods to plan and implement projects.

The events are part of Ehsan’s efforts to increase the knowledge and develop the work of its non-governmental partner organizations. They align with its vision of maximizing the impact of projects, developing technical solutions, strengthening partnerships and empowering the non-profit sector.

The first workshops were launched in the Hail, Al-Jouf, Central and Asir regions, and Jeddah Governorate. More than 500 non-governmental organizations took part.