Hamdan Abri on 20 Years in UAE Music and His Healing New Album

Emirati soul singer Hamdan Abri has spent more than two decades building a career in the UAE’s music scene, and his key lesson is simple: musicians must create their own opportunities. After years of recording, performing and co-founding bands, Abri has learned that balancing commercial work with personal creative projects is essential for longevity.

“You need to keep things moving, and this is something I’ve learnt along the way,” Abri told The National. “I’m actually seeing more artists doing that today.” He points to local indie band Tasty Biscuits as an example of the evolving scene, where musicians build their own platforms and communities instead of waiting for gigs.

Abri recently put that approach into action with his latest project, Abri and The Everlasting. Their debut album, The Healing, was launched with an intimate concert at Sabaa Events Space in Dubai. The 10-track record blends soul, psychedelic rock, funk and reggae, and was five years in the making. It began with jam sessions as the live events industry recovered from the pandemic, and the songs reflect that journey from lockdown to reconnection.

“When I hear the record, I think the songs really speak of those times,” Abri says. “That’s why it’s called The Healing, because it personifies where we are personally and collectively.”

Abri’s career began in the early 2000s with an eponymous band, which gained attention in the UAE’s fledgling independent music scene. Collaborating with keyboardist and producer Julian Symes, he released albums such as Sunchild and Blank Notes, performing across the region and Europe. As a solo artist, his track “(Re)birth” featured in an episode of the American TV drama CSI, and he secured support slots for Sade and Erykah Badu.

One of his most memorable moments came in 2014, when he performed with jazz legend Herbie Hancock at the Abu Dhabi Festival. “Hancock just told me to relax and enjoy the process,” Abri recalls. “The lesson for me was to relax and trust the people you’re working with.”

Abri has witnessed significant changes in the UAE music scene, especially the increase in venues and commercial opportunities for artists performing original English-language material. For him, the key is staying open to collaboration and new directions, as projects like The Healing continue to reignite his love for making music.