As the new season starts, live music comes to the fore and we took the chance to catch up with some of the bands who’ll be entertaining you across Qatar throughout the summer and beyond. Read on to discover what they had to say.

ALIEN CULTURE

Who are Alien Culture – who’s who and who does what?
Alien Culture is a multicultural group of musicians brought together by a shared love of music. We have our singer Kevin Cronly, our keyboard player Prince George, our drummer Hamdi Damak, our guitarist Avon Francis and our bassist Dilan Senn, each with their own unique talents and backgrounds. We usually stick to our own instruments, although we’re sometimes seen switching around on stage.

What brought you all to Qatar and how was the band formed?
Our paths led us to Qatar for various reasons, but music has always been a common thread. We’d been separately involved in the music scene since the mid-2000s. The band was formed out of boredom during COVID, with a few friends meeting up to jam and quickly forming the group since we saw something special.

What kind of music do you play and what’s your favourite song to perform?
We enjoy playing a wide range of genres, including rock, pop, funk, reggae, jazz and more. We love putting our own spin on cover songs, making them fresh and exciting for the audience. As for favourites, they change depending on the mood and the crowd’s energy. But we all agree that there’s nothing quite like the feeling of getting everyone moving with a killer groove.

Where can our readers see you performing?
You can catch us live at the Irish Harp located at the Sheraton Hotel, where we’re currently on our second stint as the resident band. We play there five nights a week, but also do special gigs around town. We recommend checking out the schedule on our website for upcoming gigs!

CROSSTOWN TRAFFIC

Please introduce the band – who’s who and who does what?
Hi! On lead vocals we have Jamie from Ireland. Lead guitar and backing vocals is Leo from Brazil, while Vitor from Portugal is on rhythm guitar and backing vocals. On drums, we have Perkison from Brazil and Emz from the Philippines on bass guitar. Emz is our newest member having joined the band in January 2024; the rest of us have been together since October 2022!

How long have you all been in Qatar and what originally brought you here?
I think we are a great representation of the society as we all come from different areas of the world and work in different fields. We all have regular day jobs in education, aviation, the media and construction, but we were brought together by our love of performing and music.

Who are your musical influences and what style of music do you play?
When you’re in a band, it’s important to all share in the same vision, but it’s also important for each individual to bring their own influences. We all share a love of classic acts like Metallica, Queen, Jimi Hendrix, ACDC, Blink 182 and lots of other legendary rock bands. However, we are also really open to discovering new music and we incorporate music from artists like Dua Lipa, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Rihanna and more. We especially love when we can mix two artists together! For example, we do several mashups: ACDC and Bruno Mars; Metallica and Stevie Wonder. Ultimately, we are a rock n roll band – but we love to adapt songs of all genres to our style.

What’s been your most memorable gigging experience in Qatar and why?
A couple of experiences spring to mind. Our first ever gig at The Backyard at Doha Golf Club just before the FIFA World Cup was amazing as it was so full of people! We also played The Backyard’s New Year’s Eve Party in 2023 and the atmosphere was electric! Recently, we played at The Lusail Festival of Speed featuring Qatar MotoGP sponsored by Qatar Airways…playing at Lusail International Circuit seemed to really suit our style!

Where can our readers see you performing?
Our agency, Candela Entertainment, works with a brilliant range of clients across the city. We play regularly at Tropicana 360 Paradiso Brunch at The Dusit Hotel and Suites, Bubbalicious Brunch at The Westin Hotel and The Backyard at Doha Golf Club. However, please follow us on Instagram @crosstowntrafficdoha to keep up with all our upcoming dates.

THE EXILES

When did you join The Exiles and what sort of music does the band play?
Frontman, Peter Gibson: I joined The Exiles, now one of Doha’s longest continuously running bands, in 2007 as a bass player. I left for a year to play in another band and then re-joined as a lead singer in 2009, before becoming the lead singer-bass player in 2010. I kept in touch with many of the band members and, upon my return in 2021, re-joined the band again. I am fairly easy to recognise with my long, ginger-turned-platinum-blond hair, kilt and combat boots. The band plays guitar-based pop-rock, primarily Top 40 UK hits from the 1960s until today.

The band seems to be a bit of a moveable feast with lots of different members over the years, how does this affect the music?
The Exiles was formed by Peter Doole, Neil Wise and Patric Lundin in 2005 and has been running continuously until today. I am currently the longest-serving member, with my tenure spread over three different periods. Ironically, since I was away from Qatar during the pandemic, some fans of the band were unaware that I had left Qatar when they saw me on stage again. To date, there have been 41 different members, from all corners of the world, so I would say that your phrase ‘moveable feast’ is on point. There has always been at least one band member to span the gap in vacancies, maintaining momentum and band style. Different members and combinations of members have tried on new musical styles, but The Exiles seems to have a personality of its own, and always settles back into its familiar genre, which is simply songs people like to hear but with The Exiles feel to them.

How would you describe the live music scene in Qatar?
It is incredible! There are so many talented musicians in Doha now, both amateur and professional. Before I first arrived in Doha, there were a few bands, and I was fortunate to meet musicians through The Doha Players Theatre Group’s Open Mic Nights (OMN). I ran the OMN for several years and watched many musicians connect and form groups through these introductions, as well as develop entertainment companies. With the advent of Facebook (and other forms of social media), these connections became easier to make, not just for musicians but also their fans, who had a place to be able to follow their favourite band; and so, the live music scene exploded. You can find live music every night of the week in Doha, as well as at day-time brunches and multi-band gigs or festivals are frequent events.

THE HOODRATS

The band’s name is interesting. Where did it come from?
The Hoodrats have a unique distinctive name, which translates to being tough and strong. We selected the name by each member writing down our favourite options then drawing a selection from a cup.

Who’s who and who does what?
The Hoodrats is a cover band performing old school hip hop, reggae and funk tunes. Band members include Pinto from South Africa as lead vocalist, Andrew Withana from Sri Lanka on keyboards, Yasun Chanukah, also from Sri Lanka, on electric guitar, and Anderson Mora from Venezuela on drum and bass. We’re friends who decided it would be fun to come together as a band.

How do you choose which music to play? Do you ever disagree?
Band members love to share music that inspires them or simply music they think fits the repertoire to a group chat. Favourites are selected, as long as everyone agrees.

Where’s your favourite place to play and where can our readers see you performing?
We love to play in front of energetic audiences and crowds, this makes us super excited on stage. You can catch us at The Backyard, Pullman Hotel, Bubbalicious Brunch at Westin Doha and at Tropicana 360 brunch on occasion. Keep up to date with our appearances @theofficialhoodrats on Instagram.

WAFA & THE BAND

Tell us about yourself and the band.
Hey, I’m Wafa Benradja, and let me tell you about my journey – from The Voice Turkey 2022 finals to rocking festivals all over Turkey, even making a stop at Coke Studio in 2022. And then there’s Wassim, my talented friend. We met in Istanbul in 2021 and thanks to our awesome management, Candela Entertainment, we’re now in Doha, Qatar. They’ve not only brought us here but also provided us with a music production studio to experiment with different genres. So here we are, enjoying the international vibes in Doha, blending Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Algerian chaabi, Anatolian music, a bit of country and some rock into our own unique style. The crowd here loves it, and so do we!

You blend pop covers with Arabic fusion, how do you achieve this crossover?
When we take the stage, our mission is to delve into a rich tapestry of musical genres. By infusing pop covers with elements of Arabic fusion, we’re able to create a truly unique and captivating sound experience. This crossover is achieved through careful exploration and experimentation with various musical styles, allowing us to seamlessly blend the familiar with the exotic. Incorporating Arabic music adds a layer of depth and richness to our covers, enriching the overall sonic landscape and inviting audiences on a journey of cultural fusion and musical discovery.

What are your plans for the future?
Oh, it’s bright! I’ve got dreams of taking our music on a tour across the MENA region. It’s not just about the music; it’s about making a positive impact on the youth, women and maybe even inspiring future musicians.

Where can our readers see you performing?
You can catch us lighting up the stages of Doha’s finest five-star hotels, thanks to the incredible team at Candela Entertainment. Our musical journey began at the esteemed La Vista in InterContinental The City and has since taken us to renowned venues like Raffles and Rubix, with many more exciting performances on the horizon. Stay tuned for updates on our upcoming shows @Wafabenradja.

You’re an accomplished songwriter, do you also perform your own compositions?
While I am primarily known for my skill as a songwriter, I also love to perform my own compositions whenever the opportunity arises. I have a collection of original songs that I’ve been honing and perfecting, waiting for just the right moment to share them with the world.