Zippo Encore Arabia Launches Search For Local Musical Talent

Iconic Brand Gives UAE Musicians the Chance to Shine

Dubai 16th March 2014: Iconic lifestyle brand Zippo has launched Zippo Encore Arabia, an exciting new search for unsigned musical talent in the UAE.  This is the second consecutive year that Zippo has run a music competition in the region, following a hugely successful Battle of the Bands partnership with Makshoof Music aimed at local up and coming rock bands in 2013.  This year the competition is open to  all musical genres, including Arabic music.

Zippo has a longstanding heritage in live music, with the Zippo Windproof Lighters famously held high by concert-goers in support of their favourite songs. Now the brand is keen to engage youth across the UAE with the launch of Zippo Encore Arabia to support homegrown musical talent. Unsigned artists in the UAE can submit original music and the winners will have the chance to take centre stage and shine in front of an audience of the UAE’s top music and media influencers.

In order to enter the competition, bands, artists and electronic music producers will need to sign up on www.zippoencorearabia.com between 16th March and 13th April 2014 and submit a link to their original music. Entrants will have a chance to have their music heard by a prestigious panel of six judges comprising David Warfel, Global Marketing Director of Zippo; Niktoin, the UAE rock band who won last year’s Battle of the Bands; Colombian music sensation Fatiniza; Lebanese soul singer Rouba; Radio One DJ Dany Neville and local music producer Elvis Garagic of Soundstruck Studios. 

The fans’ votes will determine the top five English language music acts and the top five Arabic language music acts.  The panel of judges will then choose two winners, one from the five English finalists and one from the five Arabic finalists. The two winners will be announced at a VIP gig held in Dubai which will be attended by the most influential members of the media and the music industry, along with the judges and finalists.  The winning acts will perform live and have their performance filmed and broadcast on the Zippo Facebook page and YouTube channels.

Global Marketing Director of Zippo David Warfel said: “Zippo is delighted to support new musical talent in the UAE. Last year’s competition was a huge success and I was very impressed by the quality of entries.  The enthusiasm for music in the region prompted Zippo to broaden the contest even wider this year and encourage musicians from a greater range of genres to enter.”

Cruize, the lead singer of Nikotin, who won last year’s Zippo Battle of the Bands, said: “Being part of the Zippo Battle of the Bands in 2013 gave us an amazing opportunity to take our band to the next level and I’m really happy that Zippo has decided to run another talent search this year.  Since our win, we’ve gone on tour and recently launched a new album and I really feel that Zippo’s support has been invaluable. Zippo Encore Arabia will bring local music acts an incredible opportunity to showcase their music to a wider audience and demonstrate how vibrant and active the music community is in the region.”

Bands can sign up on www.zippoencorearabia.com. The competition will go live from 16th March and deadline for entries is midnight on 13th April.

About Zippo
Zippo markets in more than 160 countries and is one of the most recognized brands in the world. Based in Bradford, PA, USA, Zippo has produced over 500 million Windproof Lighters, each backed by an unparalleled lifetime guarantee. Zippo’s diverse product line includes lighter accessories; butane candle lighters; watches, fragrance, and lifestyle accessories for men; and a robust line of heat and flame products for outdoor enthusiasts.  Zippo also owns W.R. Case and Sons Cutlery Company, based in Bradford, PA, USA.  For more information, visit www.zippo.com  or like us at facebook.com/zippo.

About Zippo Encore Arabia:

How to take part in the Zippo Encore Arabia music contest:
Phase 1:

1. You will need to be a resident or national of the UAE, aged over 18, play original, unsigned music either of general Western genre or Arabic genre and be available in the UAE for media comment and to attend the gig in the event that you are shortlisted. Vocals must be in either English or in Arabic language.
2. Visit the Zippo Facebook page facebook.com/zippo to take you to the Zippo Encore Arabia competition app to fill out the entry.
3. Fill out the form, and include a link to a Soundcloud or YouTube music clip before midnight on the 13th April 2014 to enter your band into the competition.

Phase 2:
 

1. Fans can then vote for their favourite act on the Zippo Facebook page.
2. The votes will be counted and the top five English and top five Arabic acts will be announced as finalists in April 2014.

 
Phase 3:

1. The panel of judges will review the ten finalists and will pick one English and one Arabic winner.
2. The top ten finalists will be invited to attend a VIP gig in May.
3. Zippo will host a VIP gig at a location in Dubai and invite members of the media and the finalists during May 2014. All finalists must be available to attend the gig on this date.
4. The two winners will be announced during the gig in front of the media. They will be announced on Facebook the next day.
5. The winners will perform live on the night and their performance will be filmed and posted on the Zippo Facebook page and circulated to the media.

About the judging panel:

• David Warfel: the Global Marketing Director of Zippo has proudly positioned Zippo as a serious supporter of the music scene in the US and globally.  Under the Zippo Encore banner, the brand is present in over 200 live music events every year.
• Nikotin: UAE-based alternative rock band, and winners of the Zippo-Makshoof Battle of the Bands 2013. Nikotin regularly perform at concerts throughout the UAE and abroad and have supported acts such as Noel Gallagher at Sandance and Nickelback.
• Fatiniza: Colombian singer who has taken the UAE by storm with her explosive mix of pop-rock and her fiery Latina spirit. The singer/ songwriter entered the UAE’s Virgin music charts at number 7 and her single, Out of Control, reached number 23 on Colombia’s singles charts.
• Dany Neville:  Dany joined Radio 1 at just 17 years of age, becoming the youngest radio presenter/DJ in the Middle East and is now representing the local music scene in acclaimed events all over the world. Rouba: Rouba, also known as Roobz, is a soul singer/songwriter born in Lebanon whose music has been described as “a club-friendly slab of soulful pop” by Rolling Stone Magazine. She has enjoyed a musical collaboration with Ziad Rahbani for many years and is currently performing at Music Hall Dubai.
• Elvis Garagic: Senior Producer and Sound Engineer at Soundstruck Studios, Elvis has been influential in the music scene for more than five years working with international artists such as Flo-Rida as well as local talent.