Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Bahrain musician Majid AlMaskati who made the big time in North America as part of a dynamic double act, is returning home to headline a Spring of Culture show, writes Mai Al Khatib-Camille.
The Toronto-based duo Majid Jordan, featuring soul singer and lyricist Majid and hard-hitting, beat-dropping Canadian producer Jordan Ullman, will be taking time out of a world tour to perform here.
The R&B stars will take to the Bahrain Bay stage on Friday at 8:30pm performing hits such as A Place Like This, Her and Forever before jetting off to the UK for more shows.
His proud family and friends cannot wait for Majid to touch back down in the kingdom. Proud dad Hani, a banking consultant who lives in Saar, said: “When it all started, it was surreal. Everything happened so fast! We are very proud of him and love him so much.”
The 27-year-old is a former Bahrain Bayan School student who went on to graduate from the University of Toronto in business. It was during his time at university that he and Jordan started making music together. They first met when Jordan crashed Majid’s 21st birthday party.
They started their music collaboration with a single called Hold Tight posted anonymously on internet music-sharing platform SoundCloud and working between Jordan’s dorm room and his parents’ basement, then launched an EP titled Afterhours under the pseudonym Good People.
OVO Sound record label’s Noah ‘40’ Shebib, producer for hit rapper Drake, was impressed and sent an email to Majid who at that point was in Bahrain looking for a job.
Majid Jordan was then signed on by the label, went on to co-produce and were credited on Drake’s most successful single Hold On, We’re Going Home, which was featured on the platinum-selling album Nothing Was the Same.
The duo also starred on The Ellen Show, the popular US TV show broadcast in the Gulf region on OSN, performing with Drake and being interviewed by the celebrity host.
Majid’s British-born mum Sheila Roche, said: “Watching him on Ellen was totally surreal as we only knew it was happening a day before. I do watch Ellen and like her shows. Majid Jordan’s last London Show was brilliant – it was amazing to hear the fans sing every word of their songs. We are going to London and Paris next month to watch them again.
“The best thing about the music is that Majid is working with Jordan who is amazingly talented too and they are great friends.”
Majid tries to visit his parents and meet up with his sisters Hanna, 21, a psychology student in Canada, and Nadya, 25, who is studying for a Masters in publishing in the UK, as often as he can.
See panel below for upcoming Spring of Culture calendar of events
Today
What: Al-Fann, Art from the Islamic Civilisation from the Al-Sabah Collection Exhibition
Where: Bahrain National Museum
When: Open daily from 8am to 8pm, until June 30
What: Al-Fann, Art from the Islamic Civilisation from the Al-Sabah Collection Lecture by Prof. Giovanni Curatola
Where: Bahrain National Museum
When: 6.30pm (18 years and above only)
What: Between Muharraq and Seville, A Bolza Exhibition
Where: Bahrain National Museum
When: Open daily from 8am to 8pm, until March 20
What: Spotlight Series by Nasser Al Yousif
Where: Bin Matar House
When: Open until tomorrow, 9am to 1pm and 4pm to 7pm
What: Life Journey, an Exhibition by Fereshte Shishine
Where: La Fontaine Centre for Art
When: Open Tuesdays to Sundays until May 8, 10am to 6.30pm
What: The 44th Bahrain Annual Fine Arts Exhibition
Where: Arad Fort
When: Open daily until March 7, 10am to 9pm
Tomorrow
What: Archaeologies of Green Exhibition
Where: Muharraq, Sheikh Abdulla Avenue
When: Open daily until April 30
What: The Sound & Light
Where: Qal’at Al Bahrain
When: Starting tomorrow, every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 6pm for English version, 7pm for Arabic version
What: Karima Skalli
Where: Cultural Hall
When: 8pm
What: Mohammed Bin Faris Band
Where: Mohammed Bin Faris Music Hall
When: Starting tomorrow, every Thursday, at 8pm
Friday
What: Majid Jordan
Where: Bahrain Bay
When: 8.30pm
Saturday
What: Dar Al Riffa Al-Oda Music
Where: Dar Al Riffa Al-Oda
When: March 3, March 17, April 14, and April 28 at 8pm
Monday
What: Maya Youssef
Where: Shaikh Ebrahim Centre for Culture and Research
When: 8pm
Tuesday
What: Weaves From Ashes Faika Al Hasan Solo Exhibition
Where: Al Bareh Art Gallery
When: Starting March 6, Tuesday to Friday 10am to 2pm and 4pm to 8pm, until March 30
March 7
What: This Compass will always point to Palestine
Where: Art Centre
When: Starting March 7, Wednesday to Saturday from 8am to 8pm, until March 31
March 8
What: S4K’s Macbeth
Where: Cultural Hall
When: March 8 at 11.30am and 6.30pm and March 9 at 6.30pm
What: Rita Ora
Where: Bahrain Bay
When: March 8 at 8.30pm
For ticket prices and more details, visit www.springofculture.org/
