How IMS Came To Dubai. Interview With Pete Tong

by Alexandra Mansilla

How IMS Came To Dubai. Interview With Pete Tong

26 Nov 2024

Photo: Anglo Management

In November, something happened in Dubai that everyone seemed to be talking about (especially music lovers) — IMS, or the International Music Summit.

So, why is this event such a big deal? First, it is one of the most important international events in the global electronic music industry, bringing together all the major players. And second, it is a rare chance to see and hear from people you have admired for a long time, learn from their experiences, and discover something new.

Until now, IMS had always been far from our region. But this year, it came to Dubai, and that was a huge moment. We spoke with Pete Tong, one of the founders of IMS, about why the summit decided to come to Dubai now — and even asked him to describe how Dubai and Beirut sound (don’t miss this part; his description is absolutely brilliant).

— Hi Pete! So, IMS was founded in 2007. Why did you decide to bring it to Dubai only 14 years later? And actually, why did you decide to bring it here?

— Well, we have wanted to do this for a few years. COVID probably set us back a bit, but everything came together this year. With Beatport now as our business partner and their focus on the region (it is a big priority for them), we have always wanted to be here.

Logistics, funding, planning, timing, and finding the right place on the calendar all played a part. We didn't want to just come here once; we wanted to establish a recurring presence. So, this is now our spot in mid-November; that is amazing.

Photo: Anglo Management

— Hassan Alwan, the founder of Boogie Box, once said: “Dubai has always been seen as a party city. It has everything — big events, international bookings, gigs, clubs, tours, you name it.” All events — including music ones — happen in Dubai. What other cities — or, if it is difficult, countries — would you highlight that play a significant role in developing the music scene of MENA?

— Dubai has always been part of the conversation, but the culture there has been harder to pinpoint. While talents have always come to Dubai, it has historically been dominated by imports rather than exports. However, in the last four or five years, the momentum has shifted, thanks to infrastructure development and opportunities. Also, Saudi Arabia has started initiatives like MDLBEAST and the broader opening of the country, which has been transformative for the region.

Reflecting on my experiences, I would say Beirut was one of the most exciting places to play in my entire career. The energy of people living on the edge makes the music and partying feel so much more meaningful. People embrace it as a release, and that has always been a powerful thing to witness.

And Egypt — well, everyone seems to be heading to Egypt now. It is a region with so much potential, and I’m excited to see what comes next.

Photo: Anglo Management

— One of the topics of IMS is “Defining A Sound: The Sound Of A Region”. From your point of view, what sound is it? It can be anything that comes to your head.

— It is obviously completely unique. I’m not entirely sure, scientifically speaking, whether it belongs to one specific country or the whole region, but it is undoubtedly distinctive. When I think about it, the desert vibe and the Arabic vibe are probably the first things that come to mind.

— And how would you describe the sound of Dubai? And the sound of Beirut? Again, it can be anything.

— Well, if I had to describe the Dubai sound, it would probably include a champagne cork popping in the mix! Very flashy and high-energy.

The Beirut sound is just proper underground, really weighty and raw. I remember playing in Beirut a long time ago, back when the trance scene was quite big there. But for me, Beirut has always been about proper underground music, a bit like the vibe in Argentina.

Argentina was the first country in South America to really embrace electronic music, and Beirut had a very similar energy. Both have that kind of deep connection to the underground sound.

by Alexandra Mansilla