By Our Reporter
Dubai-based band, Quincy Jones V4texx is seeking to collaborate with more African artistes this year, they have revealed.
The band is promising to facilitate the collaborations in a bid to give African music a new and different feel. The works between V4texx and African artistes will be produced at Club Q bar, located in the luxurious Palazzo Versace in Dubai and owned by the legendary producer, Quincy Jones.
V4texx band is a 4-man band led by Dante Kennedy, who is originally from the USA. The other three members are all from Nigeria.
“It was a complete coincidence, we were just looking for people who can play well they just all happen to be from Nigeria. We played with a Kenyan guitarist and someone from Colombia before, so we are open to working with African musicians and artists, but they have to come correct.” Dante Kennedy said.
Dante Kennedy is a veteran in the music industry who was recruited initially by Quincy Jones himself in 2018. He has performed at over 400 shows and worked with the likes of Lil Wayne, Justin Timberlake, Nicki Minaj, Miley Cyrus, and Wiz Khalifa, among others.
Last year, Dante worked with over 30 African artistes, connecting them with opportunities in the UAE, something he is looking to scale up this year.
Having played in Dubai for more than 5 years now, Dante admits that though the music in the UAE is still growing, it has made great strides.
Many of his fans fly in just to catch live music vibes. His advice to African artists hoping to make a move to the UAE is; “There are a lot of opportunities for musicians to thrive in the UAE, but we must take a long-term approach and start with building relationships and trust with authorities and the community here.”
