Music
Svengali Pack Their Bags For Istanbul
UAE metal band play overseas debut at Headbangers Festival
The UAE metal scene’s homegrown metalheads, Svengali, are leaving their UAE ‘family’ behind for a trip to Istanbul – playing their first international gig at Turkey’s Headbangers Festival.
But what will the lads be packing to take with them on this big trip?
Svengali Band
© Svengali
JM (Jean Michael) Elias, 30, Lebanese guitarist
My GoPro, extra cables – because you can never have enough back-ups, every local band T-shirt I own, wristbands… and good vibes. (That’s a big bag for a weekend, JM!)
Mohammad Taifi, 28, Saudi-Jordanian guitarist
Boxers, tank tops, sneakers, jeans and my teddy bear.
Ali Square, 27, Iranian bassist
Boxers, shirts, jeans, sneakers and body shampoo! (You know you can pick that up at the hotel?)
Adnan Mryhij, 27, Iraqi-Jordanian vocalist
Microphone, sweatbands, duct tape (because any emergency can be solved with duct tape), headphones and a camera. (Sensible lad!)
They’re also packing session drummer Josh Saldanha, 28, for the festival.
Headbangers Festival headlined by Kreator, Helloween and Katatonia, takes place in KüçükÇiftlik Park from 29 to 31 August, with Svengali playing on the third day.
The event’s been running for two years now and thousands are expected to attend. Adnan says they “didn’t hesitate for a second” when asked to join the 21-strong line-up this year – as they’re a “live-oriented band”.
“Svengali is one big family and we know we have a few Svengali family members over in Istanbul coming. This is our first time in Turkey, though, and we’re still not sure what to expect – but we always aim to deliver an energetic show.”
The unstoppable Svengali have played quite a few concerts in their 18 months together, supporting Guns ‘n’ Roses guitarist Bumblefoot and Brazilian death metal band Krisiun and thrashing at gigs from Desert Experiment to the Metal Eastern Festival, but this is their first overseas gig.
It won’t be their last, though – Adnan says they’re working on a few shows in Europe and the UK, to be announced “very soon”.
Adnan set up Svengali in 2013 and they soon released their debut EP, Unscathed. Their first album, Theory of Mind, came out earlier this year.
The boys say they can’t wait to play Sink or Swim, Blindfolds, Deny and Floodgates. They’re all staying on for a few days to check out Istanbul – it’s set to be a “comedically touristic” few days, says Adnan.