Alira is an Emirati singer and songwriter based in Dubai.
PHOTO BY JONATHAN YBERA/EXPAT MEDIA
DUBAI – Alira’s debut single, Take Flight, has hit the UAE airwaves, with a Dubai-based radio station calling the Emirati singer and songwriter “an artist to watch”.
The club track is Alira’s original composition and features his dynamic countertenor vocal. The song is now available on Spotify, iTunes, Deezer, Amazon Music and Anghami. Listen to it here
Alira is the first Emirati pop performer known for his trademark countertenor vocals—the equivalent of a male soprano sound. He also sings in whistle register.
“Alira is definitely an artist to watch; I’m sure an artist that we will be playing a lot in the future,” Aylissa Boyce, radio presenter at Luv 107.1 radio in Dubai, said during a live interview with Alira earlier this week.
“I’ve played it several times.. It’s got that catchy hook. So good!” said Boyce, describing Take Flight.
The song has also been played in several clubs in Dubai, with DJs saying it has a “unique, upbeat vibe”.
Award-winning choreographer CL Frostyle, who is working with Alira on a music video for Take Flight, told Expatmedia.net that the song is a “solid hit” and makes him “want to keep on dancing”.
For Take Flight, Alira, real name Ali Rashed, collaborated with Wayne Wilkins, the British songwriter who has produced hits for Beyonce (Sweet Dreams), Jordin Sparks (Battlefield) and Natasha Bedingfield (These Words).
UAE newspaper The National called Alira’s Take Flight as the work of a “bonafide hit maker”.
Alira will be performing the song live for the first time at the UAE Golden Music Festival with popular Danish band Michael Learns to Rock and American cover band Boyce Avenue at the Dubai Festival Arena on December 2. Get tickets here
This will be followed by a second on-stage performance at Paskong Handog sa Pinoy concert with Filipino stars Yeng Constantino, KZ Tandingan, Catriona Gray, Erik Santos and K Brosas on December 10 at Dubai Festival Arena. Get tickets here
Born and raised in Dubai, Alira developed his love for global music at a young age, with the influences of different musical styles from around the world. His eclectic taste in music includes genres like pop, jazz, blues, ballads, rock, country music and classical music.
Talking about the inspiration behind Take Flight, Alira told Expatmedia.net he was “looking to create an upbeat song that people can dance, vibe and have a good time with”.
“I have written various kinds of ballad songs but I wanted to create a song in the pop and dance genre,” Alira told Expatmedia.net.
Working closely with writer-producer Wilkins on the project, it took Alira a week to write the song. Due to the pandemic, interactions with his music team were limited to Zoom calls, but this didn’t stop Alira from finishing the song.
“’Look at me baby don’t look down, and we’ll finally fly away’ is my favourite line in the song because the song revolves around two lovers and this line is very intimate and talks about boundless love,” Alira shared.
After releasing his first single, Alira is looking forward to more live gigs. A performance at Expo 2020 Dubai is in the works, with guestings and collaborations with international artists.
His message to fans? “I will surely take them through my life’s journey and experience the story behind every song I have written,” Alira said. PIA/Expat Media
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