As here in the Middle East we're ploughing through Dubai’s Nightlife: The New Normal, countrywide lockdowns to try to stem the second wave are coming into effect around Europe. ….

A few weeks back, I’d been having some seriously dodgy stomach issues throughout the day. Initially, I was convinced I was lactose intolerant or some other lame shizney like IBS. After powering through an extra-long day …

As September marks the start of the academic year, and this – in the most bizarre of years – will be one of the trickiest for us all to learn. That said, every day is a school day, and my thirst for musical knowledge will never wane ….

So, since the COVID Comeback and my Hastings Castle Eye Test mission – I’ve been readjusting into these new and occasionally bizarre nightlife norms.

As summer peaks out, I return to Dubai's Sandpit to reclaim my throne in the role of Head of Sales & Events for the city's leading F&B group as the industry as a whole is dancing - or not, as the case may be - on thin ice.

After receiving my negative COVID-19 test result back in the UK (setting me back a healthy £150), I returned to Dubai from my elaborate Hastings Castle Eye Test mission without really knowing what exactly to expect.

My insatiable appetite for discovering music hasn't waned since our fairly dull Life on Lockdown began, tuned in from the COVID capital of Europe here's my summer session of music reviews fresh from the Cloud of Sound.

With the UK about to move three months too late whilst introducing quarantine measures for visitors from early June – even though people are much more likely to catch COVID in the UK than to bring it in – I decided to risk a much-needed Hastings Castle Eye Test.

As we start to commence The Reawakening post our fairly dull Life on Lockdown, here's my third session of music reviews fresh from the Cloud of Sound.

In line with my efforts to resynch my ludicrously out-of-step body clock, Dubai is about to allow businesses to re-open between 6am and 11pm daily – big news for the F&B sector in the emirate…

For my second round of Life on Lockdown tunage, I've stumbled upon three new (to me) names here including Loot Jockey, Coutel and the Weaver Bros. Tune in and turn it up.

So here we are a few weeks (months?) into the current global Lockdown. Here’s how life on lockdown in Dubai – for me anywho – is working out…

During this time of international Life on Lockdown, I manage to do something vaguely productive with my time and put together some Lockdown mixes and tunes for you to enjoy while being holed up under virtual house arrest.

Whilst loving life at my friend’s legendary villa BBQ in what appears to be a Billionaire’s Row in Dubai, I grabbed a bottle of BrewDog from his fridge as we got the party started. As we were all catching up on the last few weeks’ escapades…

For the final SoundCloud Music Review of the decade, I fish out a few classic tracks remixed expertly alongside some epic mixes from Joey Negro and Eli Escobar. The future is just around the corner, let's embrace it.

It was probably more like 43.5 hours, but whatever – you have to have headlines that grab, and 48 sounds much better than 43.5. Anyways, my wonderful mother was treated to a birthday trip…

Post-operation Killing it in Kazan, I take some minutes/hours out of the hectic lifestyle I'm accustomed to stumble upon some more incredible music for your ears (and mine too).

As I followed in the footsteps of Leo Tolstoy and Lenin no less – both of whom studied at Kazan Federal University – I touched down in Russia’s sixth-largest city …

Oooff… as I psychologically prepare for my trip to Kazan I managed to find the time to dig some crates in June: and by crate digging I mean SoundCloud surfing of course. Witness the fitness of the Best of June's SoundCloud tunage.

We’re rapidly approaching the grand opening weekend for our first international expansion of Dubai’s homegrown super-brands Lock, Stock & Barrel and the impeccable Asia Asia restaurant …

Argh! There's too much great music out there at the moment, massively boosted by SoundCloud's change of algorithm - whereby tracks that people you follow / like often are presumably highlighted more aptly; so May was extra tough to choose from. Alas, I made it - here's my SoundCloud reviews for the month of May.

So what’s it like? With this being my second round of Ramadan action in the UAE; things in Dubai are considerably different from our time in Egypt …

For April's hand-picked blend of tunage, there's a few new artists (for me): Mighty Mouse and Oslo's Soulboss alongside the more familiar vibes of Pete Le Freq and DiscoDaze.

Just over a year into my reign – ahem – in the not-so-subtle beast that is Dubai’s nightlife scene, the recent downpours have been a little on the bizarre side. This city isn’t built to cope with April Showers…

For my rather special birthday month of March, I've kept is as disco-flavoured as possible - naturally. Here you can sample delights from a mysterious French producer, plus a vinyl-only release from Smokecloud Records; these are accompanied by a mix from Vinyl Department and the Pleasure album from BarbWalters. Here's to being forty and funky.

Well fuck me, I made it. The big fat and very round 4-0 . A milestone – that at times – I thought I may not make; and one, unfortunately, that not all do. I certainly didn’t imagine getting here so quickly…

For the February tune review section we have some awesome mixes from not one, but two Irish disco dons. Coupled with edits by Russia's Slipenberg and London's Tony Johns. As always, I'm keeping it funky and disco-filled in the month of love.

Hot off the press, we can now proudly confirm Erick Morillo will be debuting at Q43 (in Dubai’s Media One Hotel) this month for our 5th Birthday Party. The house music icon, and Subliminal Records boss, returns …

Welcome to future people. It's 2019 and to kick the year off I've mixed it up with a bit of D&B, some Danish trip-hop, alongside some of the funkiest nu-disco mixes to help you drift off to a more serene place.

For the first time in at least 6/7 years as an expat – my father has just visited me in Dubai, for the first time in his life, with his new chica Nikki. After his legendary visit to see me at the helm – ahem …

For December's tunage we have tracks from the Brazilian Lola Disco, an illusive Serial Thrilla; alonsgide mixes from Soultronic ft KS French, and Switzerland's DJ Wiz.

When James first joined our family, and as we grew up, our next door neighbours in our hometown of Hastings became our friends for life. James and Stewart were super close (and I’m referring to more than postcodes) and shared many unprintable – and often controversial – moments...

For November's tunage we have tracks from Beerlover, and Navio Bitz's remix of Billy Rae Martin; alonsgide mixes in honour of Keith O'Hanlon, and from the man like Chevals.

Managing to adopt some complimentary VIP passes to the highly-anticipated F1 in Abu Dhabi – courtesy of my big boss / brother figure Mr Paul Evans – I didn’t quite know what to expect; Formula One racing has never really interested me.…

For October's tunage we have tracks from Concious Thoughts, Vincenzo de Bull; alonsgide mixes from Soul Heaven featuring Brian Power, and Darius Syrossian live in Argentina…

So, it’s nowhere near that time of year – but nonetheless some mother’s do want to get prepared already. And, alas, we cater to those whims and needs and here I’ll give you a heads up on some of the best places to brunch and enjoy Christmas festive dinners (and drinks) in Dubai.

For September's tunage we have tracks from Dr Packer & Loshmi, Mr.Goldenfold; alonsgide mixes from Glitterbox, and Glasweigan Lamb Oh.

So I managed to survive a full-on Ferrari-paced six months in one of the fastest developing cities in the world.

It seems only yesterday I rocked up in Dubai without much of a clue about the metropolis that sprouted from the desert in seemingly record-breaking time. A city that…

For August's tunage we have tracks from Brighton's Wax Worx, & linanthem alonsgide mixes from Darius Syrossian, + Get Down Edits.

Moscow Here We Come is a re-rub of the, as yet un-published, press release titled: International Nightlife Giants Announce Plans for Moscow & Kazan. And it goes a little something like this...

For May's tunage we have tracks from Late Nite Tuff Guy, & Leviticus alonsgide mixes from Steven Richards, and Downunder Disco.

So just after my five year anniversary of blogging on the site, I delve deep into the pyscology of a serial scribbler - kind of.

For April's tunage we have tracks from 5 Reasons, & Rayko alonsgide mixes from Flamingosis, and Sophie Llyod via Classic Music Company.

Having only just managed to escape the UK, in sub-zero temperatures – and with more dramas than an episode of East Enders; the taxi driver taking me to the wrong airport being a major obstacle – I arrived in Dubai slightly bemused, bewildered, and yet immensely relieved...

This month we've got mixes by Groove Tonight (aka Groove 今晩) and Melvo Baptiste ft the legendary Amp Fiddler - plus tracks from Vantage and a lovely disco rehash by the Parisian Chavels.

After my random, and – essentially – pointless trip to Bratislava, I returned to the UK with a much more positive outlook for the future. It was, after all, All About 2018 now.

With that breath of fresh air; I followed up some job opportunities I’d been chasing for some time. Within days of getting back on British soil, I ...

This month we've got a whole lot of stateside funk; tracks by M A R I マリくん x Virginboy, and Whiskey Pickle label boss Silver Rider - plus mixes from Jazz FM's Tony Minvielle and California's Heiro.

Forget poolside holidays, forget your mini-tour of Europe, head to the Hermit Kingdom to party with Kim Jong-un...

This month we've got some super tasty shiz for you: tracks by Chicago's Destry via his Spanish studio, and Italy's Android Apartment via his London base - plus mixes from Boca 45 & DJ Format and Traxsource Live presents their A&R Sessions #65 with Dan Klokow & Glen Horsborough.

So after yet another gut-wrenching year of hardcore pain and trauma, I’m more than happy leaving all that baggage behind – literally – whilst I’m here in Bratislava on some silly fact-finding mission...

I pluck a couple of top track and mega mixes each month, or when the moment takes, and for this one we have disco treats on SoundCloud by the Italian beats maestro .CASTING, some deft sampling from Assonance, and mixes from Good Vibes Sound's U'We Train and Boston's Mere.

This month signals the 46th anniversary of a breakthrough moment in the history of literature: a breakthrough moment indeed for all mankind. For way back, almost on this very same retched day a mere 16,790 sleeps ago Dr Hunter S Thompson unleashed his throbbing red beast to the world. And suddenly, nothing would ever be the same again...

I pluck a couple of top track and mega mixes each month, or when the moment takes, and for November we have disco treats on SoundCloud by Future Society Collective's man in Chicago, Escape, the Great Dane iamalex, and mixes from Mexico's Edwick John and the Glasgow-based teen ex.evi.

So, unfortunately, I've had way too much spare time of late and I've been tinkering with a few – super dope – new websites to keep me out of trouble. The live one I can show off about, other than this, is ModaHastings.com (my local bar in Hastings town), and this - by a long, long, way – is the best site I've ever built. And so it should be. I've built some pretty cool sites mind you, but technology is a changing…

Now, before you get carried away – this site update is nowhere near complete, but I was so excited about the new look I couldn't hold back any longer.

I pluck a couple of top track and mega mixes each month, or when the moment takes, and for this one we have disco treats on SoundCloud by retro queen Geraldine Hunt, the Parisian sounds of DJ Vas, and mixes from Brighton's Fingerman and reggae dons Rizla Sound.

So I finally caught up with the Twitter Card storm, and - frankly - it changed my life. Slightly dramatic you may feel, but allow me to enlighten you …

Twitter have allowed people to add content when people share your links. You can now for example add pics, videos, and a title description on top of the 140 characters allowance. That's an awful lot more room to get your message across and it also allows you to ensure your brand image is kept in line…