Latest news with #UseSomebody
What's On
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- What's On
Artist spotlight: Emirati soul singer, Arqam Al Abri
Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations – these are just a few of the legends who shaped soul music. With roots in gospel, rhythm and blues, the genre carries strong associations and even stronger expectations. But prepare to have those expectations upended – Arqam Al Abri is here to challenge the preconceptions of what a soul singer looks and sounds like. We stumbled upon singer Al Abri during a random doomscroll on Instagram and were blown away by his voice. We watched as the Emirati/Omani gentleman, who was born and raised in Dubai, effortlessly belted out Use Somebody by Kings of Leon. Arqam al Abri Dressed in a navy-blue kandura and a white ghutra, the Emirati soul singer easily evoked goosebumps. And clearly, it's a common feeling, because the singer has over 60,000 followers on social media, and every comment was nothing but praise. We just knew we had to reach out to him to get to know the man behind the stunning voice. When asked about his inspiration, Al Abri tells us he grew up in a house full of music. 'My dad was a musician and had a massive music collection that we used to listen to. Music from legends such as Elvis, James Brown, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke and more. We used to sneak into his room to listen to his music and I think that inspired us.' The singer also shares that his first memory of music is hearing his father sing. When asked when he realised he could sing in that way, he laughed and said 'sing like what?' However, he added he had no formal training and had a voice coach for just a couple of weeks. It's a constant learning curve, Al Abri admits. 'I like to think I learn from every musician I've jammed with – from guitarists and keyboard players to drummers and singers. Every rehearsal, every performance is a lesson.' Other singers who strongly influenced him include his own brother Abri, and other prominent names in the soul singing business including Sam Cooke, Lauryn Hill and Bob Marley. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is an album Al Abri tells us he can listen to on repeat. When asked if he faced any challenges being a soul singer in the UAE, Al Abri shared 'The early days were difficult, I can't complain though. Challenges are what makes you who you are.' However, it looks like his hard work and dedication has paid off, because he has not only performed in some top venues here in the UAE, he also sang alongside internationally acclaimed pianist, Lang Lang. When asked if being Emirati influences his music, he said 'To a certain extent, I add some elements of our music into my songs. I've sampled the Ayala in one of my songs Towards the Light… slipped in some Oud into another original Leaving, and I often perform live with an amazing Oud player – Nezar Omran.' Al Abri also writes his own songs which the world can listen to on Spotify and Apple Music. According to the singer, he is hoping to do more to merge Khaleeji music and soul music in his next EP (extended play). And it looks like his dreams will soon become a reality, because Al Abri happily shared that he was 'fortunate enough to receive a grant from the Ministry of Culture to produce and EP.' He added, 'It will be a fusion of Emirati/Khaleeji music and soul music – around four or five songs.' He is working on a few campaigns and is excited to share them with us soon. Al Abri said that he was fortunate enough to sustain himself through his music during the Covid-19 lockdown when he was unsure of his decision to leave his job, he wrote a song called Heavy. 'It starts off fairly sad, but then becomes more hopeful and determined towards the end. It's also the first song where I played guitar on my own track.' When asked what's something that people might be surprised to learn about him, he chuckled quietly and shared, 'I am fairly reclusive… very demure… very mindful…' He also shared that one of his favourite songs to perform is Creep by Radiohead. 'It's such a beautiful song. For someone like me that isn't necessarily comfortable being around a lot of people, I can relate with the song.' 'It's been an incredible journey to be able to do something that, I hope, is able to touch people and make a decent income from,' he said. However, when he is not dabbling in music, Al Abri unwinds by spending time with his cats. For emerging artists in the region, Al Abri has one simple piece of advice: 'Find out who you are. It'll show in your music.' Follow Arqam Al Abri on his musical journey on Instagram @
Daily Mirror
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Coronation Street Kirk actor reveals real voice as stunned fans admit 'not expecting that'
Coronation Street actor Andy Whyment, who has played Kirk Sutherland on the ITV soap since 2000, has a secret singing talent that has left fans gobsmacked Corrie 's very own Andy Whyment, better known as Kirk Sutherland, has left fans utterly amazed with his extraordinary hidden talent. Andy has been a household name since he strolled onto the Corrie set in 2000 as the affable brother of Maria Connor, played by Samia Longchambon. He quickly earned his place in the hearts of viewers nationwide. Famous for quirky catchphrases and endearing charm, Kirk has been pivotal in several high-octane plots over his years on the show. His love life alone has seen a whirlwind of action, from a tumultuous connection with Fiz Brown, portrayed by Jennie McAlpine, to a heartfelt but ill-fated romance with Beth Tinker, enacted by Lisa George. Just last month, soap fans watched in horror as Kirk was left reeling from the death of his stepson and mate Craig Tinker (Colson Smith), who met his end at the hands of villain Mick Michaelis (Joe Layton), reports Leicestershire Live. But it's not just acting chops that Andy has up his sleeve; offscreen, he's wowed his online following with his singing prowess. A TikTok video capturing Andy belting out Kings Of Leon's "Use Somebody" went viral, showcasing his sensational singing voice. Fans didn't hold back their shock, with one commenting: "What a voice! Didn't know he could saaaang!" while another admitted: "When I tell u I had to pick my jaw back up off the floor when I realised that's Kirky." Fans and co-stars were wowed by the unexpected vocal talent of Coronation Street's Andy Whyment, with one admirer commenting: "His voice is amazing." Another social media user expressed surprise, writing: "I was not expecting that!" and a third supporter added praise saying, "Go on lads.. got some vocals didn't expect that kirky lad." Andy Whyment isn't just known for his role in Coronation Street; he's also an alum of The Royle Family, Heartbeat, and Cracker. Andy took on the jungle challenge in I'm A Celeb back in 2019 and made a return for the All Stars edition in 2023. Away from the limelight, Andy cherishes family life with his wife Nicola, tying the knot in 2007. The couple have two children together, and Andy has often spoken affectionately about his "gorgeous" wife, joking that he's "punching above my weight for years". Andy proudly states that he and Nicola are a perfect match, boasting they "never argue" and "get on so well".
Irish Daily Mirror
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
EP headliners Kings of Leon cancel UK and European tour after 'freak accident'
Electric Picnic headliners Kings of Leon have been forced to cancel their forthcoming UK and European shows after frontman Caleb Followill injured his foot in a "freak accident". According to a statement from the band, the singer has a "serious" shattered heel injury and needed "a significant emergency surgery that will prevent him from travelling and performing". "The anticipated recovery process is expected to take 8 weeks, under strict guidance of expert orthopedic specialists. The band regrets to report that they will need to cancel all upcoming UK and European festival headline shows in June and July of this year," the Grammy Award winners said. Kings of Leon were set to kick off their European tour in Paris on June 10, and the run of 10 shows would have concluded on July 12 in Portugal. Despite being forced to cancel a slew of upcoming shows, the Use Somebody rockers are still expected to perform at Electric Picnic in Co Laois in late August. Followill took to social media soon after the band announced that they were cancelling their upcoming tour dates to confirm that he had undergone emergency surgery after suffering a "gnarly" foot injury while playing with his children. "Hello to everyone out there, especially to our European fans that are preparing to come see us this summer," Followill said in a video posted to Instagram on Wednesday. "Unfortunately, I regret to inform you that those shows will have to be cancelled due to a freak accident that happened the other day – broke my foot pretty bad, just playing with my kids, it's pretty gnarly, I'll spare [you] all the details. "But we're fortunate enough to have some great doctors here in Nashville that gave me emergency surgery, and I'm on the mend, but they've told me that I can't be on my feet or travelling or anything for the next eight weeks or so. "And that's a big bummer, man, we were so excited, we've been preparing for this tour for a long time. "We've been preparing for a lot of things, we've been in the studio recording, we have a bunch of new songs, we were going to debut a few of them on this run. "We had a lot of exciting things planned, and now we're just going to have to pivot and find a new way to continue the work that we've started. "I'm very excited when we do get to show you the stuff that we're doing, and in the meantime, we're gonna do whatever work we can while I have these limitations." Followill later showed the band's followers his leg in a cast, saying the situation was "no fun." "I know this isn't the message that anyone wants to hear and it's certainly not the message that I want to be sending," he said. "But it's gonna be alright. Everything's gonna be good and hopefully we'll see y'all soon." Kings of Leon are set to make their Electric Picnic debut this summer when they headline the Stradbally festival alongside Wicklow singer Hozier, US pop star Chappell Roan and chart-topping DJ Fatboy Slim.
New York Post
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Kings of Leon cancel upcoming shows after singer Caleb Followill suffers ‘freak' accident
You know that he could use somebody. Kings of Leon were forced to cancel a spate of upcoming summer shows in the UK and Europe after lead singer Caleb Followill suffered a 'freak' accident. Followill, 43, made the surprising announcement in a video posted to the band's official Instagram page on Wednesday. 6 Kings of Leon was forced to cancel a spate of upcoming shows after their lead singer, Caleb Followill, suffered a 'freak' accident. kingsofleon/Instagram 6 Followill made the surprising announcement in a video posted to the band's official Instagram page on Wednesday kingsofleon/Instagram 'Hello to everyone out there, especially our European fans that are coming to see us this summer,' the 'Sex on Fire' crooner began while dressed in a blue bathrobe. 'Unfortunately, I regret to inform you that those shows will have to be cancelled due to a freak accident that happened the other day.' Followill, who is married to Lily Aldridge, hurt himself while playing with his and the 39-year-old model's children at their Nashville, Tenn., home. 'I broke my foot pretty bad just playing with my kids,' he continued. 'It's pretty gnarly, and I'll spare all the details. But we're fortunate enough to have some great doctors here in Nashville who gave me emergency surgery.' Although the 'Use Somebody' singer assured his fans that he is 'on the mend,' he said he can't travel for at least eight weeks. The band's UK and European tour, which was set to include shows in Cardiff, Lancashire, Spain, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Croatia, Belgium and Portugal, was scheduled to kick off on June 7. 'I'm on the mend, but they've told me that I can't be on my feet, travelling, or anything for the next eight weeks or so. That's a big bummer,' Followill said. 'We were so excited. We've been preparing for this tour for a long time, we've been preparing for a lot of things.' 6 The 'Use Somebody' singer said he broke his foot while playing with his two kids. kingsofleon/Instagram 6 Caleb shares two children with his wife, model Lily Aldridge. WireImage 'We've been in the studio recording, we have a bunch of new songs, we were going to debut a few of them on this run,' he added. 'We had a lot of exciting things planned, and now we're going to have to pivot and find a new way to continue the work that we've started.' The 'Closer' vocalist suggested that Kings of Leon would make up the cancelled shows at a later date, and he promised that 'exciting stuff is coming.' 'I'm very excited for when we do get to show you the stuff we're doing, and in the meantime, we're going to do whatever work we can while I have these limitations,' he said. 'I know this isn't the message anyone wants to hear, and it's certainly not the message I want to be sending, but it's going to be alright.' 6 Kings of Leon is made up of Caleb, his brothers Nathan and Jared Followill, and their cousin Matthew Followill, Getty Images 'Everything is going to be good,' Followill concluded before spinning the camera to show his broken foot raised up and in a cast. 'Hopefully, we will see y'all soon.' Kings of Leon, which is also made up of Caleb's brothers, Nathan and Jared Followill, and their cousin Matthew Followill, released a separate statement about the news. They revealed that Caleb 'shattered his heel' and underwent a 'significant emergency surgery.' 'Kings of Leon are updating fans that Caleb Followill has recently sustained a serious injury, shattering his heel and requiring a significant emergency surgery, that will prevent him from traveling and performing,' the Grammy-winning band wrote. 6 The 'Sex on Fire' rockers released a separate statement confirming Caleb's injury and their cancelled shows. Getty Images for iHeartRadio 'The anticipated recovery process is expected to take 8 weeks, under strict guidance of expert orthopedic specialists,' they added. 'The band regrets to report that they will need to cancel all upcoming UK and European festival headline shows in June and July of this year.' They were also set to headline the Lytham Festival in Lancashire in early July alongside Stevie Wonder, Alanis Morissette, and Justin Timberlake. The 'Revelry' rockers first formed in Mount Juliet, Tenn., in 1999. They shot to stardom in 2008 with the release of their fourth record, 'Only By the Night,' which included the hit singles 'Sex on Fire' and 'Use Somebody.'
Rhyl Journal
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
‘Freak accident' cancels British Kings Of Leon shows
The singer, who is part of the US rockers with his brothers Nathan and Jared Followill and cousin Matthew Followill, were set to be at Blackweir Fields, Cardiff, and Lancashire's Lytham Festival over the next two months. According to statement from the band, his shattered heel injury is 'serious', and needed 'a significant emergency surgery, that will prevent him from travelling and performing'. A post shared by Kings Of Leon (@kingsofleon) On Instagram on Wednesday, Followill posted a video to the band's account saying: 'Unfortunately, I regret to inform you that those (European) shows will have to be cancelled due to a freak accident that happened the other day, broke my foot pretty bad, just playing with my kids, it's pretty gnarly, I'll spare (you) all the details. 'But we're fortunate enough to have some great doctors here in Nashville that gave me emergency surgery, and I'm on the mend, but they've told me that I can't be on my feet or travelling or anything for the next eight weeks or so. 'And that's a big bummer, man, we were so excited, we've been preparing for this tour for a long time. 'We've been preparing for a lot of things we've been in the studio recording, we have a bunch of new songs, we were going to debut a few of them on this run, we had a lot of exciting things planned, and now we're just going to have to pivot.' He added he was 'very excited' to share the new music, and added that in the 'meantime, we're going to do whatever work we can while my while I have these limitations'. Before ending the video showing his foot, Followill said: 'Everything's going to be good and and hopefully we'll see y'all soon. Wish us luck.' The band said: 'The anticipated recovery process is expected to take eight weeks, under strict guidance of expert orthopaedic specialists. The band regrets to report that they will need to cancel all upcoming UK and European festival headline shows in June and July of this year.' Blackweir Live and Lytham Festival both said they would refund customers who had paid to see the group. A post shared by Lytham Festival (@lythamfestival) Lytham Festival said: 'Due to the cancellation of the Kings of Leon dates in June and July, we are sad to announce that they will no longer be performing at Lytham Festival on Wednesday 2nd July. 'We wish Caleb a speedy recovery. Having explored all possibilities for a replacement act, it has not been possible at this late stage and therefore Lytham Festival 2025 will now run for four days from the 3rd – 6th July 2025.' Blackweir said it was 'sad' the show on June 29 was cancelled. The Nashville four-piece are best known for the songs Sex On Fire, Use Somebody, and Notion. The tour, in promotion of their ninth studio album Can We Please Have Fun, will also miss out on shows in Spain, Germany, Italy, Croatia, Switzerland, Belgium, and Portugal in June and July. Kings Of Leon are next due to be in the UK at Victorious Festival in Newcastle, and Portsmouth in August, following the band performing at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey towards the end of July.
