Featured Artist
Casa Vince
Can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to pursue music?
I grew up with a stutter, so it was quite a journey to get to where I am today. I used to be pretty shy and antisocial because of my stammering and that really took a toll on my confidence, and I couldn’t really make friends. I come from a musical family so when I was younger my family used to gather around the house and have jam sessions. Sooner or later, I was encouraged by my family to start participating in those sessions and realized that I have a good voice and that when I sing, I don't stutter. That is the moment when I realized I wanted to pursue music. My family has encouraged me to take it on and it makes me happy to be capable of pursuing a music career especially because it helped me tremendously with my stutter.
How would you describe the music that you make?
I'm quite versatile, I can make any genre that ranges from R&B / Hip-hop / Afrobeat / Soul and even Pop. Though I sing mostly in English, I still like to reflect my Middle Eastern roots by mixing Arabic instruments with Western beats and I also sometimes infuse Arabic lyrics.
What are some key elements that drive you to continue making music?
What drives me the most is knowing that my voice is being heard all around the world, when I feel down or unmotivated, I remember that the same way I play other artists' music to be my gateway, someone is playing my music as their gateway.
What is the best thing about being a musician in the region?
The best thing is the fact that I'm pursuing music at a time where the music industry in this region is blooming and growing. I don't think I would’ve been able to answer this question five years ago. I'm grateful and pretty lucky to be part of this era.
What would you say is the biggest moment of your career so far?
There are many moments that I believe are milestones that I have achieved so far, but my favourite moment was when I had a performance and I saw a fan in the crowd holding up a sign that had Casa Vince all over it. I found that pretty cool.
Tell us about your creative process when writing or making music? Has it always been the same?
My music has changed a lot throughout the years. I used to make my music based on daily hardships and heartbreak but now I allow myself to create by flow and fluidity. I try to create based on what I expect certain positions and situations that I haven’t been in to be like, so I could give a place of comfort for my fans to relate to my music.
Walk us through your latest release ‘Ma Adaneek’?
For the very first time, I released a song that was partially in Arabic. I wanted to show what I'm capable of that and also highlight my mother tongue. Though it may have been a bold start given the title name is ‘Ma Adaneek’ means ‘I don’t like you’ in Khaleeji Arabic, but I just wanted to address it to people who are wasting my time in my journey. The melody is uplifting and gives that feeling of liberation from people’s judgements. It is dedicated to people who stand in the way of someone’s goals and ambitions but in a playful way, I suppose. The beat is an infusion of catchy oriental shakers, Arabian drum kit and tabla mixed with afrobeat making it a global sound that any culture can vibe to.
What was your favorite venue to perform in? Where have you performed most recently?
I haven't found my favorite venue yet, but I hope I can say Etihad Park as I'm going to be performing there for the very first time at the Wireless Festival.
If you could share the stage with any artists, who would it be and why?
My dream collab would be Justin Bieber. I believe our voices would bounce off of each other and we would make a piece rather than a song.
What accomplishments do you see yourself achieving in the coming years?
I see myself achieving 10 million+ streams, financially stable, touring the world and being able to have a full crowd sing back my music with no music playing in the background. That to me is the definition of making it!
Can we expect any albums in the near future?
I’m dropping singles as that’s more effective these days, but I’ll definitely drop albums too in the future, all in due time.
Who would you like to work with from the region that you haven’t worked with in the past?
Locally, I have always been a fan of Hamdan Al Abri (also known as ABRI), I think his voice and presence is amazing and I think our voices go well together. Regionally, I haven’t thought about it yet to be honest, but there are so many great artists out there so who knows.
What is the best piece of advice another musician ever gave you?
Go all in or don't even try. If you want something to happen, you need to dive in and trust the process.
Describe your favorite interaction with a fan.
When I was at Sole DXB this year, I was approached by a lady who told me that my music got her through a lot of hardships and that touched me knowing that I could impact someone like this.
Talk us through an average day like for you? And, what do you do in your free time (outside of music)?
To be honest, not much going on outside of music apart from spending quality time with loved ones. I am devoted to my music and work very closely with my manager and my team. All the leisure and time spent on having ‘fun’ can wait.
What does your involvement in the Flash Entertainment’s Regional Artist Spotlight mean to you?
I support such platforms like RAS and others who shed light on talent. I think it makes us all feel accomplished and that everything we are doing is being recognized. Thank you for having me.
What is your top 5 after-party playlist?
- Are & Be (Spotify)
- Alternative Hip Hop (Spotify)
- Arab X (Spotify)
- Afro soul (Spotify)
- Throwback Thursday (Spotify)