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Trees’ company
With Nickelback and Status Quo both preparing to play Dubai next month,
- PUBLISHED: Wed 27 Jan 2010, 9:12 PM UPDATED: Wed 21 Aug 2024, 11:44 AM
Local act The Flaming Trees are in contention to support either of the two rock giants. Singer Oli and drummer/guitarist Elias speak to City Times
ELIAS: We've been together for just over a year. Our keyboardist Samer and I are the two original members remaining, and we've had the current lineup for around three months.
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Are you still studying outside of the band?
OLI: We're still in school, in Year 12 at Jumeirah College, and we're all 17 years old.
What's the likelihood of The Flaming Trees opening for Nickelback or Status Quo?
ELIAS: Live Nation contacted us and said they might like us to play. We've been shortlisted with three other bands so it's not fully confirmed. Fingers crossed! Nickelback are one of our biggest influences.
OLI: It would be an awesome experience. It would be a big opportunity for us to showcase ourselves and it would be great fun.
How many songs do you have in your repertoire?
OLI: I'd say six or seven, but by the time the Nickelback and Status Quo concerts come around we'll probably have nine or 10.
Who writes the music?
OLI: Generally, Elias writes the music and I write some of the lyrics.
And what themes do you tend towards in the tunes?
ELIAS: They're about life and love.
OLI: We vent our frustrations with normal life. There are instances where we feel discriminated against, so you might hear that in the music.
How complicated do you find life as teenagers in 2010?
OLI: It's hard to say – there are different situations and complexities around the world. There's a lot of pressure and stress on teenagers, but I'm not going to lie – we've got it easy.
And what does Dubai have to offer people of your age?
ELIAS: Playing gigs at our age is generally a huge problem. They usually want bands older than us, like 21 and up. But I think we're as good as any other local band in Dubai.
OLI: There's a lot of opportunity out here, and there's lots going on.
ELIAS: The scene is growing bigger and bigger.
How would you describe The Flaming Trees' sound to someone who has never heard your music?
OLI: I would say original, alternative, imaginative classic rock.
ELIAS: Hard rock too.
And which eras would you say that touched upon?
OLI: It's weird because we've got songs that go back to AC/DC, then we've got some songs which have a lot of effects in them and are a lot more recent. But it's mostly influenced by bands like AC/DC and Metallica.
Have you already started to notice the female appreciation that comes with being in a band?
OLI: I've got a girlfriend, but we did a couple of gigs a few weeks ago and a lot of girls came to that.
ELIAS: Adding on from Oli, I'd say that local bands are also trying to include the female touch in their music.
What's the plan after you've finished school – university, the band or both?
OLI: I'm studying music at school – I do other music apart from this and I want to be a classical singer. I'm a top tenor and I've been singing since I was about 14. I want to go to university, but if the band takes off I'll definitely focus a lot of effort on it too.
ELIAS: A bit of both, I think.
To hear The Flaming Trees, visit
www.myspace.com/theflamingtreesdxb
Meet The Flaming Trees
Vocals : Oli Simpson (aka OJ). Influences include Three Doors Down, The Kooks, Kanye West and Killswitch Engage.
Drums/rhythm guitar/vocals: Elias Sabella (aka Prazi). Influences include Nirvana, AC/DC, Muse, Iron Maiden and KFC.
Keyboards: Samer El Hage (aka TL). Influences include Evanescence, Dr. Dre, Dream Theater and Eminem.
Bass: Matt Secker (aka Ozzy). Influences include Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Kings of Leon, Iron Maiden and Alice in Chains.
Lead guitar: Abhinav Muthar (aka Bu Khamdan). Influences include Pantera, Megadeth, Metallica and Avenged Sevenfold.
adam@khaleejtimes.com