He was born in Birmingham, UK. Raised abroad in Los Angeles (USA) and Leeds (UK). Attended university at Nottingham (UK). Currently based in Abu Dhabi (the capital of the United Arab Emirates).
“My official hometown is Abu Dhabi but consider myself a citizen of Earth.”
From MC to alt rocker, as a kid, the songwriter & producer, Saleh Hamed, spent hours in the car with his mother during long commutes back and forth to school. She would play the radio, talk about what she liked and why, in essence teaching him the rudimentary ins and outs of music—and he was listening. By his own estimation, it was these very drives which would inspire and perpetuate his love for music.
Living on three different continents over the course of his young life, this Sudanese, Turkish, Irish, English, Emirati student of music has been exposed to as much of the art form as the world could offer. The result of this multicultural sonic saturation, in hindsight, seems almost inevitable: the creation of his music brand, Dozenz, a moniker which sees him searching both locally and abroad (online) for talented collaborators with which he is continually: writing, recording, releasing, repeat.
A while back, Hamed went on a songwriting spree which put 30 songs in his lap in just a few weeks. The result of that inspiration is his first full-length project, the pop & hip-hop explorative, The Album.
HERE’S WHAT WE DUG MOST…
Opening with the club banger, Need Nobody, the vast synth expanse and vocal experience feels like Rihanna and Jermaine Dupri cut a track together.
Mr. Probz meets Mario in, Versions, a smooth R&B groove of forbidden love…
“I just need more time
Just a version of you
Leave the past behind
With this version of you”
A dedication to the helplessness that ensues upon falling in love, the reggae flavor in Bigger Than Life has a Wyclef Jean feel to it…
“Bigger than life, you are the sun that I’m circling
Give me warmth, fire me up you are my everything
All the stars in the sky fade away into your light…”
Digging the Flo Rida-esque production and flow in iLike.
OUR FAVORITE TRACK… The undeniably epic and expansive club sound and hyped writing in, Invincible (By Night), displays Hamed’s ability to stick-and-move betwixt genres. It also makes it our fav on the album. This is immediately a chart worthy production…
“Pushed to the wall we took our fate in our hand
Whispered in your ear I had a plan
Shoulder to shoulder standing juggernaut
Heartbeat to heartbeat we will never stop…”
More Jermaine Dupri-like flavor in, The Two Of Us. Love the punch-style clap.
Concluding with, Sweat, a thick kick, quick flow, and dynamic changes delivers a nostalgic nod to some old school hip-hop iterations, while at the same time delivering a clean, new sound.
IN CONCLUSION…
Technically wonderful. Bright, crisp and accessible. A competently diverse range of electronic-based pop, hip-hop, and club styles. Dozenz’ debut full-length project, The Album, is a genre & sub-genre crossing mega-album which subscribes to no limitations when it comes to style, mood, or writing. Never taking himself too seriously, yet approaching each track with respect at the same time, Hamed and crew have no fear in juxtaposing dark and heavy themes seamlessly with lighter, poppy dance tracks. Each cut sheds new light on this talented producer’s imaginative and focused intention to connect in a real way with the music-loving public. Check out, The Album, below.
WHOSE LOVECHILD…?
DJ Khaled meets Wiz Khalifa with twists of Capitol Cities, Rihanna, and much more…
BELOW: Listen to Dozenz’ new album, The Album, read our interview with Saleh Hamed, connect with their website and social media platforms, watch their music video, and find their booking & contact information. Please support Dozenz by visiting them online, and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing their music, or attending a live show! And, as always, thank you for supporting real music!
(Want to have your music reviewed on The Ark of Music? Click HERE.)
Follow, stream, download & connect with DOZENZ online:
Check out our interview with DOZENZ:
INTERVIEW: DOZENZ (Click HERE)
Listen to THE ALBUM by DOZENZ:
Watch DOZENZ’s music video for the song VERSIONS:
Booking & contact information for DOZENZ:
Contact: Saleh Hamed
Email: dozenzmusic (at) gmail (dot) com
Phone: +971558334451