The frontman of UAE-based band Abri & Funk Radius, Hamdan Al Abri has a footwear fetish – sneakers to be exact.

The only things the frontman of UAEbased band Abri & Funk Radius is addicted to are peanut butter, sneakers and the exhilaration of a live gig

INSPIRATION AND INFLUENCES

I listen to everything, as long as it’s good music. The genre doesn’t matter. Growing up, I’ve been influenced by Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Bob Marley (below) and Radiohead. But I find inspiration [for my songs] by living my life, there are so many emotions and experiences that go on. Things around the world that I feel strongly about are also good sources of inspiration.

SNEAKER UPON ME

My last expensive purchase was a pair of Y-3 Adidas sneakers that I got for Dh1,800. It was a while back though; when I realised I’m addicted to buying expensive sneakers, I gave up cold turkey.

CHILLED-OUT WEEKENDS

I have become a bit of an introvert – more so lately – but I do make an effort to go out during the weekend especially on Fridays. It’s usually a chilled-out day, nothing fancy. I go and see my family in Mirdif for a while. If there is something special going on at night then I go and check it out, like Hip Hop Karaoke at TriBeCa.

VIDEO WONDER

Until The Quiet Comes, a short film directed by Kahlil Joseph featuring music by Flying Lotus, a DJ from Los Angeles, is a masterpiece that completely bowled me over.

BACKGROUND SCORE

It’s an amazing feeling to hear my songs on TV shows like CSI (left) and The Ringer. It’s kind of surreal when you hear your song playing during a scene on TV. I would love to do a proper soundtrack for a movie at some point. Any Quentin Tarantino movie soundtrack [counts as one of my favourites].

WILL WORK FOR PEANUT BUTTER

I am a simple man when it comes to food. Give me bread and peanut butter and I’m good. I can eat that all day, every day. I cook once in a while but I love watching [other] people cook, it’s an art form in itself. I love eating out at Moshi, Cheesecake Factory, Maria Bonita’s, Jabal Al Noor, Ravi’s. I have been checking out a few [new] places since becoming a vegetarian.

ONSTAGE MAGIC

There is a moment in time when I am onstage where it stops being a performance and starts feeling like a spiritual experience. It doesn’t happen often but when it does, when everything is perfectly aligned – the performance, the band, the crowd. It is also an amazing feeling when someone comes up to me and tells me how much one of my songs means to them, or when youngsters tell me how much I inspired them to pursue music. It doesn’t happen often, but it’s one of the reasons why I do music; to be able to touch or inspire someone.

HAPPY AND SADE

I got to perform for Quincy Jones a couple of times and also performed alongside Kanye West and Arrested Development, but opening for Sade is one of my most memorable career moments. I love her music and she is a beautiful human being.