Dubai's Flourishing Music Scene - Bull Funk Zoo
Get to know some of the best upcoming talents in Dubai's local music scene.
Freedom behind moment with Bull Funk zoo by Bull Funk by Bull FunkDubai Culture & Arts Authority
Assaad Lakkis
Popularly known as Bull Funk Zoo, Assaad Lakkis is a musician, technician and producer of Lebanese origin, born and raised in Dubai.
Freedom behind moment with Bull Funk zoo by Bull Funk by Bull FunkDubai Culture & Arts Authority
Originally a guitarist, BFZ’s musical style is firmly rooted in rock, but it is influenced by his experiments with jazz, funk, hip hop, EDM and other genres.
Growing up on Motown funk and soul music, Lakkis was deeply influenced by James Brown and Earth, Wind and Fire. Like many teenagers, he made his rebellious statement through skateboarding, rock and metal. After high school, around sixteen years of age, he left for the US.
While he worked at gas stations and factories to make both ends meet, Lakkis was introduced to musicians of all kinds.
Two veteran jazz musicians called Batume and Glen Burris took him under their wings and opened a world of practical knowledge through music festivals and legends like Miles Davis.
The music of Bull Funk Zoo is marked by a fusion of funk by Bull Funk by Bull Funk ZooDubai Culture & Arts Authority
In 2000, he moved back to Dubai, where he founded the ‘Abstrakt Collision’ and continued his experiments. He performed at heritage venues like Al Fahidi, which served as an art and music collective that promoted local talent.
In 2011, Bull Funk Zoo exploded on the Dubai music scene, touring the region with a unique flavour of music that was a fusion of funk, pop and rock.
The band has opened for the likes of Sade and Sting, and for Stanley Jordan and Courtney Pine at the Dubai International Jazz Festival.
The highest rated album by Bull Funk Zoo by Bull Funk ZooDubai Culture & Arts Authority
When his debut album was released in 2013, Rolling Stone ME called it “the highest rated album by an unsigned artist in the region.” ‘Oblivion’ from the album reached the semifinals at the International Music Awards (IMA) in the rock category.
His second album, ‘Dangerous Radio’, released in September 2016 was written, produced and mixed by Assaad, with him playing guitars, bass, drums besides singing.
The latest album of Bull Funk Zoo, "Down & Dirty," too was nominated for best rock/hard rock album of 2019 at the Independent Music Awards in New York.
Freedom behind moment with Bull Funk zoo by Bull Funk by Bull FunkDubai Culture & Arts Authority
“…And then I discovered jazz, and that's what blew me away because of the whole freedom behind it and how you can express yourself freely at any given moment, at any time.”
The music of Bull Funk Zoo is marked by a fusion of funk by Bull Funk by Bull Funk ZooDubai Culture & Arts Authority
The music of Bull Funk Zoo is marked by a fusion of funk, pop and rock.
The highest rated album by Bull Funk Zoo by Bull Funk ZooDubai Culture & Arts Authority
In 2013, BFZ released his debut album, which Rolling Stone ME described as, “the highest rated album by an unsigned artist in the region”.
