Pop and soul singer Mikelyrik Barnes is no stranger to performing. Having “rocked out really silly” from a young age, Mikelyrik continues to love getting up on stage – currently performing with his band 7 Senses at RockBottom club, at Al Diar Capital hotel. We caught up with the charismatic gentleman as he took time out from rehearsals.

When did you first realise you wanted to be a singer?
I used to perform for my family at gatherings from a really young age; I would sing, dance and rock out really silly sometimes, just to see how they would react. Entertaining people created a feeling in me that let me know that performing was the career path for me.

Tell us a little about your music
My music is a blend of the genres that have inspired me throughout the years such as R&B, reggae, gospel and rock. Pop soul is probably the best description of my music but I also enjoy mixing dancehall into certain songs because of my Jamaican roots.

Tell us a little about your performances at RockBottom club
My band 7 Senses performs at RockBottom club in Abu Dhabi six nights a week (Sunday-Thursday) from 10pm to 3am. We play a wide range of music including some of the most popular hits on the charts. I’m excited and proud that I get to introduce my songs to the Abu Dhabi crowd too!

What do you make of Abu Dhabi audiences?
Abu Dhabi audiences really rock. They don’t just scream and enjoy themselves simply because the artist is famous or well-known, they seem to really vibe off of the energy of each individual artist they see ... that’s so cool and refreshing to me. We get a lot of great energy performing as a band.

What can people expect from your performances?
I wouldn't tell them to expect anything in particular – I would just tell them to come to the show expecting to be entertained!