What’s On has a Clean Bandit interview as we look ahead to Sandance, Nasimi Beach, Atlantis The Palm on October 10, also featuring Rudimental, De La Soul.

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Ahead of her first visit to the UAE, What’s On are granted an audience with Clean Bandit’s Grace Chatto.

You’re song Rather Be was a massive success. What was it about the song that you think resonated so well with so many people? It’s hard to say. I think the string riff, which Jack wrote on the train, is a big riff. And I think there is an element of melancholy in the music underneath the happy lyrics, which makes it quite emotional.

How have you found the festival circuit in the UK this summer? Great fun. The crowds have been mad and we went mad too. Now we’re trying to calm down a bit.

Who have you enjoyed playing alongside most? Jungle, Portishead, Lana del Ray, Janelle Monae, Outkast.

How does it all compare to the USA where you spent September? Well in the States we are doing our own headline shows so everyone knows all of our songs which is really nice. The difference at the festivals is that a lot of people were hearing our stuff for the first time (apart from ‘Rather Be’ probably).

Is this your first time to Middle East? What are you looking forward to most? Yes it is, and I’m so excited, not only for the show but also my cousin lives in Dubai who I haven’t seen for years.

What can the Sandance crowd expect from your set? Live violin and cello, electric drums and saxophone, two great singers and a fun time. Among all that, there will be lots of dancing, too.

How would you describe your sound, and the origins and inspiration behind it? We have heard people calling it Electronic Chamber Music , which we like because it started as a classical chamber group (a quartet), and is now electronic music.

Is there anyone out there at the moment you’re absolutely desperate to meet/see live? I want to meet Pharrell again, and also see Lana del Ray live again.

You use a lot of up and coming artists on your tracks. Any artists that you’d like to feature on a track? I’d love to work with Miley Cyrus I love her voice. Also Kwabs, James Blake: people who can really sing.

And finally, what’s next? You’ve caught us on the day we’re making a music video for our new track, featuring Jess Glynne, the singer who recorded ‘Rather Be’. It’s fun, we’re in an amazing old recording studio. We’ve also just finished making a cover version of ‘Show Me Love’ by Robyn S, which we’ll play in the set.

Clean Bandit performs at Sandance on October 10. Nasimi Beach, Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai, 3pm to 3am, Dhs325. Tel: (055) 2004321. Taxi: Atlantis The Palm. sandance.ae