Beast House: Where music and musicians tune and vibe 

1 / 6
Beast House has emerged as a dynamic creative hub — a space where musicians, producers, designers, and artists come together to collaborate, connect, and grow. (AN Photo/Loai Elkelawi)
2 / 6
Among the local talents who have found a home at Beast House is Rayan Charani, a 17-year-old Lebanese producer and singer who was born and raised in Riyadh. (AN Photo/Loai Elkelawi)
3 / 6
German DJ, producer, and label founder David Galla first encountered Beast House during a visit to Riyadh and was immediately struck by the atmosphere. (AN Photo/Loai Elkelawi)
4 / 6
Beast House has emerged as a dynamic creative hub — a space where musicians, producers, designers, and artists come together to collaborate, connect, and grow. (AN Photo/Loai Elkelawi)
5 / 6
Beast House has emerged as one of the Kingdom’s most dynamic creative hubs — a space where musicians, producers, designers, and artists come together to collaborate, connect, and grow.
6 / 6
Beast House has emerged as a dynamic creative hub — a space where musicians, producers, designers, and artists come together to collaborate, connect, and grow. (AN Photo/Loai Elkelawi)
Short Url
Updated 21 August 2025
Follow

Beast House: Where music and musicians tune and vibe 

  • Space provides a year-round platform for talent development, networking, and cultural exchange
  • Since the launch of Soundstorm in 2019, the Kingdom’s flagship music festival, the local industry has grown at a pace that demanded more permanent creative spaces

RIYADH: In the heart of Riyadh’s JAX District, Beast House has emerged as one of the Kingdom’s most dynamic creative hubs — a space where musicians, producers, designers, and artists come together to collaborate, connect, and grow.

Located in Diriyah’s J12, Beast House is more than just a music venue. It serves as a meeting point for Saudi and international talent, blending entertainment, culture, and community into one destination. 

Whether through workshops, live performances, or casual gatherings, the space provides a platform for creative expression that reflects the Kingdom’s rapidly evolving cultural scene.

German DJ, producer, and label founder David Galla first encountered Beast House during a visit to Riyadh and was immediately struck by the atmosphere.

“I visited in April, toured the studios, and knew instantly this was a place I wanted to be,” he said. “The team, the vibe, the creativity — it’s all very inspiring. Saudi Arabia has something special here, and the people are so welcoming.”

Among the local talents who have found a home at Beast House is Rayan Charani, a 17-year-old Lebanese producer and singer who was born and raised in Riyadh. 

Passionate about pop and electronic music, Charani said the community spirit is what makes the space unique.

“The equipment is great, but it’s really the people that make me want to come back,” he said. “There’s so much love here. It’s a place that inspires me every day.”

Charani’s journey with Beast House began after attending XP Music Futures, MDLBEAST’s annual conference.

Introduced to the venue through industry connections, he soon became part of its creative family. “Beast House showed me that music is not only about sound, but also about community,” he added.

Beyond its studios, Beast House also features a fine-dining restaurant and social spaces designed to foster interaction. 

Visitors can expect everything from intimate conversations over mocktails to exclusive performances, panel discussions, and workshops led by industry figures.

The venue is an extension of MDLBEAST’s mission to build a thriving music ecosystem in Saudi Arabia. 

Since the launch of Soundstorm in 2019, the Kingdom’s flagship music festival, the local industry has grown at a pace that demanded more permanent creative spaces. 

Beast House was created to meet that need — providing a year-round platform for talent development, networking, and cultural exchange.

During Arab News’ visit, it was clear that Beast House was not only a workspace but an experience in itself. 

The team has successfully created and curated an atmosphere where ambiance, decor, community, and people come together to offer something unique. 

Entry is not limited to members alone — visitors can also spend time working in the space, socializing, or simply enjoying its fine-dining offerings without accessing the studios.

Today, Beast House is seen as a symbol of the Kingdom’s cultural transformation, offering opportunities for the next generation of artists while also attracting global talent to Riyadh. It is not just a venue, but a statement of Saudi Arabia’s ambition to cement its place on the world’s creative map. 


May Calamawy heads to Egypt for acting workshop with Ivana Chubbuck

Updated 15 December 2025
Follow

May Calamawy heads to Egypt for acting workshop with Ivana Chubbuck

DUBAI: Egyptian-Palestinian Hollywood star May Calamawy is reportedly heading to Cairo this week to take part in a panel talk alongside renowned acting coach Ivana Chubbuck.

Chubbuck — who has worked with Halle Berry, Charlize Theron, Brad Pitt, James Franco, Gerard Butler, and Eva Mendes — will be joined by “Moon Knight” actress Calamawy and Egyptian actor Nour El-Nabawy, who will share insights on their careers.

The industry experts will take to the stage at the Ghurnata Community Space in Cairo on Dec. 18.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by @lukelehnerstudios

Calamawy is known for her roles in US Netflix series “Ramy” and “Moon Knight” (2022), where she plays dual characters Layla El-Faouly  and the Scarlet Scarab.

She made headlines in late 2024 when almost all her scenes were cut from Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II,” with fans taking to social media to complain.

Her casting in the film was first announced in May 2023.

At the time, Deadline reported that Scott had cast Calamawy after a lengthy search, writing: “While many of the leading roles were straight offers, Scott wanted to do a similar search he did for the (Paul) Mescal part for the role that Calamawy ultimately landed.”

Calamawy is also known for her activism, and regularly takes to social media to support charity initiatives raising money and awareness for Gaza.

This week, she promoted newly released song “Lullaby,” which the Together for Palestine charity is trying to propel to the Christmas No. 1 spot in the UK chart to raise money for the people of Palestine.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Frank Barat (@4frankbarat)

Palestinian singer Nai Barghouti, Celeste, Dan Smith from Bastille, Lana Lubany, the London Community Gospel Choir, Mabel, Nadine Shah, Neneh Cherry, and Leigh-Anne Pinnock are all featured on the track.

The song is an adaptation of a Palestinian lullaby called “Yamma Mwel El-Hawa” and it carries a message about demanding dignity.

The song “Lullaby” is produced by Kieran Brunt, Benji B and Henri Davies and features a mix of the original Arabic lyrics with English additions written by Peter Gabriel.

Earlier this year, Calamawy took to Instagram to promote Palestinian film “To A Land Unknown,” telling her 359,000 followers the movie was on a 40-screen cinema run in North America in July.

Distributed by Watermelon Pictures, the film was directed by Mahdi Fleifel and stars Angeliki Papoulia, Mahmoud Bakri, Manal Awad and Aram Sabbah.

The film’s logline reads: “Reda and Chatila are two Palestinian cousins hustling their way through the underbelly of Athens pursuing their dream of making it to Germany.

“But as their hardship grows, so too does their desperation. When Chatila hatches a reckless all-or-nothing plan, it strains their bond and pushes the limits of what they will do for freedom.”