Around the World: Dubai with Julian LaMadrid
Check out these young talent’s far-flung coordinates, from the shining riviera to the UAE.
Born a globe-trotter to a pilot father, pop crooner Julian LaMadrid reflects on his high-altitude origins in the UAE.
THE DESERT
“Having the desert right there, basically in your backyard, is incredible. You can be in the heart of the city, drive 30 minutes out, and be in the middle of the desert, completely alone. There’s nothing [but the] the stars. It’s really nice to just grab a car and go camping with a couple of mates. The desert is so majestic.”
EMIRATES AIR
“My dad being a pilot for Emirates Air is the reason I grew up here; I’ve seen a lot of the world, from Peru to Thailand, and Mexico, [where my parents are from]. My dad is ready to retire in Mexico, so my mission is to [be able to] one day say, you don’t have to worry, take this [money] and go build your house and relax in it.”
BOUTIQUE ONE
“I would save up all my money from DJing kids’ birthday parties, for three or four months, to buy one pair of shoes—they have sales offering Margiela, Y-3 or Raf Simons… I lost this one Y-3 jacket [I got there], and it was like losing a part of myself—I’d worn it every day for months. Even when it was boiling hot outside.”
THE SKYLINE
“So much of Dubai is in development, so we’d find that hotels being built would be empty at night. We would sneak in and climb up the stairs to the top floor, then climb onto the crane, all while slightly drunk. We would sit on the crane, drinking and smoking. It was dangerous stuff…”
Discover More
