A New Sound Rises on the Red Sea

Music Travel Love captures Shura Island in a cinematic performance that celebrates Saudi creativity and global connection

A new rhythm has emerged along the shores of Shura Island. To celebrate the opening of the island at The Red Sea, the Canadian duo Music Travel Love collaborated with Saudi singers Zena Emad and Hamza Hawsawi to create a global music moment filmed at The Red Sea EDITION, the island’s first resort. Together, they reinterpreted the classic anthem Don’t Stop Believin’ through a live acoustic performance that blends Saudi instrumentation, soul and storytelling within the natural beauty of the destination.

The collaboration transforms Shura Island into a stage where art and place come together, reflecting a creative spirit that defines a new era for Saudi Arabia. The performance is both intimate and cinematic, combining the power of music with a vision of connection and pride.

A performance inspired by the land and sea

Led by brothers Bob and Clint Moffatt, Music Travel Love has become known for performances that connect music to place. Their projects have taken them around the world, where they reimagine familiar songs within landscapes that evoke emotion and memory. Their work in Saudi Arabia marks the beginning of a new creative journey, one that brings together international artistry and Saudi talent under the title Music Travel Love and Friends.

The video features the voices of Hamza Hawsawi and Zena Emad, joined by oud player Hazim Khamees and percussionist Kareem Quraish on darbuka. Each element reflects Saudi artistry, from styling by Koren Dasoar for Personage to custom designs by Not Boring by Yazeed Abahussein and jewelry by APOA (A Piece of Art) worn by Zena Emad. The result is more than a performance. It is a visual and musical portrait of modern Saudi creativity, confident in its voice and rooted in its environment.

Voices behind the project

“For us, this was about creating something that belonged to this moment, with these artists, in this place,” said Bob and Clint Moffatt. “We have filmed in many incredible locations around the world, but Shura Island offered a unique creative energy. Working alongside Saudi musicians gave the song new character through their voices and instruments.”

“It was an absolute pleasure collaborating with Music Travel Love and Zena Emad,” said Hamza Hawsawi. “Performing together with the Red Sea as our backdrop was an experience I will never forget.”

“This project allowed us to share a side of Saudi Arabia that people have not experienced before,” said Zena Emad. “Singing at the shoreline and blending our sound into a global song felt powerful and true. It was a proud moment for all of us.”

A creative milestone for The Red Sea

Music Travel Love last filmed in the region in Abu Dhabi, where their acoustic video set against the fossil dunes reached millions of viewers. Their move to The Red Sea represents a new chapter for the duo and for the destination, reflecting a place defined by imagination, vision and artistic possibility.

The Red Sea EDITION now welcomes guests as the first resort on Shura Island, with SLS The Red Sea and InterContinental The Red Sea Resort opening later this year. Through 2026, the island will continue to grow with the arrival of Four Seasons, Fairmont, Grand Hyatt, Raffles, Rosewood, Jumeirah, Faena and Miraval, establishing it as one of the world’s most dynamic new destinations for design, hospitality and culture.

Visitors can reach Shura Island through Red Sea International Airport, which offers direct flights from Riyadh, Jeddah, Dubai and Doha, along with easy access from major European cities. From there, guests cross Saudi Arabia’s longest overwater bridge to reach the island, entering a world shaped by sea, sky and creativity.

Don’t Stop Believin’ by Music Travel Love and Friends at Shura Island, The Red Sea is now live, marking a new chapter for Saudi artistry and global collaboration where sound, culture and place move in harmony.

Watch the music video HERE.