Gamers8: The Land of Heroes, the biggest gaming and esports festival worldwide, will unveil the season’s Official Music Anthem ‘GG Geena’, in partnership with Spotify, on Friday July 7 during the opening ceremony at Boulevard Riyadh City.
‘GG Geena’ was jointly created by Saudi Arabian artist and gaming enthusiast Mishaal Tamer and PalestinianJordanian national Llunr, whose music made it to multiple Spotify Viral 50 charts internationally. Having never met before, they traveled to EMPIRE’s studios in San Francisco to craft ‘GG Geena’, a track with a story inspired by how gamers can overcome any challenge – whether playing against one another or fighting hand in hand against a boss.
Described as “natural and free-flowing” by both artists, the Gamers8 anthem also created a friendship between the two, proving how music and gaming can bring people together. Furthering that theme, ‘GG Geena’ will be a prominent feature of the incredible live gaming and music at Boulevard Riyadh City this summer, when Gamers8: The Land of Heroes, organized by the Saudi Esports Federation, commences.
Ahmed Albishri, Deputy CEO at the Saudi Esports Federation, said: “The official anthem for Gamers8: The Land of Heroes takes inspiration and speaks through the Saudi Arabian gaming and esports story, but is a piece of music that will resonate with gamers globally. All of us at the Saudi Esports Federation thank Mishaal Tamer and Llunr for their wonderful creation. We also thank our valued main partner Spotify for their support of the anthem and continued backing of Gamers8. Having partnered with Gamers8 last year, we are delighted to further our strong relationship with them.”
‘GG Geena’ explodes from the beginning with a big sound using epic drums and claps created in a pattern familiar to the Saudi ear, influenced by ‘shailat’. There are many Arabic musical elements spread across the track, from the oud to percussion. The anthemic intro is made even more addictive by combining a familiar gaming phrase – GG – with the winning spirit of champions, paying homage to the unconditional love gamers have with teammates and competitors alike. An exclusive live performance of ‘GG Geena’ by Mishaal Tamer and Llunr is to be scheduled during Gamers8: The Land of Heroes – so watch this space.
Spotify will also be the official audio partner for Gamers8: The Land of Heroes, where the world’s most popular audio streaming subscription service will host a Podcast Camp (Pod Camp) throughout the eight-week season and provide regular updates of the official Gamers8 playlist. In addition, there will be two activation booths at Boulevard Riyadh City – one in the festival and another in the Mohammed Abdu Arena music venue – as well as promotion of Gamers8 on Spotify’s platform and social media handles.
Nicole Aoun, Marketing Partnerships MENA, Spotify, said: “We are thrilled to be a main partner for Gamers8 on its second edition. Our unwavering commitment is to deliver an unforgettable experience to both the Saudi and global gaming community.
“This year, we are proud to showcase the incredible talent of Saudi Arabia. Our focus is on celebrating their creativity and cultural contributions. We are excited to unveil the official anthem, which beautifully blends local traditions with contemporary twists. As a special tribute, Mishaal Tamer and Llunr will be commemorated with a billboard display in the heart of New York City’s Times Square later this week. In addition, we have launched Pod Camp, an initiative to nurture and empower the local podcast community invested in gaming.”
Commenting on the anthem and collaborating with Mishaal Tamer, Llunr said: “This project truly showcased the incredible sonic talent emerging from the West Asia/North African region. It brought together two artists from diverse backgrounds who had never crossed paths before, and the result was a BIG record that beautifully embodies that diversity!
“’GG Geena’ symbolizes coming together, and as we say in Arabic, الروح الرياضيه; with an earworm chant that unites all. Working with Mishaal was such a pleasure and an unforgettable experience. I am absolutely grateful to have created this record with him and to have the opportunity to mesh our backgrounds and styles.”
Mishaal Tamer added: “I grew up in the coastal city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where the heat and humidity were a constant presence. When summer arrived, our destination was always our friends’ homes, where gaming became our passion. Engaging in competitions, friendly tournaments, and thrilling cooperative adventures, we embraced every aspect of it. Our ultimate objective? Victory, accompanied by the gratifying ‘GG’ at the end of each match. Video games, in my view, transcend mere entertainment; they are an art form. Just like music, they possess the power to bring people together.
“Working on the song with Llunr has been an absolute honor, and I’m grateful to bring elements from my Saudi culture to the world through one of my great loves, gaming.”
Eight week-long Gamers8: The Land of Heroes – which has a prize pool of $45 million, triple that of the inaugural Gamers8 last year – features elite gaming titles alongside live concerts from the biggest global, regional, and local artists.
Gamers8: The Land of Heroes concludes with the Next World Forum, a gaming and esports forum held at the Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh at Kingdom Center on August 30-31, that brings together sector leaders and experts from around the world.
For further Gamers8 details, including ticket sales, please see all the information available on the event website.
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