Meet Akmo, a talented artist and entrepreneur originally from Kyrgyzstan. At the age of 18, she moved to Dubai and five years later she has a successful singing career and has established a thriving business.
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00:00 [music]
00:13 Art has been a part of my life since I was a child.
00:16 In different ways, painting, pottery, performing, singing part would just naturally come to me.
00:22 And I would always pass by the conservatoire.
00:25 When they open the window you can hear how they're vocalizing.
00:28 I would just stand there and look at them.
00:30 And there was this big vocal contest between all the Asian countries.
00:35 I went to that conservatoire. I said, "I sing. I want you to coach me to get ready for that competition."
00:41 And he was like, "Okay, we need to see how you sing." And I sang.
00:44 [music]
00:52 It was a big experience for me and I got a prize of a special artist.
00:56 And that's how I got admitted to a conservatoire.
01:00 At the beginning of the third year, my family got into financial difficulties.
01:05 At the age of 18, I came to Dubai to work, to help my family.
01:10 When I arrived to Dubai and I actually started working and I started exchanging experiences with other artists from different countries,
01:19 I noticed that I'm learning much more here than I learned back in school or back in the uni.
01:25 That's when I realized I'm at the right place. I could actually open up my potential.
01:30 I was instructing music and I badly wanted to sing.
01:34 So I had the view of Burj Khalifa from my balcony.
01:38 I would always imagine those blocks of Burj Khalifa like steps to get to my goal of singing.
01:45 And then I actually got contracted with the highest lounge of Burj Khalifa to be a resident singer there.
01:52 They perform for celebrities like Hugh Jackman, other sports stars and music stars.
01:58 We were working every day, singing in different venues. It was great.
02:01 And then the COVID-19 happened. No entertainment, no music.
02:06 So I went back to painting and then I realized that I am very familiar with art and teaching and venues.
02:14 So why not combine them all and make something where people can unleash their creativity,
02:20 enjoy dining experience and have a good time.
02:25 And that was the idea behind ArtFam.
02:28 I was sold out every week. Like every event was sold out.
02:33 ArtFam became a destination for people to go out on weekends.
02:37 Coming to Dubai five years ago, I would never think I would be a business owner.
02:43 Dubai has surprised me in unimaginable ways.
02:47 So I'm looking forward to what more surprises it has prepared for me.
02:54 (upbeat music)
02:57 [MUSIC PLAYING]