Two university students from the UAE, Summer Reid and Nadine Kabbani, have won the ASTROBEAT – Music from Space competition, which gives students the opportunity to have their music compositions launched into space aboard a SpaceX rocket. Summer Reid’s winning composition, “Little Brooks,” is inspired by a deeply meaningful family reunion and focuses on family bonds and uplifting those in need. Nadine Kabbani’s winning composition, ‘No Gravity,’ merges celestial-inspired synthesizers with classical instruments to create a futuristic soundscape. Both students are ecstatic about their music being played at the International Space Station.
Summer Reid expressed her excitement about having her song floating around the ISS, fulfilling her childhood dream of becoming an astronaut. Nadine Kabbani found the whole experience surreal and was honored to have her music streamed into space as part of the ASTROBEAT project. The project is financed by the Malta Council for Science & Technology and involves a collaboration with Nanoracks and NASA’s US National Lab. Leonardo Barilaro, known as the Space Pianist, emphasized how the competition took space art to the next level, providing students with a unique opportunity.
Collaborating with Grammy-nominated cellist Tina Guo and producer Steve Mazzaro, the students’ compositions will be streamed from space alongside other musicians’ music. Associate Professor of Music at NYU Abu Dhabi, Carlos Guedes, expressed pride in hosting the competition for the first time, highlighting the university’s commitment to promoting art through innovative projects. This unique fusion of music and space exploration showcases the incredible talents of the university’s students and marks a remarkable milestone. The collaboration with MCAST and the opportunity to have their compositions launched into space is an exciting achievement for the students.
