Music Major Jiire Smith Captures the Rhythms of Abu Dhabi

Jiire first learned about NYU Abu Dhabi at a college fair in high school. He liked the liberal arts curriculum and the scholarships. Most of all, he appreciated the freedom to explore different academic paths before choosing a major. “It was absolutely important that my education would allow me to explore my professional passions, but also to know that if I wished to change paths, I could,” he explains.

Though music had been part of his life from an early age, Jiire enrolled as a Political Science major. Soon, however, he realized it wasn’t bringing him joy. He made the switch to music and began performing throughout Abu Dhabi at open mics and pop-up events, building his name within the city’s creative scene. “I was putting my face and my voice in every place I felt was right,” he explains. “That was a starting point. But we do arrive at a turning point, and that is my debut single, Bus 170.”

In 2022, Jiire released Bus 170, a song inspired by the public bus that connects NYU Abu Dhabi’s campus to the city. “It originates from observing life and love in the city of Abu Dhabi. Additionally, it speaks to my own experiences within that context,” he says. Soon after, he performed it live at NYU Abu Dhabi’s Battle of the Bands—and won. “It was a milestone. A dream come true as a musician,” he recalls.

Then, suddenly, Bus 170 was everywhere. Jiire knew it had gone big when he received an invitation to the Abu Dhabi Culture Summit. There, the minister of culture told him she’d heard it. He began performing at small venues and watched in awe as the song landed on Apple’s Viral Hits playlist. Two years after its release, it reached number one on the iTunes UAE R&B/Soul chart.

NYU Abu Dhabi has been an integral part of Jiire’s journey, giving him the resources, mentorship, and freedom to grow as both a student and an artist. He creates much of his work in the Arts Center, which houses a state-of-the-art recording studio, innovation studio, and composition room. There, he recorded and produced songs as well as practiced piano and singing. “My art, my pursuit of my career, and my academic life are tied and woven together in a seamless fashion,” he reflects.

At the same time, the city of Abu Dhabi continues to serve as a muse. “It’s filled with people from different corners of the world—different nationalities and different tastes. So, in that way, Abu Dhabi offers a window into experiencing the world,” he says. Another track, Zayed Road, draws inspiration from the city by exploring the idea of “experiencing home outside of home.”