Souad Massi

The great French-Algerian singer-songwriter Souad Massi has been called the »Tracy Chapman of the Maghreb«. Perhaps because she also develops her songs musically around her delicate guitar playing and stands up for freedom, justice, female emancipation, humanism and love in her lyrics. Massi studied classical music as well as Arabic-Andalusian music and developed her own style over time in which, alongside Algerian folk, influences from independent rock also play a key role. Each song by Souad Massi sounds like an elaborate miniature from a musical continent which she invented herself. She sings in French, Arabic and Kabyle, a Berber language spoken in the north of Algeria. 

Souad Massi vocals, guitar

Mokrane Adlani violin

Maxime Barcelona guitar

Guy Nsangue bass

Rabah Khalfa darbuka

Maamoun Dehane drums

Souad Massi is the female face of the modern Arabic chanson.