Mashrou’ Leila

Mashrou’ Leila was a Lebanese alternative rock band formed in 2008 out of a music workshop at the American University of Beirut, centered on vocalist Hamed Sinno, violinist Haig Papazian, guitarist and keyboardist Firas Abou Fakher, and drummer Carl Gerges. The band became one of the Arab world’s most prominent and provocative acts, writing openly about sexuality, politics, and social taboos, and blending indie rock with Arabic songwriting. Over four studio albums released between 2009 and 2019 they built a large international following while facing repeated concert bans across Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt. Mashrou’ Leila went on indefinite hiatus in 2022 following sustained harassment and hate campaigns, with its members turning to solo work. Sinno has since moved into composition, debuting the opera Westerly Breath at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art in early 2024.