Mashrou' Leila - مشروع ليلى

Mashrou' Leila (Arabic for «Leila's Project») is a Lebanese alternative rock band formed in Beirut in 2008, originally as a workshop project at the American University of Beirut. The five-piece — Hamed Sinno on vocals, Haig Papazian on violin, Carl Gerges on drums, Ibrahim Badr on bass and Firas Abu-Fakhr on guitar and keys — quickly moved beyond its student origins to become one of the most talked-about acts in the Arab indie scene.

Their sound blends rock and pop songwriting with the textures of Arabic music, most distinctively through Papazian's violin, which gives many tracks a melancholic, almost orchestral quality alongside driving guitars and Sinno's expressive vocals. Songs like «Fasateen», «Shim el Yasmine» and «Raksit Leila» showcase this mix of intimate balladry and danceable energy.

Beyond the music, the band became known for tackling subjects rarely addressed openly in mainstream Arabic pop — LGBT identity, religion, sectarianism and political dissent — with Sinno's openness about his sexuality making the band a lightning rod both for admiration and controversy across the region. Over four self-released studio albums, Mashrou' Leila built a reputation as one of the boldest and most distinctive voices in contemporary Arabic alternative music.