Souad Massi

Souad Massi
سعاد ماسي
Souad Massi at TFF Rudolstadt 2013.
Souad Massi at TFF Rudolstadt 2013.
Background information
Born (1972-08-23) August 23, 1972 (age 52)
Algiers, Algeria
GenresRock, Country, Fado, Algerian folk music, World music
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, Guitar
Years active1999–present
LabelsIsland, Naïve Records,
Website[1]

Souad Massi (Arabic: سعاد ماسي; born August 23, 1972) is an Algerian Berber singer, songwriter and guitarist. She began her career performing in the Kabyle political rock band Atakor, before leaving the country following a series of death threats. In 1999, Massi performed at the Femmes d'Algérie concert in Paris, which led to a recording contract with Island Records.

Massi's music, which prominently features the acoustic guitar, displays Western musical style influences such as rock, country or the Portuguese fado but sometimes incorporates oriental musical influences and oriental instruments like the oud as well as African musical stylings. Massi sings in Classical Arabic, Algerian Arabic, Egyptian Arabic, French, occasionally in English, and in the Kabyle Berber language, often employing more than one language in the same song.