Mashrou' Leila
The band was formed in February 2008 at the American University of Beirut, when violinist Haig Papazian, guitarist Andre Chedid, and pianist Omaya Malaeb posted an open invitation to musicians looking to jam to vent the stress caused by college and the unstable political situation.
[1][2] Band members were encouraged by friends to perform in front of a live crowd; they put on a show as the opening act for a concert on the AUB campus.
[8] The gig turned out to be Beirut's biggest non-mainstream event in recent years and has been a big hit among indie and rock fans in Lebanon.
[1] Shortly after the release of their first album, the band burst into the spotlight of the Lebanese music mainstream when they were announced to be headlining the Byblos International Festival on July 9, 2010.
This is a collection of songs that happen in a weathered bedroom with ruffled bed sheets, stained carpeting, and a book shelf of references, while a string section plays on a rusty vinyl player to a couple of young lovers trying to survive the city".
[19] During a show at The Middle East club in Boston, Sinno introduced "Abdo" off the Raasuk release by explaining that, "This one is about something typical in Beirut which is people selling stuff on trolleys in the street.
[21] Contrary to their common method of writing and producing songs, the band decided not to test their new material in live concerts, opting instead for secrecy and mystery about their fourth album.
[citation needed] The band experimented with drum machines, loops, samples, and several synthesizers in a new method of composition, trying to accommodate for the departure of keyboard player Omaya Malaeb.
On the November 28, the band released Ibn El Leil (ابن الليل, 'son of the night') at the Barbican in London with live broadcasting on MTV Lebanon available to the entire world to positive reviews.
"In the seven years since Mashrou’ Leila formed at the American University of Beirut, the quintet – whose name, in fact, means 'overnight project' – have won comparisons to everyone from Arctic Monkeys and Radiohead to Roxy Music and Wild Beasts.
[30] They also cited the tragic death of Sarah Hegazi, who was arrested and tortured in Egypt after flying a rainbow flag at a 2017 concert, as a contributing factor to the decision.
During that same festival appearance, the band performed songs denouncing police brutality and corrupt politicians while then prime minister Saad el-Din Hariri was in attendance.
[44][45] Mashrou' Leila's satirical lyrics and themes regarding politics, religion, sexuality and homosexuality led to an unofficial ban on performing in Jordan on April 26, 2016.
During a 2016 NPR Tiny Desk Concert, the band lead singer Hamed Sinno explained the "Djin" lyrics as drawing from scholar Joseph Campbell's comparative mythology and religion works.
Some campaigners, including Free Patriotic Movement official Naji Hayek, called on their followers to forcibly stop the band's appearance if Lebanese authorities didn't cancel the show.
[58] Senior clergyman and head of the Catholic Media Center Abdo Abou Kasm said that the church was prepared to take legal action against the band and that he contacted members of parliament and other Christian officials, and informed them that this concert poses a "danger to [our] community," adding "We won’t let this go through.
[61] Lawyer Christiane Nakhoul filed a lawsuit on behalf of a right-wing activist against Mashrou' Leila for "insulting sanctities and religions and stirring sectarian sentiments.
"[57][60] On July 24, 2019, Mount Lebanon Prosecutor Ghada Aoun ordered the release of the band members after their interrogation by the State Security agency dismissing charges of blasphemy and inciting sectarian strife offenses.
[65] On July 30, 2019, the Byblos Festival organizers caved in to pressure from online groups, church officials and politicians and announced the cancellation of the show to prevent civil unrest and bloodshed.
[44][65] On July 31, 2019, following the concert cancellation, Mashrou' Leila shared a statement on its social media accounts condemning the campaign, saying that the songs at the center of the controversy were subjected to "misinterpretation and twisting of lyrics".
"[65] Social activist Khaled Merheb filed a lawsuit against members of the right wing campaign group who threatened the band and attendees with the use of weapons, beatings and killing.
Lama Fakih, the Middle East director at Human Rights Watch said: “The cancellation of Mashrou’ Leila's concert reflects the government's increased reliance on over-broad and abusive laws to stifle and censor activists, journalists, and artists.”[68] Amnesty International denounced the church position and hate speech against vulnerable populations: “It is unconscionable that there continue to be such calls emanating from institutions that are meant to serve as role models to their constituencies, and can and should be upholding the right to freedom of expression and protection of vulnerable groups, instead of enabling hate speech, including homophobia".
[71] Mashrou’ Leila were invited for a discussion session titled, “Language and the Rhythm of the Street” at The Media Majlis in Northwestern University in Qatar.
"[72] A spokesperson from Qatar Foundation, told Reuters that ““We also place the very highest value on academic freedom… in the context of Qatari laws as well as the country’s cultural and social customs.
