Souad Massi

Souad Massi
Souad Massi at TFF Rudolstadt 2013.
Background information
Born	(1972-08-23) August 23, 1972 (age 44) Algiers, Algeria
Genres	Rock, Country, Fado, Algerian folk music, World music
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, Guitar
Years active	1989–present
Labels	Island
Website	[1]

Souad Massi (سعاد ماسي), born August 23, 1972, is an Algerian singer of Berber descent, 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'Algerie 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, French, occasionally in English, and in the Berber language, Kabyle, often employing more than one language in the same song.

Massi was born in Algiers, Algeria to a poor family of six children. Encouraged by her older brother, she began studying music at a young age, singing and playing guitar. Growing up, she immersed herself in American country and roots music – musical styles that would later strongly influence her songwriting. At the age of 17, she joined a flamenco band, but quickly grew bored and left.

In the early 1990s, Massi joined the Algerian political rock band Atakor, who were influenced by Western rock bands such as Led Zeppelin and U2. She recorded and performed with the group for seven years, releasing a successful album and two popular music videos. The band, however, with its political lyrics and growing popularity, became a target. Massi disguised herself by cutting her hair and dressing in male clothing, but she nevertheless became the target of a series of anonymous death threats. In 1999, she left the band and moved to Paris, France.