SOFIANE SAIDI & MAZALDA

(Algeria/France)

Sofiane Saidi & Mazalda by Aurore Vinot

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Sofiane Saidi, the ‘Prince of Rai 2.0’, sulphurous Algerian crooner and inventor of oriental glam, unveils another phase of his multifaceted history with a new electro-Maghreb vision, joining forces with the analog synths, saz, horns and percussion of turbo-clappers Mazalda to create a fizzingly fresh take on classic 80s Rai.

Born in the Algerian Rai heartland of Sidi bel Abbes, Saidi relocated to Paris in the 90s where he began moving through multiple musical worlds, from his 1996 debut with Senegalese hiphoppers, Tukuleur, through collaborations with Acid Arab, Natacha Atlas and Smadj, Breton roots-rockers Startijenn and Rai pioneers, Raina Rai, before releasing his own album, El Morjane, in 2015, a shiny electro-raï concoction directed with Tim Whelan of Transglobal Underground. Now he’s closed the loop with his roots to create ‘Rai 2.0 for the third millennium’.

Moncef Hakim - percussions
Adrien Spirli - bass keyboard
Lucas Spirli - keyboards
Stephane Cezard - saz, guitar
Julien Lesuisse - saxophone, electric saxophone
Yann Lemeunier - drums