Souad Massi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Souad Massi
Souad Massi at a music festival in 2013.
Background information
Native name	سعاد ماسي
Born	(1972-08-23) August 23, 1972 (age 52) Algiers, Algeria
Genres	Rock, Country, Fado, Algerian folk music, World music
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, Guitar
Years active	1999–present
Labels	Island, Naïve Records,

Souad Massi (born August 23, 1972) is a famous singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Algeria. She is known for her beautiful music which often features her playing the acoustic guitar. Massi began her career in a political rock band in Algeria. Because of the band's powerful songs, it became unsafe for her to stay in the country. In 1999, she moved to Paris and started a successful solo career.

Massi's music is a special mix of different styles. You can hear influences from Western rock, country, and even Portuguese fado. She also blends these with sounds from North Africa, sometimes using instruments like the oud. She is also known for singing in many languages, including Arabic, French, English, and the Berber language of Kabyle.

Early Life and Music

Souad Massi was born in Algiers, the capital city of Algeria. She grew up in a working-class neighborhood with her five siblings. Her older brother encouraged her to learn music, so she started playing the guitar and singing when she was young.

As a teenager, she loved listening to American country and roots music. These styles had a big impact on the songs she would write later. When she was 17, she briefly joined a flamenco band but soon decided to find her own path.

Joining a Political Rock Band

In the early 1990s, Massi joined a rock band called Atakor. The band was inspired by famous groups like Led Zeppelin and U2. They wrote songs about important political topics in Algeria. Massi performed with Atakor for seven years, and they became very popular.

However, the band's political lyrics and fame brought them unwanted attention. It became too dangerous for Massi to perform openly. She had to leave the band and her home country. In 1999, she moved to Paris, France, to start a new life.

A Successful Solo Career

Massi performing in 2005

In 1999, Massi was invited to perform at a festival in Paris called Femmes d'Algérie ("Women of Algeria"). Her performance was so impressive that she was offered a recording contract with the famous music label Island Records.

Her first solo album, Raoui ("Storyteller"), was released in 2001. Most of the songs were in French and Arabic. The album was a huge success in France, and people loved her unique folk music style. The next year, she was nominated for "Best Newcomer" at the Radio 3 World Music Awards.

In 2003, she released her second album, Deb ("Heartbroken"). The songs on this album were more personal. It became one of the most successful albums by any North African artist in the world. Three years later, she released Mesk Elil ("Honeysuckle"), which continued to explore themes of love and loss.

Massi released her fourth album, Ô Houria, in 2010. It even featured the famous musician Paul Weller playing piano on one song. In 2023, her album Sequana won the prestigious German Record Critics' Award.

Personal Life

Souad Massi lives in Paris, France, with her two daughters. She has said that she is a fan of the musician Leonard Cohen. She was also influenced by rock bands like AC/DC and INXS when she was growing up.

Discography

Solo albums

• 2001: Raoui
• 2003: Deb
• 2005: Mesk Elil
• 2007: Live acoustique
• 2010: Ô Houria
• 2015: El Mutakallimun
• 2019: Oumniya
• 2022: Sequana

See also

In Spanish: Souad Massi para niños