Sofiane Saidi

(dz)

He's known as the ‘Prince of Raï 2.0’ and it's no coincidence. Sofiane Saidi, an Algerian singer born in Sidi Bel Abbès - the historical cradle of raï - has been one of the most innovative figures in contemporary Maghreb music, fusing tradition and modernity into a musical formula that pulses with soul and electricity. Based in Paris since the 1990s, Saidi has crossed stylistic boundaries with the naturalness of someone who grew up listening to the masters of Oran, but always with an ear towards the sounds of the future. After remarkable collaborations with names such as Acid Arab, Natacha Atlas, Smadj or the mythical Raina Rai, and a solo debut with the hypnotic'El Morjane' (2015), the singer returns to his roots to take raï to a new dimension.

In alliance with Mazalda, an experimental collective from Lyon, Saidi has created a vibrant hybrid where the spirit of classic 80s raï is reimagined with oriental saz , North African percussion, french horns and analogue synthesisers - all wrapped up in a warm, funky funky and intensely contemporary sound. It's his response to the raï of the third millennium: simultaneously homage and reinvention. The result is a dialogue between past and present, where Saidi's lyrical and engaging voice evokes the great Algerian crooners crooners while Mazalda's arrangements introduce sonic detours full of groovegroove, humour and irreverence. This partnership marks a turning point - or perhaps a logical continuation - in the career of an artist who has always known how to balance respect for traditions with an irresistible desire to experiment. With Sofiane Saidi, raï, which was born as fringe music and grew up on the cassette markets before conquering international radio in the 1990s, finds a new lease of life and a renewed urgency. More than nostalgia, this is music that is alive, open and reinvented with every beat, as is clear when you listen to a piece like ‘Mademoiselle’.