Algerian singer Sofiane Saidi reinvents raï music

Under the ancient stones of the Arles Antique Theatre, Algerian singer Sofiane Saidi emerges, his sequined shirt catching the twilight. Hailing from Sidi Bel Abbès, Saidi has cultivated a reputation as a nocturnal figure, an alchemist who has been reshaping the raï music genre since the 1990s. He masterfully blends the trance-inducing rhythms of synthesizers with the melancholic undertones of Oran's cabarets.

Raï music, born in the Mediterranean port city of Oran, traditionally voiced desires and the pain of exile, pushing boundaries to forge a sense of electric freedom. Saidi, however, has charted his own course across the sea, diverging from the genre's established paths. He has become a key collaborator in the electro-raï scene, notably with the group Acid Arab.

His artistic journey is marked by a series of hybrid projects, including his work with the band Mazalda. Saidi has also lent his distinctive voice to collaborations that explore diverse sonic landscapes. Notably, he joined forces with guitarist Rodolphe Burger for the "Mademoiselle" project, creating a unique blues-raï fusion that pushes the boundaries of conventional genres.