Beirut , Lebanon ( CNN ) -- They 've been described as the voice of their generation -- though not one that everyone is comfortable hearing . Mashrou ' Leila , whose name translates as `` The Night Project , '' is a controversial alternative rock band from Lebanon , whose music has served as something of a soundtrack to the Arab Spring for many young people throughout the region . Formed at the American University of Beirut in 2008 , the multi-confessional , seven-piece band has won a legion of fans throughout the Middle East with lyrics that speak to the daily realities and aspirations of young Arabs , frankly addressing taboo topics such as politics , sexuality and religion . The group was simply interested in making music that honestly reflected its members ' experiences , keyboardist Omaya Malaeb told CNN . `` The things we talk about , for us , they 're not anything very extreme or very unusual . They are really realistic situations that each one of us goes through . '' The group was given rich material to mine simply by the daily realities of life in the Lebanese capital , described in the band 's online bio as a `` city that tastes of the absurd , '' characterized by chronic insecurity and full of `` musical bombshells , incoherent sexuality and thrusting pleasure . '' `` Our daily lives were the major inspiration , being young people and part of a changing country trying to form its future in a very sensitive period , '' said guitarist Firas Abu-Fakhr . Read more : Lebanese women take on judges who call rape a `` marital right '' This contrasted with much of the mainstream pop from the region , which shied away from addressing anything substantive in its lyrics . `` The people who produce pop music ... do n't really deal with any topics that really relate to real daily issues , '' he said . But not everybody has appreciated their approach , said Malaeb , the sole female member of the band . `` For other people , this seems a bit too bold , '' she said . The band 's expressive music has earned them their share of critics as they have risen to prominence . In 2010 , when the group became the first Lebanese act to headline the Byblos International Festival -- one of Lebanon 's largest music events -- then-Prime Minister Saad Hariri reportedly left midway through the performance , after the band played a song with swearing in the lyrics . Read more : Tackling Lebanon 's racism problem . Lead singer and songwriter Hamed Sinno said the group does not actively court controversy , but is not interested in toning down their act to win mainstream approval . `` It 's not like we try to bother people . But we have n't really tried to inhibit ourselves , '' he said . `` I guess that we have n't tried to censor ourselves bothers people , because we 're rather explicit about the world -- sometimes in ways that are disagreeable for a lot of people . '' Most controversially , he says , `` we 're rather explicit about our sexuality . '' Sinno is openly gay , a rarity for performers in a region where homophobic attitudes prevail . He has draped himself in a rainbow flag onstage , and written lyrics from the perspective of a gay lover in songs such as `` Smell the Jasmine . '' It reflected the band 's goal to transcend stereotypes , and create art that communicated the complicated realities of a new generation in the Middle East , said Malaeb -- an honesty that has seen Mashrou ' Leila perform to fans in Tunis , Cairo , Abu Dhabi , Amman and even Novi Sad , Serbia . `` Lebanon has more to offer than the commercial music that you hear on the radio , '' she said . `` We 're trying to do something that speaks more to us . ''
M ' Leila is a five - piece alternative rock band from Egypt . The group has won fans throughout the Middle East since forming in 2004 . Its frank treatment of taboo subjects such as sexuality and religion has drawn criticism . The band 's lead singer is openly gay , a rarity in the Arab music scene .