Middle East Beats: Mashrou' Leila from Lebanon
Mashrou' Leila is arguably the most ground-breaking band in the Middle East at the moment, shaking up a once conservative music scene.
With an openly gay lead singer, a fresh, passionate, eclectic sound, and provocative lyrics, the Lebanese alternative rock outfit is not afraid to tackle sexual, social and political taboos.
The five band members, all ex-students at Beirut's American University, came together in 2008, and have amassed an impressive following across the region.
They are resolutely independent, crowd-funding their albums, and remain outside the mainstream music business.
For the BBC's Middle East Beats series, they perform Skandar Malouf, a satirical take on homophobic attitudes.
More from the Middle East Beats series
06 Feb 2015