World of Music: The Leila (Moroccan Progressive Rock)

Photo Courtesy: Torito Arts

City of Asylum is thrilled to welcome progressive Moroccan rock band The Leila on their debut North American tour. The Leila blends elements of rock, soul, and traditional Moroccan sounds in songs about self-expression, empowerment, and societal issues. Lead singer Leila started performing at a very young age and recorded her first single at the age of 15, drawing heavily from her strong regional roots and other world music. Leila is an authentic singer with a powerful voice, a sense of fragility, and smart, beautiful songwriting.

This program is presented as a part of Songs in the Key of She, a new concert series taking place in Chicago, New York, and Pittsburgh that features and celebrates women musicians and composers from around the world. Produced by the Chicago-based nonprofit Torito Arts in collaboration with City of Asylum, the series aims to combat the underrepresentation of female musicians in the male-dominated music industry. Songs in the Key of She is a platform in which talented women in music share their creativity and stories with new audiences. 

This engagement of The Leila is made possible in part through the Performing Arts Global Exchange program of Mid Atlantic Arts.