Discography
Blues From A Green Zone
2008
Mazaj debut album that highlights the band's lyrical talents in songs like "Traveling While Arab Blues" and "I the Arab" both about racial profiling post 9/11, while songs like "Lei Lei Leih" and "Ya Wabbouri" showcases the melodic diversity of the group, not to neglect the romantic side of the band with love songs like "Khaleeki Haddi" and "Cybelle" that mix love and real life issues in a 21st century routine. Recorded between 2004 and 2008.
Upbeat Melancholy
2009
Mazaj 2nd album continues to explore new horizons with lyrics extending beyond the normal standards of day to day life. "Aganeena" (our songs) is a nostalgic prelude to things that we miss, followed by "Best Friends" that romanticizes the comfort that a broken heart finds in alcohol.
The Spring
2012
Mazaj's third album and homage to the Arab Spring. Started with "Taff El Naher" (The levy broke) in reference to the Egyptian flood of freedom in Tahrir Square and then "Al Burkan" (the volcano) which celebrates the Tunisian spark that produced a revolution.
Amal
2015
With this album Mazaj continues to reflect on the "war" and "peace" theme especially as it relates to refugees and their suffering. "Amal" or Hope wishes for a new tomorrow where children do not have to sleep in snow covered tents and the city of Halab (Aleppo) will be rebuilt. This album also represents a shift into more sampling and studio recording and heavy collaboration with producer and composer Rafik Seifeldin from RafCut studios. Recorded mainly between 2014 and 2015.
The Wine Sessions Vol I & II
2015
The years 2014 and 2015 were Mazaj's most prolific and most experimental. The Wine Sessions was mostly recorded in the studio with first takes. Many of the tracks were written on the spot and recorded over a late Friday night. The Wine Sessions continues the collaboration with producer Rafik Seifeldin and Mazaj.
Tar el Hamam
2016
Mazaj's sixth album, recorded between January and June of 2016. Another collaboration with producer Rafik Seifeldin from Raf Cut Productions in Michigan. This album highlights the turmoil of reality and utopia and the consequences of living a dream that never materializes. Songs like "Reema" that tell a broken love story, or "Bokra" (tomorrow) that promises of a new hope. Mazaj once again expresses the sadness and melancholy of people yearning for hope.
Songs of Love and War
2017
Songs of Love and War is Mazaj’s first concept album recorded over the period of 2015 and 2016. The album chronicles the plight of the Syrian refugees and the war in Syria, covering issues of freedom, love and war and the long journey escaping the hostilities in search for a safe and better future. The album starts with the song "Ghayerni" (change me) as a prelude for a young Syrian yearning for freedom and opportunity symbolizing the desire that Syrians always had for democracy and better life. This leads to the second song "The Dream" that touches upon the sadness of an unfulfilled dream along with the anguish of an unattained love. "Under Fire" kicks in to reflect upon the hostilities endured by Syrians and the disruption of their daily lives. It is a love song where the young Syrian is recalling his loved one while being bombarded by airplanes with shells and barrels. He keeps searching for her under the rubble until he finds her. "Law Bi Idi She" (if I could) is representative of the frustrations and despair the Young Syrian is experiencing. He feels helpless and hopeless and believes he has reached a dead end. This paves the road for his desire to find an alternative and a better future. The better future however is to through a "Journey" that is dangerous and risky and requires border crossings and travel across deserts and seas in search for freedom and safety. This journey is along with other escapees is portrayed in the song "Up and Down" which conveys the perils refugees endure in their quest for a safe haven. The Journey continues with "Seasick Blues" and "Ilan" where Syrians are now crossing the sea to reach Europe. The Young Syrian is reminiscing about his lover’s blue eyes while staring at the endless sea in the small raft that is taking him across the Mediterranean. And then "Ilan" reminds us of those who did not make it and the young child that washed ashore and captured the hearts and the lenses of the world. "Germany I" is the culmination of this journey where the Young Syrian made it finally to Germany furnished with new hope and a dream for love and safety. "New Hope" is his homage to his homeland and a farewell to a world that has gone insane while embracing the prospect of new life. But "Germany II" is a rude reminder that being in a foreign land with new responsibilities is able to kill dreams and suffocate love. While he is struggling with his demons and longing for home, she is working to make ends meet and in the midst of all this, the dream has gone and love faded away. The finale comes with "Baladi" (my homeland) where our Young Syrian is now a father and is telling his son about his homeland and the story of Syria. His final wish for his son is not to forget his homeland.
On the Fly
2017
2017 was a prolific year for Mazaj. The US and World politics, new leaders in several countries while the war continues all over. Many of the tracks on this album were recorded "on the fly" with fewer than two or three takes. Lyrics were written on the spot under the influence of current events, songs like "Inauguration Day" and "Executive Order" were influenced by what Americans experienced in the first month of 2017. Other tracks were more playful but still in a melancholic way, such as the love song "Baheem" (Idiot) and "Khara" (SH#T).
New Begining
2018
Mazaj's 10th album where they continue to work with producer and composer Rafik Seifeldin at RafCuts Studios. This album highlights the band's interest in exploring different melodies and other styles as evident in the song "Mazaj (mood)" and the African style and instruments while still remaining true to their roots of fusing Rock and Blues with Arabic moods. Songs like "Guns and Roses", "Shamaa (candle)" and "Hush, Hush, Hush" are simplistically complicated in pushing the boundaries towards conveying the feelings of the Arabic words to a foreign audience.
Antara
2018
Mazaj's take on classic poetry. The famous poem by Antara Bin Shaddad comes live with the music and beats of Mazaj and producer Rafik Seifeldin. Antara was was born in Najd in Arabia. His mother was an Ethiopian woman named Zabeebah. She was a princess taken as a captive by his father as a slave. Antara grew up a slave as well. He fell in love with his cousin ʿAblah, but could not hope to marry her owing to his position. He gained attention and respect for himself by his remarkable personal qualities and courage in battle, excelling as an accomplished poet and a mighty warrior. He earned his freedom after another tribe invaded the lands of the Banu ʿAbs. Mazaj brings the beauty of the words of Antara into life in this extended play album (EP).
He Said, She Said
2019
Mazaj's 11th album continuing their collaboration with composer and producer Rafik Siefeldin.
What is unique about this album is the band's mixing their lyrics with English and Arabic. Songs like "Drawning in My Tears" is completely in English which is an indication of the band's exposure to a more international audience.
Quarantine
2020
Mazaj’s twelfth album in a “para COVID” world is Quarantine, so appropriately named with the title song that gives you the eerie feeling of the “new normal” and life in the time of pandemics. This album also shows the bands appetite for exploring other ethnic voices, whether it is the Persian chants in Without Blame or the Algerian vocals in Try to Forget, Mazaj weaves these harmonies together as if they were made for each other. While this album tackles more “life matters” in songs like What is left and My Life, Mazaj remains rooted in issues that the homeland is dealing with. The song Seven Years deals with the explosion that rocked Beirut’s port and the song Belad el Orb plays on the romantic notion of one Arab nation, however it is nowadays unified with turmoil and suffering rather than its glory days.
Crazy World
2021
What a Crazy World it has been, dealing with a pandemic, conflicts and Trumpers ... Mazaj jumps right into it, with the song "Jan 6" addressing the attack on the Capitol building, "Tawasul Igtimaaii" That tackles our depends on social media for everything we do especially love and "Alam Majnoon" which summarizes everything we deal with in this crazy world.
Shababeek (windows)
2022
Mazaj’s new release for the year 2022. Recorded in 2021, Mazaj continue to collaborate with composer and producer Rafik Seifeldin from Rafcut Digital. This album highlights Mazaj’s willingness to explore social issues such as life and death. The track “The Divorce” shows a personal connection to the break of a family while “Death” builds on Nikos Kazintzaki’s Report to Greeko opening and the philosophy of end of life. Albeit, Still Mazaj stays true to their political stands in addressing oppression and injustice, the tracks ‘Abad”, “Jamal’ and “Shoftak” are prefect examples.