Who are Acid Arab?
Acid Arab was founded by Parisian DJs Guido Minisky and Hervé Carvalho in 2012. From the beginning, the project was conceived as a meeting point between contemporary electronic music and musical traditions from North Africa, the Middle East and the Mediterranean.
Pierrot Casanova and Nicolas Borne later joined the project, followed by Algerian keyboardist Kenzi Bourras. This transformed Acid Arab from its DJ beginnings into a fully-fledged live project.
Acid Arab build their sound through genuine collaborations with musicians and singers from different countries. It is not simply about adding Arabic elements to Western electronic music.
House and techno meet raï, dabke, traditional instruments, melodies and vocals. The final destination, however, is always the same – the dance floor.
“Musique de France” and their first major success
Their debut album “Musique de France” was released in 2016. It immediately demonstrated the scope of the idea behind Acid Arab.
The album featured collaborations with numerous artists, including Rachid Taha, A-Wa and Sofiane Saidi. Their vocals and different musical traditions were incorporated into powerful electronic rhythms.
Tracks such as “Gul l’Abi” and “La Hafla” became some of their most recognisable early songs. At the same time, Acid Arab began building a reputation as a project that truly comes alive on stage.
“Jdid” and the development of a distinctive sound
Their second album “Jdid” was released in 2019. Acid Arab continued to expand the dialogue between different shores of the Mediterranean and contemporary European club culture.
They never attempted to create a single universal “Arabic sound”. Instead, they continued collaborating with different artists and expanding their own sonic universe through their individual identities.
The project soon grew far beyond its Parisian club beginnings. Acid Arab have performed hundreds of concerts in more than 50 countries across four continents. In the process, they have become an internationally recognised name on the contemporary electronic scene.
“Trois” and the club hit “Leila”
Their third studio album “٣ (Trois)” was released in 2023. It further strengthened Acid Arab’s international reputation.
The album featured eight guest vocalists from North Africa, Syria and Turkey. It continued to combine different musical traditions with production firmly aimed at the dance floor.
During this period, “Leila” became one of their most recognisable tracks. Released in 2022 in collaboration with Sofiane Saidi, the song grew into a major club hit and a highlight of their live shows.
Acid Arab live
Live performances have become one of the most important parts of Acid Arab’s identity. From Parisian clubs, they have progressed to major festival and club stages around the world.
Their performances are not conventional DJ sets. Live instruments, keyboards and vocals complement the electronic foundation. As a result, their studio tracks gain additional energy and a different dynamic on stage.
More than a decade after their formation, Acid Arab continue to break down musical boundaries. Paris, Algiers, Beirut, Damascus and Istanbul meet on the same dance floor.
“Resonance” – 16 tracks and 15 guest artists
Their fourth studio album “Resonance” was released on 19 June 2026. It is Acid Arab’s most extensive release to date.
The album features 16 tracks and no fewer than 15 guest artists. In doing so, the group continues the collaborative approach that has defined its entire career.
Guests include Yasmine Hamdan, Cem Yıldız, Sofiane Saidi, Ghita Lahmamssi, Wael Alkak, Edis, Ghizlane Melih and Zeina Aftimos.
Resonance brings together musicians from different generations and backgrounds around an idea that has driven Acid Arab from the beginning. Different cultures and musical languages meet, complement and amplify one another.
More than a decade after their formation, Acid Arab continue to expand their musical universe. They remain difficult to confine to a single genre or geographical tradition.
Info
🎤 Artist: Acid Arab
📍 Paris, France
🎵 Genre: electronic • house • techno • electro • Middle Eastern electronic
📅 Formed: 2012
💿 Discography: Musique de France (2016) • Jdid (2019) • ٣ (Trois) (2023) • Resonance (2026)
🔥 Latest album: Resonance (2026)
🎛️ Line-up: Guido Minisky • Hervé Carvalho • Pierrot Casanova • Nicolas Borne • Kenzi Bourras
🤝 Notable collaborators: Rachid Taha • Sofiane Saidi • Yasmine Hamdan • Cem Yıldız • A-Wa
⭐ Known for: combining house and techno with musical traditions from North Africa, the Middle East and the Mediterranean, international collaborations and energetic live performances
Upcoming events
ACID ARAB are coming back to blow Zagreb away – a dance floor without borders!
Boogaloo | Zagreb | 15.01.2027. 20:00
Acid Arab are coming back to blow Zagreb away! Following their fantastic 2019 show at Tvornica, the kings of Arab electronic music return with their new album “Resonance” and a dance floor without borders.