Adonis Essentials

Beirut four-piece Adonis soundtrack their days in the city with evocative alternative amalgams. Debut album Daw El Baladiyyi (2011) provides mesmerising peeks into Arabic pop folk through the band’s sharp millennial lens. A turning point came with yearning anthem “Eza Shi Nhar”, from their decidedly edgier third work, 2018’s Nour. Confident and tech-savvy, they populate their tender lyricism with fervent pop refrains, bubbly guitar lines and electronic boosts. Shrouded in oscillating synths, 2019 cut “Saro Rjal” also showcases their knack for poignant, atmospheric storytelling.