Mashrou' Leila
In 2011, Mashrou' Leila released the "El Hal Romancy" EP, a recording the band describes as "tackling lyrically more intimate, personal, and theatrical subject matter that is less about the city and its politics proper, and more about the social residue of the city. This is a collection of songs that happen in a weathered bedroom with ruffled bed sheets, stained carpeting, and a book shelf of references, while a string section plays on a rusty vinyl player to a couple of young lovers trying to survive the city". One week before the release concert in Beirut Hippodrome, Mashrou' Leila announced that the album was available for free download on the band's website.