DYSTINCT

Biography

Iliass Mansouri, known professionally as DYSTINCT, is a Belgian-Moroccan singer, songwriter, and producer born on September 9, 1998, in Mortsel, Belgium. Growing up in Antwerp in a Moroccan family, he was influenced by music from a young age, as his father was a singer. He began his professional music career at the age of 14.

Musical Career

DYSTINCT's music is characterized by a fusion of urban, pop-rap, and Afrobeat sounds with Arabic and Moroccan influences. He gained initial success in 2017 with his single "No Ring Ring". He signed with Avalon Music and moved to Amsterdam at the age of eighteen.

Albums

His debut album, "Mon Voyage," was released on July 9, 2021, and became the best-selling album in Morocco that year. The album features collaborations with various artists from the Netherlands, Morocco, France, and Germany. His second album, "Layali" (meaning "Nights"), was released in June 2023. This multilingual project further solidified his international presence and included the viral hit "Tek Tek" featuring MHD.

Breakthrough and Recognition

DYSTINCT achieved a significant international breakthrough with his song "Ghazali" featuring Bryan MG in 2022. The track gained immense popularity after the Moroccan national football team celebrated with it during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. This exposure propelled him to global recognition. His music, which often blends Moroccan Darija with other languages like French, English, and Dutch, has resonated with a worldwide audience. He has had multiple entries on the Billboard Arabia Hot 100 chart.

Collaborations and Awards

Throughout his career, DYSTINCT has collaborated with numerous international artists, including Franglish, GIMS, Soolking, Naza, MHD, Dadju, and F1rstman. His work has earned him several accolades. In 2023, he was named 'Best North African Artist' at the Trace Awards and was nominated for an NRJ Music Award. In 2024, his album "Layali" won 'Best Album' of the year from the Dutch radio station FunX.