They've been described as the voice of their generation -- though not one that everyone is comfortable hearing.

Mashrou' Leila, whose name translates as "The Night Project," is a controversial alternative rock band from Lebanon, whose music has served as something of a soundtrack to the Arab Spring for many young people throughout the region.

Formed at the American University of Beirut in 2008, the multi-confessional, seven-piece band has won a legion of fans throughout the Middle East with lyrics that speak to the daily realities and aspirations of young Arabs, frankly addressing taboo topics such as politics, sexuality and religion.

The group was simply interested in making music that honestly reflected its members' experiences, keyboardist Omaya Malaeb told CNN.

"The things we talk about, for us, they're not anything very extreme or very unusual. They are really realistic situations that each one of us goes through."

The group was given rich material to mine simply by the daily realities of life in the Lebanese capital, described in the band's online bio as a "city that tastes of the absurd," characterized by chronic insecurity and full of "musical bombshells, incoherent sexuality and thrusting pleasure."

"Our daily lives were the major inspiration, being young people and part of a changing country trying to form its future in a very sensitive period," said guitarist Firas Abu-Fakhr.

This contrasted with much of the mainstream pop from the region, which shied away from addressing anything substantive in its lyrics.

"The people who produce pop music... don't really deal with any topics that really relate to real daily issues," he said.

But not everybody has appreciated their approach, said Malaeb, the sole female member of the band. "For other people, this seems a bit too bold," she said.