Zeyne

Review by Ameena Razzaque

The short:

Zeyne is Palestinian-Jordanian and began her music career by posting snippets of her singing after her career in public relations paused due to COVID-19. She is unapologetically proud of her identity and has used her music to call out the Gaza genocide.    

The long:

In her relatively nascent career, Zeyne has already collaborated with other well-known artists like Bayou and Saint Levant and created beautiful imagery and political messaging in her music videos, most vividly in the 2024 song, “7arrir 3aqlak/Asli Ana.” She released “Hilwa,” a homage to her mother, grandmother, and Palestinian women. She also released “Bali,” a song she wrote in response to the Gaza genocide, which explores her mental state with the ongoing humanitarian crisis occurring in Gaza.    

To listen or not to listen:

Yes, her music is powerful and combines elements of dabke, Arabic music, some jazz, and R&B, and her recent music videos are *chef’s kiss*. She uses her music to discuss political themes and raise awareness, a plus when listening to good music.