Latest news with #Hilwa
Arab News
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
An anthem for unspoken love: Zeyne discusses her latest release, ‘Hilwa'
DHAHRAN: Palestinian-Jordanian artist Zeyne is here for her close-up — and she's bringing the inspirational women in her family along. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ Zeyne's latest single 'Hilwa' dropped this week and the artwork — shot by Zaid Allozi — shows three women interlocked by their braided hair. 'The image shows three generations — me, my mother, and my grandmother — all connected by one continuous braid. It's a symbol of inheritance; the quiet strength and love passed from one woman to the next,' Zeyne tells Arab News. 'The braid holds the kind of love that isn't always spoken, but is deeply felt and remembered.' The 27-year-old is using her music to reclaim narrative, identity and joy — singing of Arab womanhood in its most defiant, soulful and cinematic form. 'We shot (the artwork) in a handmade mudbrick house in the Jordan Valley, built using traditional Levantine methods. These homes — found across Palestine, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon — aren't just sustainable, they carry memory. They connect us to land, to lineage, and to something deeper,' Zeyne says. 'Hilwa' is an uplifting anthem released via Saudi-based MDLBEAST Records, in partnership with Zeyne's own label, Scarab Records. 'When we saw the vision Zeyne and her team had, it was a no brainer, we were ready to jump right in and help amplify what was already there and build together towards a sustainable, long-running, global project stemming from the heart of the MENA region,' Talal Albahiti, COO and head of talent at MDLBEAST, tells Arab News. 'MDLBEAST Records always champions the upcoming hard workers and visionaries, and Zeyne exemplifies these qualities perfectly.' Following Zeyne's 2024 hit 'Asli Ana,' which reimagined Arab rhythmic traditions through a futuristic lens, 'Hilwa' pays homage to her mother and grandmother, whose love and wisdom deeply shaped her sense of identity. 'While 'Asli Ana' was about resistance, 'Hilwa' is softer,' she says. Through Zeyne's reflective lyrics and emotional vocal delivery, 'Hilwa' explores how beauty and self-worth are inherited — not just genetically, but through stories, memories, and values passed down by generations of Arab women. 'You're so beautiful and no one can say otherwise,' she sings at one point. Born Zein Sajdi in Amman in 1997, Zeyne was raised in a household where music and culture were key. Her father was a record collector, her mother led a dabke troupe, and her sister trained as a classical pianist. Zeyne began performing aged five and was already writing her own lyrics in her teens. She studied sociology and media communications at the University of Sussex in the UK, but the COVID-19 pandemic redirected her path. Returning to Amman in 2020, she turned her full attention to music — writing, recording and developing her distinct sound. Since the release of her 2021 debut single, 'Minni Ana,' Zeyne has carved a singular lane in Arab pop — merging traditional Arabic sounds with modern, genre-defying production. Since then, she has released several acclaimed singles, collaborated with artists including Palestinian singer-songwriter Saint Levant, and written for fellow Jordanian-Palestinian musician Issam Alnajjar, Lebanese-Canadian singer-songwriter Massari, and the acclaimed Chilean-Palestinian star Elyanna. With more than 46 million streams across various platforms, Zeyne's music has become a touchstone for Arab youth globally, offering a sound that is intimate, cinematic and emotionally resonant. Her boundary-pushing sound and evocative vocals have established her as one of the region's most important cultural voices. Earlier this year, she launched a three-stop regional mini tour, 'The Golden-Hour Run,' that included a landmark performance at the OffLimits Festival in the UAE and stadium appearances as a special guest on Ed Sheeran's Mathematics Tour in Qatar and Bahrain, where she performed to over 65,000 people. She became the first female artist from the Levant to appear on the globally renowned music platform COLORS with her song 'Ma Bansak,' and a viral performance in collaboration with Bottega Veneta blurred the lines between fashion, music, and Palestinian resistance. A post shared by zeyne | زين (@zeyne) But Zeyne's influence stretches far beyond music. As an EQUAL Arabia ambassador, she lit up Times Square in New York City, solidifying her status as an emerging symbol of contemporary Arab identity and woman empowerment. Her inclusion in the DAZED Global 100 further cemented her status as a fearless voice reshaping representation and storytelling in and beyond the region. 'Hilwa' captures all of that—vulnerability, defiance, and a deep sense of generational continuity. On Instagram, she wrote that the song stems from an assembly line of greatness, and is 'a love letter to all the women in my life — my mother, my grandmother and even my younger self — you are beautiful, and no words can say otherwise.' This summer, Zeyne brings that message to the stage. She will perform in London on July 19 and 20, Paris on July 22, and Jerash on July 28, before heading to Saudi Arabia for back-to-back concerts in Riyadh on Aug. 7 and Jeddah on Aug. 8.
CairoScene
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Zeyne Reclaims What ‘Hilwa' Really Means in Empowering New Single
Over a cacophony of tabla percussions and joyful ululations, Zeyne's heartfelt lyrics celebrate Arab women and promote a message of self-acceptance to those pressured to look perfect. Jul 04, 2025 Palestinian-Jordanian artist Zeyne unveils 'Hilwa', a potent self-love anthem and the third preview single from her upcoming debut album, which is set to release this year. 'Hilwa', which means 'beautiful' in English, sends a tender message of empowerment and self-acceptance to Arab women who feel pressured to look perfect due to the unrealistic, Western-centric beauty standards we are drowning in every day. Through heartfelt lyrics, Zeyne cuts through the noise, offering a reminder that true beauty transcends external expectations and that self-love is often nurtured by the love and memories of those who came before us. Over a cacophony of tabla percussions, major keys, and rababa strings imbued with R&B influences, Zeyne pays homage to her mother and grandmother, highlighting the strength and individuality passed down through generations, amidst intersections of joyful ululations that are commonly known in celebratory gatherings in the Arab world.
UAE Moments
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- UAE Moments
Palestinian Singer Zeyne Releases New Single 'Hilwa'
Palestinian-Jordanian singer-songwriter Zeyne (Zein Sajdi), known for her soulful blend of Arabic, R&B, and soul, is back with her compelling new single 'Hilwa' ('beautiful' in Arabic). Building on her viral breakout Asli Ana and other emotionally-charged anthems, this latest release marks another milestone in her rising career. In Hilwa, Zeyne pays homage to feminine strength and family bonds. Inspired by her mother's affectionate affirmation—'Hilwa hilwa'—she artfully blends North African instrumentation and Palestinian cultural motifs atop an irresistible beat. Crafted with Authenticity Zeyne describes Hilwa as her quickest creative triumph to date. She received an unsolicited demo from an Algerian producer, wrote the lyrics within hours, then refined them with her producer by morning. The result? A vibrant fusion of North African and Levantine musical traditions that resonates with her signature identity-driven style. A Global Voice with Regional Roots At 27, Zeyne has already made a name for herself beyond the Middle East. Her blend of honest storytelling and cross-cultural sound has earned her acclaim from global brands, including collaborations with Dior and Valentino, and performances at fashion events like Bottega Veneta's WAVES in Dubai and De Beers showcases. She was recognized as Spotify's EQUAL Arabia Ambassador in June, highlighting her unique position in bridging feminist narratives, Palestinian identity, and accessible contemporary pop. What's Next Zeyne hints at something bigger on the horizon: her debut album, expected later this year. With Hilwa setting the tone, fans can anticipate more tracks that are as heartfelt, culturally resonant, and musically diverse as her rising singles.
Harpers Bazaar Arabia
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Harpers Bazaar Arabia
Zeyne On Her New Single And Trailblazing To The Top
Singer-songwriter Zeyne has reached icon status without even releasing an album. The song bird talks heritage, fashion and her new single with Bazaar Arabia… You'd be hard pressed to find someone who doesn't instantly warm to Zeyne. She's friendly, articulate and enthusiastic in equal measures. Oh, and she loves to talk. All of these traits manifest when I ask the Palestinian-Jordanian singer my first question; 'Tell me about your new single,' and she chatters for exactly four minutes without stopping, barely taking a breath. She's excited, and she's proud, and so she should be, it's another hit in every sense. Hilwa—beautiful in Arabic—follows the huge success of her viral single Asli Ana, and similarly pays tribute to her culture and talks of self empowerment, all to the backdrop of an infectious beat rooted in regional sounds. 'It talks about loving who you are, but also honouring the love that was passed down through your roots, from your mother and your grandmother,' explains the artist who was born and raised in Amman. 'The Hilwa Hilwa is what my mum will say to me when I ask her how I look in something, and she's telling me; 'You're so beautiful' – it comes with a real feminine energy.' Zeyne, 27, goes on to add that the song is the quickest one she's ever penned, taking just a few hours from receiving an unsolicited track from an Algerian producer on Instagram. 'I'd never heard of him, he just sent me this track with guitars – with a North African feel but mixed with our Palestinian culture and heritage – I think it wasone in the morning.' Zeyne started writing lyrics in the early hours. 'I showed it to my own producer the next day, and he loved it, we built on the production together, and we finished writing it, and it was like; boom, done.' A week later, the singer was performing it at her brother's wedding. 'People were just dancing and singing along, although it was their first time listening to it. I got some very positive feedback,' beams Zeyne, who credits legendary Lebanese vocalist Fairuz as one of her biggest inspirations. 'It's a fun, feel good song, but it also has meaning – that's something I won't compromise on, I never write anything that doesn't have meaning, or isn't based on personal experience. And it's this fearlessness to share so much of herself that has seen Zeyne's star slowly rise over the last few years, then take a meteoric projection over the last six months, with the release of Asli Ana, and it's much celebrated music video, a beautiful visual tribute to Palestinian culture. But things could have been very different for Zeyne, who had planned a career in public relations, landing a promising job in London after studying Media Communications and Sociology at Sussex University in Brighton. But Covid-19 lockdowns hit while she was back in Amman renewing travel documents, the PR role in the UK would have to be put on hold. Instead, the singer, who took both piano and vocal lessons as a child, passed the time by recording cover versions of popular English R&B songs and posting them on Instagram. 'In the beginning, I was singing only in English because I couldn't trust my voice in Arabic for some reason,' admits the singer. 'Even though I grew up listening to Arabic music, and to my mum and grandmother singing Palestinian folk songs, I was even in a Dabke folklore dance group from the age of five, so it wasn't new to my ear. I was trained classically in English.' But frequent requests for Arabic songs from her then 350 Instagram followers (that number is now well over 500,000), meant that she gave her mother tongue a go. 'I started doing more and more covers in Arabic in my Jordanian-Palestinian accent and people loved that because at the time, there weren't many female music artists doing that.' The Instagram account grew in popularity, she started connecting with those in the Jordanian music industry, and eventually landed herself a record deal and began making original music. The songs struck a chord because she's an artist that wears her heart on her sleeve, whether she's singing about love or heritage. Her second single Nostalgia, explored the trauma that comes with being a third generation Palestinian who has never truly experienced their homeland. With that, she firmly declared herself an artist who would not shy away from speaking up for her people, Asli Ana doubled down on that. 'I always just strive to be myself fully in my music, and when I think about Palestine, there's a sense of responsibility to sing about my culture, or the Palestinian cause in a way that's authentic.' And this originality has gained her a global fanbase. 'They might be Arabs in the diaspora, but when I look at my Spotify stats, my listeners are in the United States, United Kingdom and Europe – they're all in my top 10, my own hometown is like, number 22,' she laughs. 'I guess I write about things that are universal experiences.' She acknowledges that this could specifically be the case for her female audience. 'I am a woman in my twenties and I live in Jordan, but some of my experiences are the same globally, we all go through the same thing, more or less, it's just different fonts! The details are different, but its the same feeling. Zeyne's music hasn't gone unnoticed by global brands either. She's collaborated with Dior and Valentino. She's a regular at fashion weeks, having attended both Jacquemus and Loewe shows a week before we talk, and also having performed at the Bottega Veneta WAVES event in Dubai. 'I guess I really fell into fashion when I started making music because I started to explore my visual identity, and how I wanted to present myself to the world,' she shares. 'I've learned to really appreciate fashion, I've seen how much work goes into creating garments, from ideation to production, and its just as intricate as producing any other art. I like wearing both international and regional brands, I really like Nafsika Skourti, a Palestinian duo that create beautiful designs, I was so honoured to work with them for my first video, and many times since.' With her viral success, it's hard to believe that it's still early days career wise for Zeyne, with her much awaited album out later this year, and of course, single Hilwa, and it's accompanying video, out later this month. 'The visuals of that song are going to be very beautiful,' she teases, knowing the details are still a bit of a secret. 'So, I'm really excited for this release in particular!' She genuinely is passionate about each one of her projects; her hard work and authenticity make that possible, and long may it stay that way.
