Singer and songwriter Zeyne dressed in Nafsika Skourti. Courtesy Nafsika Skourti
Zein Sajdi, alias Zeyne’s crystalline voice mesmerizes as she serenades in her video for her debut track Minni Ana. Born and raised in Amman, Jordan, the 23-year-old artist is of Palestinian origin and points to her musically-inspired home as setting the stage for the burgeoning singer and songwriter she is becoming today. “I have been surrounded by music all my life,” she states, adding, “Music, for me, is a space for healing.” Only one year ago, after her studies in the UK were ground to a halt due to the pandemic, she found herself “back in my bedroom in Amman, with lots of time on my hands. I started doing covers and sharing them on Instagram. One thing led to the other and I became involved with the Jordanian Female Artist Collective in the Amman Jazz Festival,” she shares. After connecting with producer Nasir Al Bashir and crossing paths with Hana Malhas “a pillar in the independent music scene” who mentored her, along with meeting the founders of Keife Records, within a few weeks, she was signed. Classically trained in piano since the age of six, she took vocal lessons for over a decade. Her song Minni Ana, debuting below, is about her personal struggle with managing relationships, friendships, and setting boundaries. “This song is about overcoming anxiety, breaking free of preconceived boundaries, and finding one’s voice. It is something very personal, and can only be achieved from within.”
Zeyne sings Minni Ana. Director Eli Salameh, producer Mohamad Sammak, choreographer Nour Yam. Clothes Nafsika Skourti
Dressed by Jordanian ready-to-wear brand Nafsika Skourti, Zeyne shares that their first meeting involved hours of conversation, bonding over their love for Palestine and a shared passion towards their respective craft. Wearing a cream white tux from an upcoming collection, with a corset t-shirt underneath, Zeyne is resolutely feminine in the sharp cut. The cropped tuxedo jacket with couture sleeves is a signature Nafsika Skourti piece, “I love how that powerful, voluminous look coincides with part of the song where she is really letting everyone know what is really on her mind!” quips Skourti. “I admire how much soul she puts into her work. I believe true art can only be achieved when you are willing to reveal your inner truth, and when I listen to her sing that is what I feel.”
Zeyne in a total look by Nafsika Skourti. Courtesy Nafsika Skourti
Zeyne aspires that her music will help people connect with emotion, regardless of language barriers. “I hope to merge my global musical influences into my own Arabic sound and look to release originals that will push the conventional boundaries of Arabic music,” she states. “If I had to describe who I am today, I would say I am very story-driven. Most of my songs that are going to be released will be based on experiences and different moments in my life. I am in love with RnB/Soul music, but also want to reinvent that in my mother tongue – the Arabic language. A new sound.” She cites that her influences from the region include Ziad and Elias Rahbani “decades ahead of their time musically,” she says, and Fairuz for her “supernatural voice and sincere vulnerability that has always resonated deeply with me.” Meanwhile Mahmoud Darwish’s poetry on life and exile have served as an anchor. Western influences include Lauryn Hill, and H.E.R. “I was told by a good friend of mine that this will always be my greatest love story,” she says of her music, pointing to her own vulnerability. “And because of that, it’s hard not to wonder when the rug will be pulled out – am I living a dream or can I actually spend my life doing what I love?” she posits. “Something that scares me is how much I love the fact that I’m able to share my truths with the world, but with that comes the nervousness of putting a lot of myself and who I am out there. It’s all very exciting.”
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