Zeyne recently completed a notable new milestone in her career. Fresh from a standout performance at Abu Dhabi’s Off Limits Festival, the Palestinian-Jordanian artist opened for Ed Sheeran at two major Gulf concerts—Doha and Bahrain. For Zeyne, who grew up with Sheeran’s songs shaping her teenage playlists, it marked a meaningful moment. “’The A Team’ was the soundtrack to my teenage years,” she admitted, highlighting just how surreal sharing the stage with Sheeran felt to her.
The mini-tour, aptly named The Golden Hour Run, saw the 25-year-old Amman-born crooner bringing her unique blend of anti-pop sounds and rebellious spirit to audiences who might have encountered her music for the first time. But Zeyne isn’t just making moves on the musical front; she’s simultaneously launched Asli Ana, a thoughtfully designed merch line. Every piece—ranging from structured hoodies embroidered with symbolic Palestinian motifs to oversized tees bearing the powerful phrase حرر عقلك (Free Your Mind)—is produced locally in Jordan. With sustainability and ethics at its core, all proceeds directly fund the Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah’s Children’s Fund, aiding rebuilding efforts in Gaza.
After wrapping up her Gulf run, MILLE caught up with Zeyne for a quick-fire round of questions to discover her pre-show ritual, go-to meal, and her tour essentials (they may surprise you).
What’s the first thing you packed in your suitcase (that’s not clothes) for this tour?
Either knee pads or heat pads actually, because after rehearsal I like to just wind down and relax my muscles.
Dream city/country to add to the tour?
It would for sure be Palestine, no questions asked.
Weirdest pre-show ritual?
Going completely silent a few minutes before the show. Usually people are hyped up, and they love to talk, and warm up and be loud. I like to be the complete opposite. I just like to be silent and in the zone with myself for a few minutes before going on stage and doing my thing.
What’s your go-to order after a show?
Always a penne rose. I don’t know why, I always crave it after a show. It’s comfort food, and since I don’t eat before going on stage, I’m always starving after the show, so I just order a penne rose.
What’s the first thing you Google after landing in a new city?
Either the nearest mall because you never know when you would need something urgent last minute, or some really good restaurant spots to go to. I always like to explore new cuisines in the city that I’m in.
What are you most excited about right now?
There are a few things I’m excited about. I have a couple projects dropping soon, one of them being my merch line, which I’m super excited about. All the proceeds are going to The Ghassan Abu Sittah Children’s Fund, in aid to Gaza. That’s super important to me. And hopefully my debut album, very soon.