Zeina Is Weaving Her Cultural Identity Into Her Music and Her Beauty Routine
“I hope the world is ready to see a new Arab pop star on the rise.”
Canadian artist Zeina was on the verge of becoming a doctor when the pull of her lifelong love of music proved impossible to ignore. “It’s always been my passion since I was a little girl,” Zeina tells Hypebae. “I was so depressed trying to please everyone by pursuing career paths that [my family] wanted for me that I completely lost myself,” she explains. She decided to quit medical school and pursue music instead, a choice that set her on the path to becoming the artist she is today — collaborating with the likes of Saint Levant and Skrillex, as well as gaining success as an independent artist.
Beyond her family’s hopes for her, they also helped mold Zeina’s music taste. “My culture is a huge inspiration in my art today,” she explains. Growing up, she was immersed in Arabic icons like Fairouz, Umm Kulthum, Nancy Ajram, Najwa Karam and Haifa all played an integral part in her upbringing. Her father’s love for Dalida, the Egyptian artist who sang in French, added even more layers to her lyrical identity. “That exposed me even more to how an Arab artist can play with different languages that are part of their culture.”
Fast forward to today and Zeina’s sound blends those elements of pop, R&B and her heritage that she adored in her youth — merging scales, percussion and sampling to create something uniquely her own. “The Arab soundscape was very prominent in the early ’00s,” she states. “There are great examples of how to merge Arab sounds in history. It’s something I’m doing in my music today, through a new perspective.”
Zeina strives to convey strength through her work, especially for women. “I hope when people listen to my music, they feel empowered, confident and ready to conquer the world,” she shares. “I want people who look like me to feel represented in media.”
Zeina is also carving her place in the beauty world, with a recent collaboration with NYX Cosmetics. She was given the freedom to choose her soundscape for the project, which she describes as both fun and challenging. “It was cool to have that kind of freedom and not be constricted to something that didn’t feel ‘me.’” For her, beauty is also heavily shaped by her rich cultural heritage.
“In my culture, beauty matters in the sense that women always like to look put together, presentable and smell nice. My mom,” she explains, “always smells incredible. I got her fragrance and makeup addiction.” She recalls seeing photos of her mother’s eyes at her age adorned with kohl eyeliner and feeling excited to eventually emulate her look. “I saw that as kid and couldn’t wait to play with makeup,” she says.
Looking ahead, Zeina is focused on her craft. “This year, I just want to drop music consistently,” she says. “I’m finally independent, so it’s great to have the freedom of choice when it comes to what and when my songs are released.” She recently dropped the track “Denim” and is unveiling another, “Times Two,” soon.
“I just hope the world is ready to see a new Arab pop star on the rise,” she adds. For Zeina, the journey is just beginning — with her unique blend of culture, encouraging lyrics and special vision, she’s on the path to change the game for Arab artists in the global music scene.
While she’s making giant leaps in the music industry, Zeina also knows the importance of utilizing her beauty routine as a form of self-care and confidence. From NYX‘s “Fat Oil Lip Drip” Lip Oil to BareMinerals‘ “BarePro” Powder Foundation, Zeina tells us more about her must-haves.
Maybelline’s “Build-a-Brow” Pen
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“This brow pen from Maybelline has the thinnest tip I’ve come across and creates the perfect snatched eyebrow.”
Drunk Elephant’s “D-Bronzi” Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops
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“I love the Drunk Elephant’s ‘D-Bronzi’ Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops, especially during the winter in Canada it adds life to your dull skin that hasn’t seen the sun for a long time.”
BareMinerals “BarePro” Powder Foundation
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“I love the BareMinerals ‘BarePro’ Powder Foundation. I hope it never gets discontinued. It’s an oldie, but a goodie.”
Adib “Quick Sun” Stick
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“It looks like a deodorant, but it’s an SPF so you can apply it throughout the day — even on top of makeup, which I love. It’s portable, so you can stick it in your purse.”
NYX “Fat Oil Lip Drip” Lip Oil
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“I love the NYX ‘Fat Oil Lip Drip’ Lip Oils. It’s so smooth on your lips and doesn’t leave that little white line that appears at the end of the day when your lips get dry after having product on them too long.”
While you’re here, check out our favorite beauty moments from London Fashion Week.
