Boldly unpredictable, dynamic, and precise, ZAINAB’s (FKA ZEEMUFFIN) sound weaves evolving global rhythms into something entirely her own—refusing to fit neatly into a single mold. Born in Lahore, Pakistan, and raised in New York City, her ethos as a DJ and producer is shaped by the energy of both cities—global in spirit yet deeply local at heart. Her sets channel the grit, vibrancy, and cultural crosscurrents of cities that never sleep.
Described by Dazed as having “musicality pulsing through her veins” in their MENA 100 profile, ZAINAB — previously known as ZEEMUFFIN — brings a rare multidisciplinary background to her work. A classically trained violist, dancer, and journalist, she embodies a modern-day renaissance spirit—channeling these influences into a global movement with a fiercely dedicated following. This momentum was evident when her merch collaboration with Pakistani lifestyle brand Motherland sold out in just 30 minutes and continues to reach supporters around the world.
As a curator and cultural leader championing her South Asian roots, she has shared stages and lent support to luminaries across the SWANA and global electronic scenes, including Elyanna, Ali Sethi, Ahadadream, DJ Habibeats, Raf Saperra, Bree Runway, and UNIIQU3, alongside her own headlining tours across North America and Europe. Her early productions—club edits blending influences from baile funk and bubbling to throwback Bollywood—quickly earned support from artists like Nina Sky, Conducta, Taylah Elaine, Pussy Palace, and CHAMOS, along with early spins on BBC Radio 1, Rinse, NTS, and The Lot Radio.
The Brooklyn-based artist, event producer, and tastemaker uses music as a vessel to dissolve borders and bring cultures together on the dancefloor. This community-centric vision is evident in the consistently sold-out shows for her party series and future label Azadi—“freedom” in her native Urdu—as well as in standout sets for Boiler Room, Apartment Life, and major festivals including Glastonbury, O’Days, Coachella, J2, and Lollapalooza. Never one to be confined by genre or medium, her range has also led to collaborations with major brands, including Gap, Serato, YSL, and the iconic Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, among others.
Having sharpened her productions through a series of successful club edits, ZAINAB now turns toward original music, with releases forthcoming on Ninja Tune’s Technicolor imprint. Her mission remains clear: to build liberatory dance floors, amplify underrepresented voices from the Global South, and create spaces where identity, sound, and community converge. And Azadi is only the beginning.
