ZAINAB samples Hamid El-Shaeri classic ‘Ayonha’ on her latest single

ZAINAB has unveiled her latest single, ‘Her Eyes’, featuring a sample from Hamid El-Shaeri’s beloved track ‘Ayonha’.

Produced alongside Aire Atlantica and released via Ninja Tune imprint Technicolour Records, ‘Her Eyes’ reinterprets motifs from ‘Ayonha’, a cult favourite by Hamid El-Shaeri. Widely regarded as one of the architects of modern Arabic pop production, El-Shaeri became known during the 1980s for introducing drum machines, synthesizers and disco-informed arrangements into mainstream Arabic music, helping shape the evolution of the El Jeel movement across Egypt and the wider region.

Originally released during El-Shaeri’s prolific SLAM! Records era, ‘Ayonha’ later found a renewed international audience through Habibi Funk, the Berlin label recognised for spotlighting overlooked records from across the Arab world and North Africa. The track’s re-emergence on the label’s celebrated compilations introduced El-Shaeri’s catalogue to a younger generation of listeners, DJs and producers globally.

The release arrives shortly after ZAINAB’s debut single under her new alias, ‘Jadoo’.

Announcing the transition away from her longtime ZEEMUFFIN alias in March this year, Pakistan-born, US-raised DJ and producer ZAINAB shared a personal statement reflecting on the decision and the significance behind embracing her given name in full, writing: “After 15 years as ZEEMUFFIN, I’m stepping into something new. Moving forward, I will be performing and releasing music as ZAINAB. I’m so proud of my name, what it represents, and its history. I’m excited to stand in it. It’s still the same old me - just a truer me. Thank you to every single person who has supported me through my time as ZEEMUFFIN.”

Listen to ‘Her Eyes’ below, buy/stream it on your favourite platforms here.