Zeyne & TUL8TE: The Sound of a Region Rising

When Saudi Arabia’s MDLBEAST Records announced that two of its artists — Zeyne and TUL8TE — were up for Grammy consideration, it didn’t just mark a milestone for the label. It marked a moment for the Arab world. A pulse. A signal that the region’s sound — bold, experimental, unapologetically hybrid — is no longer emerging. It’s here.

Both artists couldn’t be more different, yet they share a common thread: the courage to push culture forward while staying rooted in it.

Zeyne: Soundtracking Identity

For Zeyne, whose work blurs the lines between Arab nostalgia and global pop, this recognition feels like a full-circle moment. Nominated across multiple categories — including Best Global Music Performance and Best Music Video for Asli Ana and Hilwa — Zeyne’s storytelling is intimate and cinematic. With over 46 million streams, a debut on COLORS, and collaborations with Bottega Veneta, her sound feels at once deeply personal and universally relatable.

“When I made Asli Ana and Hilwa, my intention was to showcase who we are as a people and how beautiful our identity and culture are through an audio-visual experience,” Zeyne says. “To know that it’s been recognized on this level feels surreal. It’s about more than music — it’s about representation.”

Recently named the first and only Arab artist to join YouTube’s Foundry Program 2025, Zeyne now stands alongside alumni like Rosalia and Dua Lipa — artists who have reshaped how the world listens. For her, this is just the beginning.

TUL8TE: The Masked Visionary

Then there’s TUL8TE, Egypt’s masked pop provocateur, redefining Arabic pop through mystery, emotion, and sound. Submitted for Best Global Music Performance, Best Global Music Album, and Best Music Video, his work feels like a love letter to both chaos and clarity. His album Narein hit 100 million streams in just eight weeks, and his tracks Habibi Leh and Matigi A’adi Aleyki exploded onto the Spotify Viral 50 Global chart, crossing language barriers through pure emotion.

With over 350 million global streams, TUL8TE’s success isn’t just digital — it’s cultural. His masked identity, genre fluidity, and visual experimentation are reshaping what Arabic pop can sound and look like on a global stage.

A New Chapter for Regional Music

MDLBEAST Records’ COO Talal Albahiti put it best:

“This recognition isn’t just a huge moment for our artists — it’s proof of Saudi Arabia’s growing presence and commitment to global music culture. It’s inspiring to see talent from our region making waves on the world’s biggest stage.”

From Riyadh to Cairo, from underground stages to the Recording Academy, the rise of Zeyne and TUL8TE signals something far bigger than a nomination — it’s a rewriting of narrative. It’s proof that the Arab world’s creative voice is no longer asking for a seat at the table. It’s building its own.