ZAINAB releases debut single Jadoo on Ninja Tune’s Technicolor imprint

Lahore: Lahore-born, New York-raised producer ZAINAB has unveiled her debut single Jadoo, opening her recorded music catalogue with a release on Ninja Tune’s Technicolor imprint and marking her arrival in the international electronic music space.

The new track brings together Urdu-language vocals and propulsive, arpeggiated house production. The release has been described as a springtime rush of dopamine, and it is the first in a planned run of forthcoming releases under the Technicolor banner, a label platform recognised for highlighting forward-looking dance music.

Commenting on the release, ZAINAB said she felt

honoured

to make her debut on the imprint. She added that she had long admired the label’s role in championing

new and exciting sounds

in electronic music.

ZAINAB, who had previously been known for her work as a DJ in New York City, also highlighted the importance of using Urdu in her music. She described Urdu as her native language and pointed to its limited presence in the global dance music landscape.

Her emergence as a recording artist follows a period in which she built a name for herself through high-energy DJ sets shaped by a range of cultural influences. With Jadoo, she moves from live performance into recorded output, bringing those influences into a more personal and clearly defined sound.

Growing profile in electronic music

Beyond her work behind the decks and in the studio, ZAINAB has also developed a profile as a curator and advocate for South Asian representation in electronic music. Her work has focused on creating space for identities and sounds that have often been underrepresented in the wider dance scene.

She has performed alongside artists including Ali Sethi, Elyanna and Ahadadream, and has headlined tours across North America and Europe. Her broader plans also include community-focused projects such as her party series and her upcoming label, Azadi, which is intended to foster inclusive dance spaces where identity and sound come together.

The release of Jadoo comes as ZAINAB prepares for a series of high-profile performances. She is scheduled to play headline shows at New York’s Public Records this month, before appearing for a back-to-back set at the DoLab stage at Coachella.

Those appearances add to what is increasingly being seen as her rise as a new voice in international electronic music, with Jadoo serving as the first formal step in that next phase of her career.