August 11th 2024.
Acclaimed artist Arooj Aftab is a force to be reckoned with. With a historic Grammy win in 2022, she broke the glass ceiling and made her mark in the music industry. And now, two years later, she is ready to reinvent herself once again.
Arooj grew up in Lahore, Pakistan, a bustling city at the heart of South Asia, where she was surrounded by a rich history and a deep love for music from her parents. At 18, she made the bold decision to leave her home and pursue her passion for jazz at Berklee College of Music in Boston. From there, she settled in New York, where she has been honing her craft and making a name for herself.
Her music is a beautiful fusion of both South Asian and Western influences, drawing inspiration from artists like Tracy Chapman, Billie Holiday, and Abida Parveen. But Arooj's humble beginnings hardly capture the depth of her music and her profound outlook on life. As she puts it, "I've always wanted to be a pioneer, to create something new."
Her third album, Vulture Prince, is a testament to her unique sound and style. With seven tracks that delve into Urdu poetry and re-interpret timeless classics, Arooj also incorporates electronic trance and jazz elements that are stylistic of her Brooklyn roots. One of the tracks, Mohabbat, a Ghazal about love and longing originally sung by Pakistani legend Mehdi Hasan, earned her a Grammy for best global music performance. Other beloved tracks on the album, such as Baghon Mein and Suroor, have been passed down from icons like Lata Mangeshkar and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
But instead of shying away from the immense legacy of these legendary artists, Arooj boldly takes on their music and makes it her own. "For a long time, I thought, 'Nusrat is untouchable, nobody should cover Nusrat'," she admits. But through years of hard work and dedication, she has found her own unique voice and style within their songs. "It took me 12 years to write it, maybe even 15 because it's so sacred to me."
Arooj's success has opened doors for other Pakistani artists, who are now making their mark on the global music scene. She believes that her Grammy win with Vulture Prince has given other musicians a new dream and the realization that anything is possible. However, she is also aware that there is still a long way to go to make the music industry truly inclusive and welcoming for non-white artists.
Throughout her career, Arooj has faced the challenge of having to explain her music and herself, often being wrongly categorized. But she remains steadfast in her belief that true success will come when she no longer has to explain herself or her cultural background. "My measure of success is being able to stop explaining things. Just let me be whatever I want. Don't ask me for the cultural context."
Acclaimed artist Arooj Aftab is known for her groundbreaking music and refusal to be confined to any one label. In 2022, she made history as the first Pakistani-American to win a Grammy, but she's not stopping there. Arooj is constantly evolving and reinventing herself, proving that she cannot be pigeon-holed.
Born in Lahore, Pakistan, Arooj was surrounded by the city's vibrant culture and rich history. Her parents, who were both music lovers, instilled a love for both South Asian and Western music in her. At the age of 18, Arooj made a bold move and bought a one-way ticket to the other side of the world to study jazz at Berklee College of Music in Boston. She eventually settled in New York, where she has spent most of her adult life.
Arooj's music is a beautiful blend of her Pakistani heritage and her experiences living in the United States. She draws inspiration from a diverse range of artists, from Tracy Chapman and Billie Holiday to Abida Parveen and Begum Akhtar. Her third album, Vulture Prince, is a testament to her unique style and features a mix of Urdu poetry, electronic trance, and jazz elements.
One of the standout tracks on Vulture Prince is Arooj's rendition of Mehdi Hasan's Ghazal, "Mohabbat." This soulful love song won her a Grammy for Best Global Music Performance in 2022. Arooj also showcases her talent for reinterpreting classic songs, such as "Baghon Mein" and "Suroor," which have been passed down from legendary artists like Lata Mangeshkar and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
Despite her success and recognition, Arooj remains humble and dedicated to her craft. She approaches each song with great care and respect, stripping away layers until she captures the essence and soul of the music. Her hard work and dedication have paid off, and she is grateful for the newfound energy and appreciation she has received.
Arooj's success has paved the way for other Pakistani artists to be recognized on a global scale. She acknowledges the rising stars in the Pakistani music industry, such as Ali Sethi, Nabihah Iqbal, and Natasha Noorani, who are making waves and gaining recognition for their work. Arooj hopes that her achievements will inspire others to believe in themselves and chase their dreams.
However, Arooj is also aware of the challenges faced by non-white artists in the music industry. She has had to fight to be seen and heard, and often finds herself having to explain her music and cultural background. Arooj hopes that one day, she will be able to make music without having to constantly justify or explain it.
For Arooj, true success will come when she no longer has to explain her music or cultural context. She believes that the music industry still has a long way to go in terms of inclusivity and acceptance of non-white artists. But she remains determined and continues to break down barriers and stereotypes, one song at a time.
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