Arooj Aftab

Aftab was born to Pakistani parents expatriated in Saudi Arabia. When she was about 10 years old, they returned to their native Lahore in Pakistan.{{cite news |last=Roberts |first=Randall |date=December 6, 2021 |title='I don't deserve to be other-ized anymore': Arooj Aftab on becoming a surprise Grammy nominee |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/awards/story/2021-12-06/arooj-aftab-grammy-nominee |url-status= |work=Los Angeles Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211218144934/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/awards/story/2021-12-06/arooj-aftab-grammy-nominee |archive-date=December 18, 2021 |access-date=December 28, 2021}} She taught herself the guitar and gradually acquired her singing style while listening to Billie Holiday, Hariprasad Chaurasia, Mariah Carey, and Begum Akhtar. At that time, Aftab lived in a country where access to Western online platforms was difficult, and the infrastructure for independent music was lacking. In this context, however, she promoted her music in Pakistan, being one of the first musicians to use the Internet in the early 2000s; her renditions of "Mera Pyaar" and "Hallelujah" went viral and launched the Pakistani indie scene.{{cite news |last=Shirazi |first=Sadia |title=Forever Changes − Sadia Shirazi on Arooj Aftab |date=April 30, 2021 |url=https://www.artforum.com/music/sadia-shirazi-on-arooj-aftab-85613 |url-status=live |work=Artforum |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430152637/https://www.artforum.com/music/sadia-shirazi-on-arooj-aftab-85613 |archive-date=April 30, 2021 |access-date=January 2, 2022}}

Aftab moved to the United States at the age of 19 in 2005 and earned a degree in music production and engineering at Boston's Berklee College of Music.{{cite news |last=Glickman |first=Simon |date=December 21, 2021 |title=Arooj Aftab: In Heart And Mind |url=https://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=329695 |url-status=live |department=Interview |work=Hits |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211228220309/https://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=329695&title=AROOJ-AFTAB-IN-HEART-AND-MIND |archive-date=December 28, 2021 |access-date=December 28, 2021}} She moved to New York in 2010 and began working as an editor and scoring films. Since her graduation in 2010,{{cite web | last=Ashton | first=Kimberly | title=Arooj Aftab's 'Mohabbat' Gets Presidential Nod | website=Berklee College of Music | date=14 July 2021 | url=https://college.berklee.edu/alumni/news/arooj-aftab-mohabbat | access-date=1 December 2023}} Aftab has lived there, being part of the city's jazz and "new music" scene.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/mar/24/my-music-is-singular-to-me-arooj-aftab-the-brightest-new-star-at-this-years-grammys|title='My music is singular to me': Arooj Aftab, the brightest new star at this year's Grammys|work=The Guardian|first=Ammar|last=Kalia|date=25 March 2022|access-date=7 July 2023|quote=Informed by Urdu verse, mythological vultures and her brother’s death, the US-Pakistani musician’s latest album is unexpectedly up for one of the ‘big four’ prizes... The Pakistani-American singer and composer is speaking from her Brooklyn apartment, six weeks after her third album, Vulture Prince, won her two Grammy nominations.}}

In April 2011, Aftab was included in the "100 Composers Under 40" selection launched by NPR and WQXR-FM's Q2 (a contemporary classical music internet radio station).{{Cite web|title=The Mix: 100 Composers Under 40|website=NPR |date=April 17, 2011 |url=https://www.npr.org/2011/04/23/135473622/the-mix-100-composers-under-40 |last1=Ambrose |first1=Alex }}

Aftab's first album, Bird Under Water, was released independently in 2014. It received critical acclaim from David Honigmann of the Financial Times, who gave the album four out of five stars in March 2015.{{Cite web|last=Rao|first=Mallika|date=June 15, 2015|title=Here's How You Make 13th Century Islamic Music Sound Fresh|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/arooj-aftab-makes-sufi-music-modern_n_7547140|access-date=January 2, 2022|department=Interview|website=HuffPost|language=en}}{{cite news |last=Honigmann |first=David |date=March 6, 2015 |title=Arooj Aftab: Bird Under Water − review |url=https://www.ft.com/content/22697bbc-c077-11e4-a71e-00144feab7de |newspaper=Financial Times |access-date=January 2, 2022 |url-access=subscription}}

She worked as an editor on the documentary Armed With Faith (2017), winning a 2018 Emmy Award afterward.{{cite news |last=Khan |first=Zara |date=October 24, 2021 |title=Arooj Aftab receives her 2018 News and Documentary Emmy Award |url=https://pk.mashable.com/entertainment/5687/arooj-aftab-receives-her-2018-news-and-documentary-emmy-award |url-status=live |language=en |work=Mashable Pakistan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004113659/https://pk.mashable.com/entertainment/5687/arooj-aftab-receives-her-2018-news-and-documentary-emmy-award |archive-date=October 4, 2021 |access-date=January 2, 2022}}

Her second album, Siren Islands, was released on June 12, 2018, through New Amsterdam Records. NPR included the album in their "Favorite Electronic and Dance Music of 2018" list.{{Cite web|title=Our Favorite Electronic & Dance Music of 2018|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/12/31/677571530/our-favorite-electronic-dance-music-of-2018|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Npr.org|date=December 31, 2018 |language=en}} The New York Times listed the song "Island No. 2", which represented the album, in their "25 Best Classical Music Tracks of 2018" list.{{Cite news|last1=Tommasini|first1=Anthony|last2=Barone|first2=Joshua|last3=Fonseca-Wollheim|first3=Corinna da|last4=Allen|first4=David|last5=Walls|first5=Seth Colter|last6=Woolfe|first6=Zachary|date=December 13, 2018|title=The 25 Best Classical Music Tracks of 2018|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/13/arts/music/best-classical-music-tracks-2018.html|access-date=April 25, 2021|url-access=subscription}} In mid-July 2018, the song "Lullaby", taken from Bird Under Water, was ranked number 150 on the NPR's "200 Greatest Songs By 21st Century Women" list.{{Cite web|title=The 200 Greatest Songs By 21st Century Women+|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/07/30/627396076/turning-the-tables-the-200-greatest-songs-by-21st-century-women-part-3|access-date=January 2, 2022|website=Npr.org|date=July 30, 2018 |language=en}}

In 2020, Aftab sang, among other vocalists, on Residente's Latin Grammy Award-winning single "Antes Que El Mundo Se Acabe".{{cite press release |author= |date=2021 |title=Arooj Aftab Signs to Verve Records |url=https://www.umusic.ca/press-releases/arooj-aftab-signs-to-verve-records/ |url-status=live |publisher=Universal Music Canada (Umusic) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211223044205/https://www.umusic.ca/press-releases/arooj-aftab-signs-to-verve-records/ |archive-date=December 23, 2021 |access-date=January 2, 2022}}{{cite news |last=Velez |first=Jennifer |date=November 19, 2020 |title=Residente Wins Best Rap/Hip-Hop Song For 'Antes Que El Mundo Se Acabe' - 2020 Latin Grammys |url=https://www.grammy.com/latin-grammys/news/residente-wins-best-raphip-hop-song-antes-que-el-mundo-se-acabe-2020-latin |url-status=live |work=Grammy Awards |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105100120/https://www.grammy.com/latin-grammys/news/residente-wins-best-raphip-hop-song-antes-que-el-mundo-se-acabe-2020-latin |archive-date=November 5, 2021 |access-date=January 2, 2022}} That year, she composed the music for the Student Academy Award-winning film Bittu (narrative category) by Karishma Dube.{{cite web |url=https://www.oscars.org/saa/ceremonies/2020 |title=47th Student Academy Awards {{!}} 2020 |author= |date=October 21, 2020 |website=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |access-date=January 2, 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813064605/https://www.oscars.org/saa/ceremonies/2020 |archive-date=August 13, 2021 |quote=Narrative: Silver Medal, 'Bittu' by Karishma Dube, New York University}}

An anticipated release, Aftab's third studio album, Vulture Prince, was released on April 23, 2021, via New Amsterdam Records.{{Cite news|date=March 29, 2021|title=The 10 Albums We're Most Excited About in April|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/new-albums/april-2021-most-anticipated-albums/|access-date=April 25, 2021|work=Paste|language=en}} Thematically, the album discusses stories of people, relationships, and lost moments and is dedicated to the memory of her younger brother, Maher.{{Cite web|date=April 15, 2021|title=Video Premiere: 'Diya Hai' Performed by Arooj Aftab and Badi Assad|url=https://www.icareifyoulisten.com/2021/04/video-premiere-diya-hai-performed-by-arooj-aftab-and-badi-assad/|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=I Care If You Listen|language=en-US}} Vulture Prince received praise from publications such as Pitchfork,{{cite news |last=Kappal |first=Bhanuj |date=April 27, 2021 |title=Arooj Aftab − Vulture Prince |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/arooj-aftab-vulture-prince/ |url-status=live |work=Pitchfork |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211216081947/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/arooj-aftab-vulture-prince/ |archive-date=December 16, 2021 |access-date=December 27, 2021}} NPR,{{Cite web|title=New Music Friday: The Top 6 Albums Out On April 23 : All Songs Considered|url=https://www.npr.org/2021/04/20/989122459/new-music-friday-the-top-6-albums-out-on-april-23|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Npr.org|date=April 23, 2021 |language=en |last1=Chinen |first1=Nate }} and the Al Jazeera English-language news channel.{{Cite web|title=Pakistan-born 'neo-Sufi' singer breaks free from music traditions|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/22/pakistan-born-neo-sufi-singer-breaks-free-from-music-traditions|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Al Jazeera English|language=en}} Barack Obama selected the song "Mohabbat" from this album as one of his summer playlist favorites for 2021.{{cite news|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1187987/pakistani-singer-arooj-aftab-makes-it-to-barack-obamas-summer-playlist|title=Pakistani singer Arooj Aftab makes it to Barack Obama's Summer Playlist|work=Images.dawn.com|date=July 12, 2021|access-date=July 13, 2021}} "Mohabbat" was called one of the best songs of 2021 by Time and The New York Times.{{cite magazine |last1=Andrew |first1=R. Chow |last2=Raisa |first2=Bruner |date=May 26, 2021 |title=The Best Songs of 2021 So Far |url=https://time.com/6049945/best-songs-2021-so-far/ |url-status=live |magazine=Time |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210601053738/https://time.com/6049945/best-songs-2021-so-far/ |archive-date=June 1, 2021 |access-date=January 2, 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Pareles |first1=Jon |last2=Caramanica |first2=Jon |last3=Russonello |first3=Giovanni |date=April 23, 2021 |title=Weezer's Rock 'n' Roll Nostalgia Trip, and 10 More New Songs |language=en-US |url-status=live |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/23/arts/music/playlist-weezer-youngboy-yola.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710224540/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/23/arts/music/playlist-weezer-youngboy-yola.html |archive-date=2021-07-10 |access-date=January 2, 2022 |url-access=subscription}} Vulture Prince was named the best album of 2021 by Netherlands newspaper de Volkskrant, topping their year-end list.{{cite news |last1=van Gijssel |first1=Robert |last2=Kerkhof |first2=Merlijn |date=20 December 2021 |title=Dit zijn de 40 beste albums van 2021 |trans-title=These are the 40 best albums of 2021 |url=https://www.volkskrant.nl/kijkverder/v/2020/dit-zijn-de-40-beste-albums-van-2021~v458715/ |url-status=live |language=nl |work=de Volkskrant |place=Amsterdam |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221131423/https://www.volkskrant.nl/kijkverder/v/2020/dit-zijn-de-40-beste-albums-van-2021~v458715/ |archive-date=21 December 2021 |access-date=27 December 2021}} Brenna Ehrlich ranked the album sixth on Rolling Stone{{'}}s "Best Music of 2021" staff list.{{cite magazine |last=Ehrlich |first=Brenna |date=December 23, 2021 |title=Best Music of 2021: Staff Picks |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/best-music-2021-rolling-stone-staff-albums-1256635/ |url-status=live |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211223180826/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/best-music-2021-rolling-stone-staff-albums-1256635/ |archive-date=December 23, 2021 |access-date=January 2, 2022}} It was ranked number twenty by The Guardian on their list of the "50 best albums of 2021", and Laura Snapes named Aftab "[t]he year's biggest musical revelation".{{cite news |last1=Beaumont-Thomas |first1=Ben |last2=Snapes |first2=Laura |date=December 1, 2021| title=The 50 best albums of 2021 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/nov/30/the-50-best-albums-of-2021 |url-status=live |work=The Guardian |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201004446/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/nov/30/the-50-best-albums-of-2021 |archive-date=December 1, 2021 |access-date=January 2, 2022}} While Vulture Prince did not rank on the Los Angeles Times{{'}} top ten "Best Albums of 2021", it was, however, included on their "15 deserving albums" list.{{cite news |last1=Pareles |first1=Jon |last2=Caramanica |first2=Jon |last3=Zoladz |first3=Lindsay |date=December 2, 2021 |title=Best Albums of 2021 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/02/arts/music/best-pop-albums.html |url-status=live |work=Los Angeles Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220101064705/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/02/arts/music/best-pop-albums.html |archive-date=January 1, 2022 |access-date=January 2, 2022}} In late 2021, Aftab signed with Verve Records.

Aftab won a Grammy in 2022 for her song "Mohabbat". In 2023 she became the first Pakistani artist to perform at the Grammys ceremony.{{Cite web |last=Report |first=Dawn |date=2023-01-29 |title=Arooj first Pakistani slated to perform at Grammys |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1734182 |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=Dawn.com|language=en}}

Aftab has performed at notable music venues such as the Barbican,{{Cite web |title=Arooj Aftab {{!}} Barbican |url=https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2022/event/arooj-aftab |access-date=2022-08-16 |website=Barbican.org.uk |date=June 17, 2022 |language=en}} the Chan Centre,{{Cite web |title=Pakistani singer Arooj Aftab showcases Grammy-winning Vulture Prince at Chan Centre |url=https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/music/pakistani-singer-arooj-aftab-showcases-grammy-winning-vulture-prince-at-chan-centre |access-date=2022-08-16 |website=Vancouversun.com |language=en-CA}} the Lincoln Center,{{Cite web|title=Jesús Carmona & Arooj Aftab|url=http://www.lincolncenter.org/out-of-doors/show/jesus-carmona-and-arooj-aftab|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Lincolncenter.org}} the Andy Warhol Museum,{{Cite web|title=Sound Series: Jace Clayton – The Julius Eastman Memorial Dinner|url=https://www.warhol.org/events/sound-series-jace-clayton-the-julius-eastman-memorial-dinner/|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=The Andy Warhol Museum|language=en-US}} Haus der Kulturen der Welt,{{Cite web|last=Welt|first=Haus der Kulturen der|date=May 31, 2017|title=Arooj Aftab|url=https://www.hkw.de/en/programm/projekte/veranstaltung/p_116595.php|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Hkw.de|language=en}} The Kitchen,{{Cite web |title=The Kitchen: Vijay Iyer: The What of the World |url=https://thekitchen.org/event/vijay-iyer-the-what-of-the-world |access-date=April 25, 2021 |website=thekitchen.org |archive-date=April 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425231834/https://thekitchen.org/event/vijay-iyer-the-what-of-the-world |url-status=dead }} (Le) Poisson Rouge, and the Museum of Modern Art.{{Cite web|title=Summer Thursdays: Arooj Aftab {{!}} MoMA|url=https://www.moma.org/calendar/events/3229|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=The Museum of Modern Art|language=en}}

She has also performed at international music festivals such as Coachella,{{Cite web |date=2022-04-18 |title=Pakistan's Grammy-winning singer Arooj Aftab serenades crowd at Coachella |url=https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/18-Apr-2022/pakistan-s-grammy-winning-singer-arooj-aftab-serenades-crowd-at-coachella |access-date=2022-08-16 |website=Daily Pakistan Global |language=en}} Glastonbury,{{Cite web|title=Glastonbury Festival - West Holts |url=https://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/areas/west-holts/ |access-date=2022-08-16 |website=Glastonburyfestivals.co.uk|language=en-US}} Primavera Sound Barcelona,{{Cite web |date=2022-06-12 |title=6 Highlights From Primavera Sound 2022 Saturday, June 11 |url=https://ourculturemag.com/2022/06/12/primavera-sound-2022-june-11/ |access-date=2022-08-16 |website=Ourculturemag.com |language=en-GB}} Roskilde Festival,{{Cite web |title=AROOJ AFTAB |url=https://www.roskilde-festival.dk/en/years/2022/acts/arooj-aftab/ |access-date=2022-08-16 |website=Roskilde Festival |language=en}} Big Ears Festival,{{Cite web|date=November 12, 2019|title=Big Ears Festival - Big Ears Expands 2020 Lineup|url=https://bigearsfestival.org/big-ears-expands-2020-lineup/|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Bigearsfestival.org|language=en-US}} The Ecstatic Music Festival,{{Cite web|title=Ecstatic Music Festival: Thums Up & Arooj Aftab|url=https://tickets.kaufmanmusiccenter.org/3335/3340|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Tickets.kaufmanmusiccenter.org}} the San Francisco Jazz Festival,{{Cite web|title=Vijay Iyer & Thums Up|url=https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/thums-up/|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Sfjazz.org}} Montreal Jazz Festival, Pitchfork Music Festival{{Cite web |date=2022-07-16 |title=The Best Moments From the 2022 Pitchfork Music Festival |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/festival-report/pitchfork-music-festival-2022-best-of/ |access-date=2022-08-16 |website=Pitchfork.com |language=en-US}} and the Newport Folk Festival.{{Cite web|url=https://newportfolk.org/lineup|title=2024 Newport Folk Rolling Lineup|website=Newport Folk Festival}} In 2018 she opened for Mitski at The Brooklyn Steel.{{Cite web|title=Mitski, Arooj Aftab @ Brooklyn Steel in Brooklyn on 12/03/2018|url=https://www.ohmyrockness.com/shows/334767-mitski-arooj-aftab-brooklyn-steel|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Ohmyrockness.com|language=en}}

In 2022, Aftab performed at the Metropolitan Museum of Arts's Temple of Dendur,{{Cite web |last=Hatfield|first=Amanda |title=Arooj Aftab playing The Met's Temple of Dendur |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/arooj-aftab-playing-the-mets-temple-of-dendur/ |access-date=2022-08-16 |website=BrooklynVegan |language=en}} and at The Broad's 2022 Summer Happenings series.{{Cite web |last=Hatfield|first=Amanda |title=Thundercat, Arooj Aftab & more playing The Broad's 2022 Summer Happenings series |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/thundercat-arooj-aftab-more-playing-the-broads-2022-summer-happenings-series/ |access-date=2022-08-16 |website=BrooklynVegan |language=en}}

In May 2024, Aftab was announced as one of the curators for the Dutch music festival Le Guess Who?, set for November 7–10. Aftab's lineup will include performances by herself, her father, Aja Monet, Dina El Wedidi, Meshell Ndegeocello, Noura Mint Seymali, and Zsela.{{Cite news |last=Pearis |first=Bill |date=May 23, 2024 |title=Le Guess Who? announces 2024 lineup curated by Darkside, Arooj Aftab, Bo Ningen, and more |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/le-guess-who-announces-2024-lineup-curated-by-darkside-arooj-aftab-bo-ningen-and-more/ |access-date=May 25, 2024 |work=BrooklynVegan}}

Aftab's music has been described as a blend of jazz fusion, jazz, electronica,{{cite news |last=Sultan |first=Iman |date=December 20, 2021 |title=Meet Arooj Aftab, the Grammy-Nominated Artist Who Pioneered Pakistan's DIY Music Movement |url=https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/arooj-aftab-music-interview |url-status=live |work=W |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220205819/https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/arooj-aftab-music-interview |archive-date=December 20, 2021 |access-date=December 27, 2021}} neo-Sufi, folk, Hindustani classical, classical music, indie pop, minimalism, and acoustic music. Aftab told the Los Angeles Times that she had aspired that Vulture Prince would "transcend boundaries".

She has mentioned Abbey Lincoln, Abida Parveen, Anoushka Shankar, Begum Akhtar, Esperanza Spalding, Jeff Buckley, Julius Eastman, Meshell Ndegeocello, Morton Feldman, and Terry Riley as her influences. Aftab also expressed her admiration for Billie Eilish. Lyrically, Aftab has cited Asian poets as influences such as Rumi, Mirza Ghalib, and Hafeez Hoshiarpuri and uses Urdu Ghazal. Her vocals have been described as "meditative". Vulture Prince revolves around themes of grief and longing.{{Cite web|last1=Garcia-Navarro |first1=Lulu |last2=Alvarez Boyd |first2=Sophia|title=On 'Vulture Prince,' Arooj Aftab Finds New Meaning In Familiar Words|url=https://www.npr.org/2021/04/18/988483619/arooj-aftabs-newest-album-finds-light-in-dark-times|access-date=January 2, 2022|website=Npr.org|date=April 18, 2021 |language=en}}

In October 2023, Aftab signed the Artists4Ceasefire open letter to Joe Biden, President of the United States, calling for a ceasefire of the Israeli bombardment of Gaza and for a release of Israeli hostages. {{Cite web |title=Artists4Ceasefire |url=https://www.artists4ceasefire.org/ |access-date=2023-12-11 |website=Artists4Ceasefire |language=en-US}}

Aftab has a tremendous love for animals. In 2023 she paired with Pakistani animal rights organization, the Ayesha Chundrigar Foundation to raise funds for their continued animal rescue efforts in Karachi.{{cite web | url=https://do512.com/events/2023/8/20/grammy-award-winning-artist-arooj-aftab-animal-rescue-benefit-tickets | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241214215354/https://do512.com/events/2023/8/20/grammy-award-winning-artist-arooj-aftab-animal-rescue-benefit-tickets | archive-date=December 14, 2024 | title=Grammy-award winning artist, Arooj Aftab (Animal Rescue Benefit) at Pershing Hall }}

Aftab raises her voice for gender equality in the music industry. In 2022 she spoke at Global Citizens' Women of Influence panel on The Power of Gender in Shaping Culture alongside Gayle King, Pharrell Williams and Gloria Steinem.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8emEGVL0vTM|title=Gloria Steinem, Pharrell Williams, Gayle King & Arooj Aftab on Gender & Culture | Global Citizen NOW|date=June 8, 2022|via=YouTube|access-date=May 31, 2024}}

In 2024 Aftab once again joined the Global Citizen action platform dedicated to achieving the end of extreme poverty, performing her song "Diya Hai" from her 2022 album Vulture Prince.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUjem3azfq8|title=Performance by Arooj Aftab | Global Citizen NOW New York 2024|date=May 3, 2024|via=YouTube|access-date=May 31, 2024}}

• Bird Under Water (2014)
• Siren Islands (2018)
• Vulture Prince (2021)
• Night Reign (2024){{Cite news |last=Monroe |first=Jazz |date=April 18, 2024 |title=Arooj Aftab Announces Album and Tour, Shares Video for New Song |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/arooj-aftab-announces-album-and-tour-shares-video-for-new-song-watch/ |access-date=April 18, 2024 |work=Pitchfork}}

• Love in Exile (2023, with Vijay Iyer and Shahzad Ismaily)

• Music director for the film Without Shepherds by Cary McClelland (2013){{Cite web|title=Filmmakers {{!}} Without Shepherds|url=https://www.withoutshepherds.com/about/filmmakers/|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Withoutshepherds.com}}
• Composed and sang on the album The Julius Eastman Memory Depot by Jace Clayton (2013){{Cite web|title=Jace Clayton: The Julius Eastman Memory Depot|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/17803-jace-clayton-the-julius-eastman-memory-depot/|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Pitchfork.com|language=en}}
• Sang the title song Insaaf for the film Talvar, written by Gulzar and composed by Vishal Bhardwaj (2015){{Cite web|date=September 6, 2015|title='Insaaf' from Talvar – a superb collaboration by Vishal Bhardwaj and Gulzar|url=https://bollyspice.com/insaaf-from-talvar-a-superb-collaboration-by-vishal-bhardwaj-and-gulzar/|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Bollyspice.com|language=en-US}}
• Sang an old traditional Bandish of Raag Bhairavi Raske Bhare Tore Nain for the film Dobara Phir Se by Mehreen Jabbar (2016)
• Composed and sang the song De Libbe with Daso for Tale and Tone Records (2017){{Cite web|title=De Libbe from Tale & Tone on Beatport|url=https://www.beatport.com/release/de-libbe/2136677|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Beatport.com}}
• Featured singer on Climbing Poetree's album Intrinsic (2017){{Cite web|title=For the Courageous, by Climbing PoeTree|url=https://climbingpoetree.bandcamp.com/track/for-the-courageous|access-date=April 25, 2021|website=Climbing PoeTree}}
• Composer, Sound Designer and Implementer for Tails Noir by Eggnut Games (2021){{cite news |last=Ashton |first=Kimberly |date=July 14, 2021 |title=Arooj Aftab's 'Mohabbat' Gets Presidential Nod |url=https://college.berklee.edu/alumni/news/arooj-aftab-mohabbat |url-status=live |department=Interview |work=Berklee College of Music |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818172934/https://college.berklee.edu/alumni/news/arooj-aftab-mohabbat |archive-date=August 18, 2021 |access-date=January 2, 2022}}
• Sang Mehram with Asfar Hussain for Coke Studio (2022){{cite news |author= |date=January 29, 2022 |title=The breakup song we didn't know we needed: Fans laud Asfar, Arooj's 'Mehram' |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2340990/the-breakup-song-we-didnt-know-we-needed-fans-laud-asfar-aroojs-mehram |url-status=live |work=The Express Tribune |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129095938/https://tribune.com.pk/story/2340990/the-breakup-song-we-didnt-know-we-needed-fans-laud-asfar-aroojs-mehram |archive-date=January 29, 2022 |access-date=February 3, 2022}}{{cite news |author= |date=January 29, 2022 |title='Hauntingly beautiful': Coke Studio brings together Arooj Aftab and Asfar Hussain in song 'Mehram' |url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1189369 |url-status=live |work=Dawn |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131080648/https://images.dawn.com/news/1189369 |archive-date=January 31, 2022 |access-date=February 3, 2022}}

Current backing members{{cite news |last=Huizenga |first=Tom |date=December 8, 2021 |title=Arooj Aftab: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/12/08/1060472107/arooj-aftab-tiny-desk-home-concert?t=1641128361168 |url-status=live |work=NPR |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220102141131/https://www.npr.org/2021/12/08/1060472107/arooj-aftab-tiny-desk-home-concert%2A |archive-date=January 2, 2022 |access-date=January 2, 2022}}

• Darian Donovan Thomas – violin
• Gyan Riley – guitar
• Maeve Gilchrist – harp
• Shahzad Ismaily – bass, synthesizer

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.aroojaftabmusic.com}}
• {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=mn0003100029}}
• [https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/pakistani-musician-arooj-aftabs-neo-sufi-music-blends-rumi-with-reggae-and-more/ "Pakistani musician Arooj Aftab's 'neo-Sufi' music blends Rumi with reggae and more"], PBS NewsHour, October 4, 2021

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Aftab, Arooj}}

Category:1985 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American women singers

Category:21st-century Pakistani women singers

Category:21st-century American jazz composers

Category:American musicians of Pakistani descent

Category:American women jazz singers

Category:American jazz songwriters

Category:Jazz fusion musicians

Category:Minimalist composers

Category:Singers from Brooklyn

Category:Singers from Lahore

Category:Berklee College of Music alumni

Category:Grammy Award winners

Category:Recipients of the Pride of Performance

Category:Verve Records artists

Category:New Amsterdam Records artists

Category:Pakistani emigrants to the United States

Category:People from Riyadh