With her recent Grammy nomination, Arooj Aftab has made headlines as the very first Pakistani woman to be nominated for the gilded gramophone. While the Best New Artist nomination may be a geographical success, Aftab spoke to Cheryl Waters about how “art can transcend geographical location” and how access to art and the ability to cultivate relationships with other artists is why she’s called New York home for the past 15 years. 

Aftab’s latest record, Vulture Prince, is the third from the Berklee College of Music alum and sees her taking influence from South Asian classical music, jazz, and minimalism for a soothing and spiritual record that deserves every ounce of praise. Her four-song set for KEXP with guitarist Gyan Riley and harpist Maeve Gilchrist showcases her transcendental work.

Recorded 09/24/2021.

1. Baghon Main
2. Suroor
3. Diya Hai
4. Mohabbat

Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube