Arooj Aftab
11,495 Followers
• 4 Upcoming Shows
4 Upcoming Shows
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Concerts and tour dates
Upcoming
Past
Concerts Near You
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Arooj Aftab merch
Love In Exile[2 LP]
$32.99
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Arooj Aftab's tour
Live Photos of Arooj Aftab
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Fan Reviews
Vince
October 15th 2023
Executive Summary: Superb show!
Full Review: As I proudly arrived at the Harris Theater in the bowels of downtown Chicago an hour early for the 7:30 PM concert, it quickly became clear that karma had other plans. I was greeted by an announcement that the performance was delayed due to technical difficulties and the show started promptly about 8ish. It would prove to be worth the wait.
Arooj Aftab issued a heartfelt apology to the crowd for the delay and for arriving on stage sans shower or eye make-up, as she hid behind a pair of dark sunglasses and under her "bat cape," garb befitting a proper Vulture Princess.
As Aftab (vocals), Vijay Iyer (keys) and Shahzad Ismail (bass) began to play it was clear that this would be less a performance than a calling, a labor of love between artists and audience. Each player a tidal pool uniquely formed from a vast ocean of musical styles.
Between songs Aftab directed a sound crew cloaked in darkness to make adjustments to various monitors to get the balance right, perhaps a nod to her background in sound engineering, perhaps just a demonstration of her expert command of the canvas.
The back-lit stage consisted of a singular color that changed with the temperature of each song. Warm ambers and reds to cool blues and aquas shone on the sparsely populated stage which worked to enhance the minimalist soundscapes. At times a muted free-form fusion trio; others whisper quiet, loosely structured journeys through merging cultural influences. The Urdu lyrics emphasized Aftab's voice as instrument approach to vocals. Notes adrift, meandering aimlessly through the expanse until colliding with the next sound with spontaneous precision and purpose. Rolling waves and ebbing tides of sound move us to reunite with the souls of our own loves in exile.
As the performers slowly left the darkened stage they themselves became our newest love in exile. This exquisite, bittersweet love letter will have to hold their fans until their return. VP
Chicago, IL@Harris Theater
Peter
June 10th 2023
Epic moment with a small unsuspecting crowd. Fifth row seats and and impeccable sound with a very receptive crowd. Unforgettable experience.
Berlin, Germany@Academy of Arts
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About Arooj Aftab
Arooj Aftab is a Grammy award winning Pakistani singer, composer, and producer based in the United States. She works in various musical styles and idioms, including jazz, minimalism, and Urdu poetry. She has been named one of NPR’s Top 100 composers, and has been featured on several best concerts lists, including The New York Times. Her Vulture Prince album was met with critical acclaim from The Guardian, Time Magazine, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, The Los Angeles Times, and The New York Times. Aftab has performed at major international music festivals including Coachella, Glastonbury, Primavera Sound Barcelona, Roskilde Festival, and Montreal Jazz Festival. She has also performed at Performance Art Centers such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Lincoln Center for Performing Arts, and The Broad. Aftab is a 2023 United States Artists Fellow and a recipient of the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Music.
Show More
Genres:
Modern Classical, Neo-sufi, Ambient Jazz
Hometown:
New York, New York
Concerts and tour dates
Upcoming
Past
Concerts Near You
All Concerts & Live Streams
Live Photos of Arooj Aftab
View All Photos
Arooj Aftab merch
Love In Exile[2 LP]
$32.99
View All
Arooj Aftab's tour
Fan Reviews
Vince
October 15th 2023
Executive Summary: Superb show!
Full Review: As I proudly arrived at the Harris Theater in the bowels of downtown Chicago an hour early for the 7:30 PM concert, it quickly became clear that karma had other plans. I was greeted by an announcement that the performance was delayed due to technical difficulties and the show started promptly about 8ish. It would prove to be worth the wait.
Arooj Aftab issued a heartfelt apology to the crowd for the delay and for arriving on stage sans shower or eye make-up, as she hid behind a pair of dark sunglasses and under her "bat cape," garb befitting a proper Vulture Princess.
As Aftab (vocals), Vijay Iyer (keys) and Shahzad Ismail (bass) began to play it was clear that this would be less a performance than a calling, a labor of love between artists and audience. Each player a tidal pool uniquely formed from a vast ocean of musical styles.
Between songs Aftab directed a sound crew cloaked in darkness to make adjustments to various monitors to get the balance right, perhaps a nod to her background in sound engineering, perhaps just a demonstration of her expert command of the canvas.
The back-lit stage consisted of a singular color that changed with the temperature of each song. Warm ambers and reds to cool blues and aquas shone on the sparsely populated stage which worked to enhance the minimalist soundscapes. At times a muted free-form fusion trio; others whisper quiet, loosely structured journeys through merging cultural influences. The Urdu lyrics emphasized Aftab's voice as instrument approach to vocals. Notes adrift, meandering aimlessly through the expanse until colliding with the next sound with spontaneous precision and purpose. Rolling waves and ebbing tides of sound move us to reunite with the souls of our own loves in exile.
As the performers slowly left the darkened stage they themselves became our newest love in exile. This exquisite, bittersweet love letter will have to hold their fans until their return. VP
Chicago, IL@Harris Theater
Peter
June 10th 2023
Epic moment with a small unsuspecting crowd. Fifth row seats and and impeccable sound with a very receptive crowd. Unforgettable experience.
Berlin, Germany@Academy of Arts
View More Fan Reviews
About Arooj Aftab
Arooj Aftab is a Grammy award winning Pakistani singer, composer, and producer based in the United States. She works in various musical styles and idioms, including jazz, minimalism, and Urdu poetry. She has been named one of NPR’s Top 100 composers, and has been featured on several best concerts lists, including The New York Times. Her Vulture Prince album was met with critical acclaim from The Guardian, Time Magazine, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, The Los Angeles Times, and The New York Times. Aftab has performed at major international music festivals including Coachella, Glastonbury, Primavera Sound Barcelona, Roskilde Festival, and Montreal Jazz Festival. She has also performed at Performance Art Centers such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Lincoln Center for Performing Arts, and The Broad. Aftab is a 2023 United States Artists Fellow and a recipient of the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Music.
Show More
Genres:
Modern Classical, Neo-sufi, Ambient Jazz
Hometown:
New York, New York
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316K Followers
Follow
Big Thief
274K Followers
Follow
Arlo Parks
97K Followers
Follow
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51K Followers
Follow
Mitski
474K Followers
Follow
Nils Frahm
157K Followers
Follow
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