the solace of sound
February 24, 2022 8:35 PM Subscribe
Arooj Aftab, who recently became the first Pakistani woman to be nominated for a Grammy, did a stunningly lovely and tranquil NPR Tiny Desk (Home) Concert in convent in Brooklyn late last year, singing in Urdu with a chamber ensemble that includes Celtic harpist Maeve Gilchrist, classical guitarist Gyan Riley, violinist Darian Donovan Thomas, and bassist/synth player Shahzad Ismaily.
The tracklist for Aftab's Tiny Desk Concert includes "Suroor," which is a version of the Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's qawwali classic "Yeh Jo Halka Halka," and "Mohabbat," from a ghazal by Mehdi Hassan.
Aftab was nominated for the Best New Artist and Best Global Music Performance Grammys. Her most recent album, Vulture Prince, was dedicated to her younger brother, who passed away while she was working on the album.
The tracklist for Aftab's Tiny Desk Concert includes "Suroor," which is a version of the Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's qawwali classic "Yeh Jo Halka Halka," and "Mohabbat," from a ghazal by Mehdi Hassan.
Aftab was nominated for the Best New Artist and Best Global Music Performance Grammys. Her most recent album, Vulture Prince, was dedicated to her younger brother, who passed away while she was working on the album.
I really loved Vulture Prince, what a remarkable album.
Thank you for the post, yasaman.
posted by Kattullus at 12:16 AM on February 25, 2022
Thank you for the post, yasaman.
posted by Kattullus at 12:16 AM on February 25, 2022
Lovely, and timely as m'daughter is even at this moment in Lahore (where AA spent her teens] as a wedding guest. Thanks yasaman.
posted by BobTheScientist at 12:22 AM on February 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by BobTheScientist at 12:22 AM on February 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
Wow, this is gorgeous. Thanks for sharing it.
I thought I recognized the bassist's name, and indeed--he's one of the performers in Ragnar Kjartanson's epic installation art piece, The Visitors.
posted by Sublimity at 4:50 AM on February 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
I thought I recognized the bassist's name, and indeed--he's one of the performers in Ragnar Kjartanson's epic installation art piece, The Visitors.
posted by Sublimity at 4:50 AM on February 25, 2022 [4 favorites]
Beautiful! Thank you!
posted by mochapickle at 5:24 AM on February 25, 2022
posted by mochapickle at 5:24 AM on February 25, 2022
Thank you for posting this. BTW, Gyan Riley is minimalist composer /musician Terry Riley's son.
posted by Dean358 at 6:40 AM on February 25, 2022
posted by Dean358 at 6:40 AM on February 25, 2022
Ooh - watched and loved this when it came out and forgot about it - thanks for bringing it back to my feed!
posted by leslies at 6:49 AM on February 25, 2022
posted by leslies at 6:49 AM on February 25, 2022
Her voice is amazing. I was hoping to see her in Seattle last week, but couldn't manage to.
posted by Corduroy at 7:42 AM on February 25, 2022
posted by Corduroy at 7:42 AM on February 25, 2022
How am I the third person to fav this post. People. FAVS ARE FREE.
do it: [+]
posted by zenon at 8:13 AM on February 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
do it: [+]
posted by zenon at 8:13 AM on February 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
I especially enjoy how effortlessly and low drama her performance is, just that amazing voice. And her symbolic tiny desk. I love this yasaman.
posted by zenon at 8:20 AM on February 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by zenon at 8:20 AM on February 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
Bandcamp link for those who want to buy her music and support the artist: https://aroojaftab.bandcamp.com/
(The link is already there in the OP but I just wanted to make it more obvious.)
posted by splitpeasoup at 8:26 AM on February 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
(The link is already there in the OP but I just wanted to make it more obvious.)
posted by splitpeasoup at 8:26 AM on February 25, 2022 [2 favorites]
Damn good timing, yasaman -- this is what I needed today.
Album bought on Bandcamp before I finished listening to the concert!
posted by wenestvedt at 8:55 AM on February 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
Album bought on Bandcamp before I finished listening to the concert!
posted by wenestvedt at 8:55 AM on February 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
I wish I could do with (what's left of) my low range what she does with hers. Lovely.
posted by humbug at 1:57 PM on February 25, 2022
posted by humbug at 1:57 PM on February 25, 2022
Lovely indeed. I was lucky enough to know Shahzad a bit when he was just a baby bass player as part of a then-thriving music scene lo these many years ago. He was already light years ahead of the rest of us but could not have been any sweeter about it. One Love.
posted by aquanaut at 5:27 PM on February 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by aquanaut at 5:27 PM on February 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
The instruments just swirl around her gorgeous voice, beautiful. Bandcamp purchase here, too.
posted by dorey_oh at 10:14 PM on February 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by dorey_oh at 10:14 PM on February 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
Oh my goodness, she is amazing. Thank you so much. This is what my soul needed.
posted by hydropsyche at 5:15 AM on February 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by hydropsyche at 5:15 AM on February 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
One of my favorite records of the year.
posted by Lutoslawski at 1:54 PM on March 4, 2022
posted by Lutoslawski at 1:54 PM on March 4, 2022
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