Arooj Aftab

Transformative may not be an urgent enough word to describe the American-Pakistani multi-hyphenate creative Arooj Aftab. Rooted in a constellation of unmappable margins and elegant refusals, she lithely moves against the weight of time and convention, honouring multiple traditions while being owned by none. She eludes categorical capture through an expansive repertoire of study, including the techniques of music production and engineering as well as a sprawling vocal practice that moves with cunning intention through and alongside jazz, South Asian classical music, pop, and blues.