Her Saudi upbringing merges with her Pakistani heritage, rich with poetry, romance and ghazals, to inform her diverse approach to music. Deep, broody and soulful, Aftab’s vocals evoke love and longing. She sings in Urdu and English, with powerful instrumentals complementing her reflective and romantic lyrics. Different genres of music are increasingly coming together in thoughtful and soul-stirring collaborations, and combining these influences is intrinsic to Aftab’s work.
“From the beginning, there’s always been a crossover movement, and I think these overlaps are beautiful,” she says. “There’s this idea that we’re separate and segregated, but in reality, the earth is so old and everything comes from one indigenous root – there are so many connections.”
Cross-cultural statements are further exemplified in Aftab’s performance attire, where creative designs, black metallics and moody-meets-mysterious aesthetics reign supreme. “It has to have a strong silhouette – I have to look really confident, like I’m here from another planet to take you back with me,” she explains, naming Nour Hammour, Qasimi, Zeid Hijazi, Sylwia Nazzal and Mrs Keepa as brands that inspire her.
Photo: Arooj Aftab in Nol Collective
Aftab once wore a custom suit by Palestinian label Nol Collective in London, and also loves wearing the brand’s pink blazer embroidered with a poem by Palestinian children. “I love that piece and will cherish it forever,” she says. “Garments communicate meaning and significance – especially when you wear stuff where the origins are coming from painfulness, resistance or resilience, and it stands for something. The clothing, the culture, the heritage, all of it – this is our history. These are our stories, and this is how we preserve them.”
Arooj Aftab performs at the Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome on April 14.
