Pakistani vocalist Arooj Aftab clinched her first Grammy for her song ‘Mohabbat’ in the Best Global Performance category. The 37-year-old has been gaining global attention for her work in recent years. Arooj, who has made New York her home for the past 15 years, has been instrumental in creating beautiful renditions fusing ancient Sufi traditions with folk, jazz, and minimalism. Speaking after the pre-gala ceremony on Sunday, the artist said, “I am beyond thrilled. It feels great.”
Born to Pakistani parents in Saudi Arabia, Arooj spent her teenage years in Lahore before joining the prestigious Berklee School of Music in Boston, to study music production and engineering. Her third studio album ‘Vulture Prince’ gained critical acclaim. Her track ‘Mohabbat’ even made it to former US president Barack Obama’s 2021 summer favourites list.
The Brooklyn-based singer has performed at a number of major New York venues including the Lincoln Center and the Museum of Modern Art and has also opened for Mitski at The Brooklyn Steel in 2018.
