Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, Shahzad Ismaily perform a Tiny Desk concert. Catie Dull/NPR hide caption
Arooj Aftab
Love In Exile is (from left) Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer and Shahzad Ismaily. The trio just released its self-titled debut album. Ebru Yildiz/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
The trio Love In Exile — (left to right) Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer and Shahzad Ismaily — say that sharing responsibility for the music collectively allows them greater freedom as individuals. Ebru Yildiz/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Arooj Aftab Blythe Thomas/Courtest of the artist hide caption
Arooj Aftab on World Cafe
Clockwise from upper left: Angel Olsen, Arooj Aftab, Perfume Genius, Soccer Mommy Courtesy of the artists hide caption
Arooj Aftab's heritage and penchant for mysticism come through in her music. Mengwen Cao for NPR hide caption
Arooj Aftab considers her Grammy nominations a triumph. But they won't define her
Palehound's Ellen Kempner and Jay Som's Melina Duterte perform as Bachelor. Tonje Thilesen/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Arlene Acevedo, Aline Vasquez, Alexis Carter and Tiahna Sterling of Recap. Innova Recordings hide caption
PinkPantheress, Wet Leg and María Becerra are among NPR Music's best new artists and breakthroughs of 2021. Photo Illustration by Renee Klahr/NPR; Getty Images hide caption
Singer and rapper Houston Kendrick. His new album, Small Infinity, tops our shortlist of the best albums out on April 23. Courtesy of the artist hide caption
With Vulture Prince, Aftab exercises the belief that there's a way for artists to make a statement using their work's own subtlety and grace. Diana Markosian/Courtesy of the artist hide caption