From featuring on Obama's 2021 playlist to Grammys! Meet Arooj Aftab, the first Pakistani woman to win the top honour

A song from her third album ‘Vulture Prince’ made it to former US President Barack Obama’s summer playlist favourites of 2021. Pakistani vocalist Arooj Aftab has several such notable feats in her music career over the years.

The singer was catapulted to international recognition after her song ‘Mohabbat’ won the Grammy Award for ‘Best Global Performance’ on Sunday. The 37-year-old singer’s accomplishment also makes her the first Pakistani woman to be honoured with the coveted trophy.

“It is just so incredible. It is a proud moment for me and the music industry as well to have this type of limitless unapologetic inclusion. I think, all the nominees in the best new artist category are the 10 strong of us. It is just so beautiful, feels like a great day for music,” Aftab told Variety, right after the event.


Aftab’s work has been categorised as jazz fusion, neo-Sufi, Hindustani classical, indie pop, etc., among music connoisseurs.

Also Read: Complete list of Grammy winners

In 2005, Aftab moved to the US and obtained a degree in music production, engineering, and jazz composition from the famed Berklee College of Music. She kickstarted her career in 2010 when she moved to New York and worked as an editor and scored music for films.

Her breakthrough happened when her work for the documentary ‘Armed With Faith’ won an Emmy Award in 2019.

Aftab’s latest album ‘Vulture Prince’ is based on themes of relationships, lost moments, and nostalgia. The album was hailed as a ‘heartbreaking, exquisite document of the journey from grief to acceptance,’ by Pitchfork, an American digital music publication. Besides the album was also ranked sixth on Rolling Stone’s Best Music of 2021 list.

After Aftab’s victory, fans heaped praise on Twitter for her accomplishment.
Noted Pakistani singer Ali Zafar, who is also well-known in India, took to Twitter to congratulate Aftab.
Another most shared image of Aftab was with members of the pop sensation BTS.