The first-ever Pakistani musician to win a Grammy, Brooklyn-based vocalist Arooj Aftab, was presented with the renowned Vilcek Award for Artistic Potential in Music this month.
The Vilcek Foundation promotes appreciation for the arts and sciences and raises awareness of the contributions made by immigrants to the United States. The Foundation honors immigrant artists and scientists at all stages of their careers through its awards.
The Vilcek Award for Creative Potential in Music was awarded to Arooj Aftab for her “evocative songs and compositions that blend a range of inspirations from semi-classical Pakistani music and Urdu poetry to jazz harmonies and experimental music,” according to the Foundation’s website.
“Her blend of ancient traditions and contemporary style has earned her mainstream recognition, including a 2022 Grammy nomination for Best New Artist and a 2022 Grammy Award for Best Global Performance.”
Aftab won a major trophy for her song “Mohabbat” in the Best Worldwide Performance category at the Grammy Awards in April of this year, earning her first award. She was also the first Pakistani woman to ever receive a Grammy nomination. Also, she received a nomination for Best Global Music Performance for the second consecutive year in 2017.
The 37-year-old, who has spent almost 15 years in New York, is rapidly earning recognition on a global scale for her music, which combines ancient Sufi traditions with elements of folk, jazz, and minimalism.
Aftab, who was raised in Lahore by Pakistani parents before moving to Boston to enroll at the famed Berklee School of Music to study music production and engineering, was born in Saudi Arabia.
When former US president Barack Obama named “Mohabbat” on his list of summertime songs to listen to in 2021, she received even more notice and released her third studio album, “Vulture Prince,” to tremendous acclaim.
