Pakistanis slept with a big smile on their face last night knowing that singer Arooj Aftab had been nominated for the category of Best New Artist for the Grammy Awards 2022. And if you’re wondering who she is, you’ve come to the right place.

Read more: Pakistani vocalist Urooj Aftab nominated for Grammy award

1. She was born in Saudi Arabia

The singer was born in Saudi Arabia and later moved to Pakistan where she started her musical career exploring the indie genre.

2. She’s most self-taught

In an interview, the talented musician taught herself how to play guitar and learned to sing by listening to everyone from Billie Holiday and Mariah Carey to the late Indian singer Begum Akhtar.

3. She rose to fame singing covers

Arooj became popular in Pakistan with her covers on Youtube – from Amir Zaki’s ‘Mera Pyar’ to Pink Floyd’s ‘Comfortably Numb’ to Leonard Cohan’s ‘Hallelujah’, she’s brilliant!

4. She’s been on Obama’s 2021 summer playlist

Her song ‘Mohabbat’ made it to Barrack Obama’s playlist that he shared to his social media accounts. The singer was featured among musicians like Rihanna. The Rolling Stone, Bruno Mars, Jay Z and Bob Marley.

5. She just released her third album this year
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Aftab released her third album, Vulture Prince, in May via New Amsterdam Records this year.

Prince Vulture marks Arooj’s third album which was released earlier this year. PHOTO: Bandcamp Daily

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6. She’s had several nominations to her name
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The Pakistani artist is no stranger to the awards circuit. With several nominations associated to her name, she won her first Latin Grammy for contributing to Residente’s ‘Antes Que El Mundo Se Acabe’ as a backing vocalist in the best rap/hip-hop category.

Aftab also scored a Student Academy Award in 2020 for being the music composer in Karishma Dev Dube’s short film ‘Bittu.’