Light, dark, soothing, haunting — it’s all the same to Arooj Aftab, who faintly whispers words of healing into my ears as I awaken to the title track of her upcoming album, Raat Ki Rani (Night Reign).
A child of the night, a drop in the ocean — ‘Raat Ki Rani’ is as infused with creativity as it is with modulation. Melancholic and blissful, the track marks the first time Aftab has used auto-tune in her music. Production-heavy compared to her previous tracks, ‘Raat Ki Rani’ is still relatively simple and to the point, catering to a larger audience. It is not niche music but it isn’t Aftab’s way of fitting in either. She doesn’t care about that.
There is so much power in Aftab’s voice even as it emerges from the background — as though emerging from a chamber carried by the music surrounding it. Its impact and reach is unmatched.
