Grammy-winning artist Arooj Aftab has announced her new album, night reign, out May 31 via Verve Records. As a teaser, she shared “Raat Ki Rani,” a new song accompanied by a music video directed by actress Tessa Thompson.
The follow-up to 2021's critically acclaimed. Vulture Prince, Aftab's next project is a nine-song collection focused on the magic and mystery of the late night and everything that can happen after dark. Contributors include Cautious Clay, Chocolate Genius and James Francies.
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In a statement, Aftab shared: “Some nights are for falling in love, some are for loneliness and introspection, some are for getting angry at a forced social gathering, and so go the stories of night reign.”
The video marks Thompson's directorial debut and shows Aftab in black and white on a film set, before switching to color and cutting to dreamy images with a lover. The track itself is anchored in piano and a bit more produced than the organic sound that characterized Vulture Prince; This is the first time he uses Auto-Tune in his music.
Starting in July, Aftab will take the project on tour across North America, the UK and Europe, including a fall tour in support of Khurangbin. Check out the full schedule below and stay tuned StubHub for deals on national tour stops and visit viagogo for international dates.
Last year, Aftab's collaborative album with Vijay Iyer and Shahzad Ismaily, Love in exilewas listed as one of our 50 Best Albums of 2023.
night reign Artwork:
night reign Songs list:
01. Aey Nehin
02. Na Gul
03. Autumn Leaves (feat. James Francies)
04. Bolo Na (feat. Moor Mother and Joel Ross)
05. Saaqi (feat. Vijay Iyer)
06. Last Night (reprise) (with Cautious Clay, Kaki King and Maeve Gilchrist)
07. Raat Ki Rani
08. whiskey
09. Zameen (feat. Chocolate Genius, Inc.)
Arooj Aftab Tour Dates 2024-2025:
06/28 – Antwerp, BE @ Live is Live Festival
06/28-30 – Glastonbury, UK @ Glastonbury Festival
07/13 – Rotterdam, NL @ North Sea Jazz Festival
07/22 – Chicago, IL @ Millennium Park Summer Series
07/23 – Ridgefield, CT @ Ridgefield Playhouse
07/24 – New York, NY @ TBD
07/25 – Saugerties, New York @ Opus 40
08/09 – Helsinki, FI @ Flow Festival
08/13 – Uppsala, SE @ Uppsala Konsert & Kongress
08/15 – Oslo, NO @ Oslo Jazz Festival
08/17 – Biddinghuizen, NL @ Lowlands Festival
08/19 – Zurich, CH @ Zürcher Theater Spektakel 2024
09/19 – Boston, MA @ Paradise
09/23 – Washington, DC @ The Anthem ^
09/24 – Washington, DC @ The Anthem ^
02/10 – St. Louis, MO @ The Factory ^
03/10 – St. Louis, MO @ The Factory ^
09/10 – New Orleans, LA @ Saenger Theater ^
10/10 – New Orleans, LA @ Saenger Theater ^
10/12 – Manchester, UK @ Aviva Studios
10/19 – Berlin, DE @ Heimathafen
10/20 – Hamburg, DE @ Mojo Club
10/21 – Heidelberg, DE @ Enjoy Jazz Festival
10/22 – Cologne, DE @ Kulturkirche
10/23 – Lille, France @ Aeronef
10/25 – Paris, FR @ Trianon
10/26 – Nantes, FR @ Le Lieu Unique
10/28 – Lisbon, PT @ Teatro Tivoli BBVA
10/29 – Barcelona, ES @ Sala Apolo
10/30 – Madrid, ES @ Madrid Jazz Festival
01/11 – Bristol, UK @ Beacon Theater
02/11 – Glasgow, United Kingdom @ QMU
03/11 – Leeds, United Kingdom @ Project House
06/11 – Brighton, UK @ Mutation Festival
07/11 – London, UK @ Pitchfork Festival
08/11 – Den Bosch, NL @ November Music Festival
12/11 – Copenhagen, DK @ Vega
01/20 – Vancouver, BC @ Hollywood Theater
01/21 – Seattle, WA @ Washington Hall
01/22 – Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theater
01/24 – San Francisco, CA @ August Hall
01/25 – Stanford, CA @ Bing Concert Hall at Stanford Live
01/26 – Los Angeles, LA @ Fonda Theater
^ = with Khruangbin
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