Arooj Aftab’s Roundhouse performance was an immersive celebration of night, music, and the unguarded moments that bind us.

Thursday night saw Arooj Aftab take over the Roundhouse in the name of Pitchfork’s music festival, with a lineup she personally curated. The evening began with spellbinding performances from Keeley Forsyth and Zsela, setting an intimate and intriguing tone before Aftab took to the stage. 

When she appears, it is with the quiet confidence of someone who knows she has the room in the palm of her hand. Clad in dramatic shades and a leather jacket, Aftab’s stage presence is magnetic. The atmosphere is buoyed by plumes of dry ice, creating a nocturnal haze that mirrors the evocative mood of her latest album, Night Reign. Even a misguided heckler's comment about visibility can’t puncture the sense of mystery she cultivates—it only underscores her ability to command attention whilst keeping herself slightly out of reach and shrouded in night. 

When Aftab opens with Suroor, her voice effortlessly envelopes the space. Her band, a powerhouse of musical talent, elevates the performance to something transcendent. Guitarist Gyan Riley's solos are jaw-dropping, his fingers a blur as they race across the strings, while violinist Daryan Donovan Thomas seems to embody the music itself, his movements fluid and in sync with the melodies. Together, their interplay creates a blissful tapestry of sound drawing the audience into Aftab’s world. 

While her music is often solemn and always stirring, Aftab’s between-song banter is disarmingly playful, her deadpan humour catches the audience off-guard. She jokes about “eye-banging” strangers at parties and getting too drunk, setting up songs with wry charm before delivering performances so moving they hold the air still. A particular highlight of the evening comes when Laura Mvula joins her for a breathtaking rendition of Last Night. Mvula’s soulful voice adds a new dimension to the song, drenching the Roundhouse in warmth and wonder. 

The climax of the night was Bolo Na, a track Aftab describes as leaning into her band’s newfound “rockish vibe.” With the stage bathed in swathes of red light, the band fully comes into their own, blending folk, jazz, and South Asian classical influences with a newfound grit. The groove is infectious, and the audience sway and move as if in a trance.

For the encore, Aftab returns to her Grammy-winning hit Mohabbat. It’s a piece that lingers, aching with beauty and delicacy. Aftab’s soaring vocals, guides the song and evening to a breathtaking conclusion. 

Throughout the evening, Aftab’s humour remained a delightful counterpoint to her music’s emotional weight. Sipping red wine and handing out whiskey shots before performing her ballad Whiskey, she joked about getting “too sauced” to find her way home. These moments of levity deepen the connection between artist and audience, making the performance feel both intimate and expansive. 

Arooj Aftab’s Roundhouse performance was an immersive celebration of night, music, and the unguarded moments that bind us. Just like a good night it left us longing for more: more music, more night, and more of the singular brilliance that is Arooj Aftab.