Arooj Aftab followed 2021’s fantastic Vulture Prince with a gorgeous collaborative album with Vijay Iyer and Shahzad Ismaily, Love in Exile, back in March. It’s been showing up on year end lists, and she picked up a couple more Grammy nominations for it, following her historic win for Best Global Music Performance in 2022. Stream Love in Exile below.
As the year winds down, we’ve been asking artists about their 2023 favorites, and Arooj made us a list that includes songs by Beverly Glenn-Copeland, Janelle Monáe, Anoushka Shankar, and more. Read her list, complete with her commentary, below.
AROOJ AFTAB’S FAVORITE SONGS OF 2023
Meshell Ndegeocello – “Virgo”
Because I love how she says “they’re calling me/ back to the stars… deep outer space.” I felt that.
Sara Tavares – “Kurtidu”
An artist I absolutely love and listened to so much in college. I didn’t know she had a brain tumor. She released this single this year and it’s absolutely a banger, it seemed like an album was to follow. but she then passed away last month. The shades of sadness I feel about this are very deep.
Dina El Wedidi, Saif Safadi, Dana Salah, Ghaliaa, Afroto, NORDO, Shroof, A5rass, Issam Alnajjar, Balti, Amir Eid, Wessam Qutob, more – “Rajieen”
A lot of kick ass incredible musicians from the Middle East came together to record a song with a message and plea for peace in the region and freedom for the people of Palestine
Sheherazaad – “Mashoor”
A very talented new singer/songwriter came my way and I produced her upcoming record. This is the lead single. The whole thing is super beautiful. I am really excited for her and was so happy to put my vibe on it.
Anoushka Shankar – “What Will We Remember?”
I loved producing Anoushka’s latest album Chapter I: Forever, For Now. This particular song is so badass. I love how it has like three movements almost, nodding at a traditional classical structure but at the same time sowing a new seed entirely. It’s gentle, a bit vulnerable and contemplative at first, and then builds into a strong new day.
Beverly Glenn-Copeland – “Harbour”
Because he is incredible and this song is so moving. He wrote it for his long time partner and it’s nice to see that that kind of love actually exists. He should be singing all the songs on all the Disney/Pixar movies.
Janelle Monáe – “A Dry Red”
I feel very seen by this song lol. Loved this album and love everything that’s going on with her.
Beyoncé – “MOVE” ft. Grace Jones
Excuse me, first of all. That this collab even happened, and that it sounds like this?! These queens freakin brought it, all of it.
Amaarae – “Wasted Eyes”
In the overwhelming sea of “Afrobeat” that has flooded our ears in the recent years (in a good way, infectious hit after hit), Amaarae’s whole new album is different and offering some great actually musical content and songwriting inside of the genre. So, I love it.
Billie Eilish – “What Was I Made For?”
Huge Billie fan, love her minimal and straight to the heart songwriting and music arrangements. Let’s collab honey where are you.
