Vijay is pleased to announce the new album Love in Exile with Grammy winner Arooj Aftab and multi-instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily. Available for Pre-order/Pre-save, stay tuned for the official release date and more information on this exciting project.
At their 2018 debut performance, Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, and Shahzad Ismaily’s immediate, potent chemistry surprised even them. Since then, in performance and on their 2023 debut album Love in Exile, they’ve kept a focus on spontaneous co-creation and complete immersion in the present, weaving bass, piano, and otherworldly vocals into a breathtakingly unified, patiently unfurling sound.
Individually, their accolades are substantial. Vocalist Arooj Aftab is the first Pakistani to win a Grammy Award, MacArthur genius Vijay Iyer is one of today’s most influential pianists, and multi-instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily’s empathic playing has made him a legend among musicians like Marc Ribot, Colin Stetson, and Lou Reed. Yet the marvel here is how ego disappears completely in the presence of complete trust, and how distinct backgrounds and vast personal histories of collaboration can be offered in service of timeless beauty and sudden surprise alike.
