Arooj Aftab has announced her forthcoming album, Night Reign, the follow up to the critically acclaimed Vulture Prince. The album is set to arrive on May 31 via Verve Records.
To celebrate the news, Aftab has shared “Raat Ki Rani,” the album’s debut single, which comes with a music video directed by actress Tessa Thompson, marking her first foray into video filmmaking.
“‘Raat Ki Rani’ is about a person whose allure, magnetism, and charisma floats through a beautiful evening garden party,” Aftab said.
The track features an enchanting rhythm (closely related to the Brazilian maracatu) that drives the song forward. Aftab’s voice (teased with autotune for the first time) provides an evocative vision of this “queen of the night” AKA “Raat Ki Rani,” the intoxicatingly fragrant, night-blooming flower with which the track shares its name. The titular jasmine blossom also plays a significant role in the Thompson-directed visuals.
The album features new friends like Cautious Clay on flute, Moor Mother echoing Aftab’s sentiment of how cruel the world is, and Chocolate Genius AKA Marc Anthony Thompson lending his tender sensibilities to a song about being grounded.
Longtime collaborators Petros Klampanis and Maeve Gilchrist also continue their musical partnership as core members of Arooj’s musical family.
To support Night Reign, Aftab will embark on a string of live performances across the States and Europe. She’ll play dates in the US alongside Khruangbin, and in Europe she’ll hit festival stops at Glastonbury, Lowlands, and Pitchfork London, among many others.
Night Reign Tracklist:
1. Aey Nehin
2. Na Gul
3. Autumn Leaves (ft. James Francies)
4. Bolo Na (ft. Moor Mother, Joel Ross)
5. Saaqi (ft. Vijay Iyer)
6. Last Night (Reprise) (ft. Cautious Clay, Kaki King, Maeve Gilchrist)
7. Raat Ki Rani
8. Whiskey
9. Zameen (ft. Chocolate Genius, Inc.)