Night Reign is the fourth studio album by Pakistani singer and composer Arooj Aftab, set for release on May 31, 2024, by Verve Records. It was preceded by one single.
| Night Reign | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 31, 2024 | |||
| Label | Verve | |||
| Producer | Arooj Aftab | |||
| Arooj Aftab chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Night Reign | ||||
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Release edit
The album was announced on April 18, 2024, with a release date set for May 31, by Verve Records.[1] With the announcement came the lead single, "Raat Ki Rani", which Aftab said was about "a person whose allure, magnetism, and charisma floats through a beautiful evening garden party."[1][2] The song centers the piano, and marks Aftab's first use of Auto-Tune in her music.[3] It was named after cestrum nocturnum, a flowering plant also known as night-blooming jasmine.[4]
"Raat Ki Rani" came with a music video directed by actor Tessa Thompson, her directorial debut,[1] and produced by Kishori Rajan, the head of Thompson's production company Viva Maude.[2][4] The video features two women either falling in love or "starring in a Lynchian perfume commercial."[4] Per Thompson, the video is "about the fantasies we have sometimes about people we encounter. It's about the way we come to life in dark spaces. It's about how intoxicating something in bloom can be. I don't want to say much more because I am curious what people see in it. But it is also an homage to some films I am deeply influenced by."[4] Thompson's father, Marc Anthony Thompson, contributed to the album under the alias Chocolate Genius, Inc.[5][4]
Live edit
With the announcement of the album, Aftab also announced tour dates for June 2024 through January 2025 in Europe and the United States, including six shows in September and October supporting Khruangbin.[3][6]
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Aey Nehin" | ||
| 2. | "Na Gul" | ||
| 3. | "Autumn Leaves" (featuring James Francies) | ||
| 4. | "Bolo Na" (featuring Moor Mother and Joel Ross) | ||
| 5. | "Saaqi" (featuring Vijay Iyer) | ||
| 6. | "Last Night (Reprise)" (featuring Cautious Clay, Kaki King, and Maeve Gilchrist) | ||
| 7. | "Raat Ki Rani" | Arooj Aftab | 5:13 |
| 8. | "Whiskey" | ||
| 9. | "Zameen" (featuring Chocolate Genius, Inc.) |
Personnel edit
Musicians edit
- Arooj Aftab – vocals
- James Francies (3)
- Moor Mother (4)
- Joel Ross (4)
- Vijay Iyer (5)
- Cautious Clay (6)
- Kaki King (6)
- Maeve Gilchrist – harp (6, 7)
- Petros Klampanis – upright bass (7), piano (7)
- Heather Ewer – tuba (7)
- Shahzad Ismaily – synthesizer (7)
- Jamey Haddad – percussion (7)
- Keita Ogawa – percussion (7)
- Chocolate Genius, Inc. (9)
Technical edit
- Arooj Aftab – producer, arranger
- Damon Whittemore – recording engineer
- Joshua Valleau – mixing engineer
- Daddy Kev – mastering engineer
- Maeve Gilchrist – arranger (7)
- Petros Klampanis – arranger (7)
References edit
- ^ a b c Monroe, Jazz (April 18, 2024). "Arooj Aftab Announces Album and Tour, Shares Video for New Song". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
- ^ a b Chelosky, Danielle (April 18, 2024). "Arooj Aftab – "Raat Ki Rani"". Stereogum. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
- ^ a b Siroky, Mary (April 18, 2024). "Arooj Aftab Announces New Album Night Reign, Shares "Raat Ki Rani"". Consequence. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Ehrlich, Brenna (April 18, 2024). "Tessa Thompson Brings Night-Blooming Romance to Arooj Atfab's "Raat Ki Rani" Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
- ^ Pearis, Bill (April 18, 2024). "Arooj Aftab announces new album ft. Moor Mother, Vijay Iyer & more, shares "Raat Ki Rani"". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
- ^ LaPierre, Megan (April 18, 2024). "Arooj Aftab Announces New Album Night Reign, North American Tour". Exclaim!. Retrieved April 19, 2024.