Love in Exile: Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, & Shahzad Ismaily

Love in Exile is the trio of Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, and Shahzad Ismaily — three of the most innovative composers and music-makers of today. Together, they create lush, haunting soundscapes of meditation and yearning, weaving bass, piano, and vocals into a breathtakingly unified sound. Arooj Aftab describes the project as “about self-exile, and the search for freedom and identity, and finding it through love and music.”

Individually, the artists’ accolades are substantial: Vocalist Arooj Aftab, the first Pakistani to win a GRAMMY Award, wows audiences worldwide with her mesmerizing live shows and otherworldly voice; MacArthur Genius and GRAMMY nominee Vijay Iyer is one of today’s most influential pianists; and multi-instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily’s sensitivity and technical acumen have made him a legend among musicians like the late Lou Reed, for whom he was a session player. Each artist in the trio uses their distinct backgrounds and vast histories of collaboration as a starting point, forging a singular voice.

As Love in Exile, the three musicians bring a one-of-a-kind performance — defined by a sense of timeless beauty and sudden surprise — to The Reser for the first time.

“Aftab, Iyer, and Ismaily reveal the beauty in quietude.” —The Guardian

Pitchfork: Love in Exile: Arooj Aftab / Vijah Iyer / Shahzad Usmaily

Sponsored by The Reser Family Foundation