For Aftab, it's a big win: "It's a door that's definitely open."
After her historic Grammy win, Brooklyn-based Pakistani singer Aroz Aftab has achieved another milestone with her debut at the much-hyped Coachella music festival.
She graced the California desert with a set that focused on her melodious Urdu lyricism, a barrier-breaking move as she became the first Pakistani to play the prestigious festival.
For Aftab, the language barrier no longer exists: "It's a door that's open."
The 37-year-old - who has just released a cover of Spanish flamenco revisionist Rosalia's "Di mi Nombre" - sees a revolution in popular music, with artists freely sailing the genre and boundaries of the past.
"There is a massive movement taking place in the music industry," he told AFP at Coachella's grounds, where he delivered a dynamic display of his work that blends ancient Sufi traditions with folk, jazz and minimalism.
"The audience and the musicians are creating the music and the audience is listening to the music with a lot more freedom in their mind. Less genre, less range," she said.
"It's so free, and open, and really, really beautiful."
She credits the Latinx community for making a big inroads in this regard, with Rosalia as Becky G, Karol G, J. Balvin and Bad Bunny were influential in the transformation.
"The trap movement definitely changed the way listeners listened," Aftab said, referring to the explosion of Southern American hip hop, which later made its way into Latin America and became associated with reggaeton.
Latin music's boom on the US airwaves, and streaming platforms in particular, "made a big debut in the minds of listeners in America," she continued.
"They listen to music now that they don't understand, and that's okay! They love it. It's a big step forward."
Aftab said that the opening has allowed him to feel more free with his compositions, keeping the music based on emotions out of bounds.
"It's a personal musical," she said. "It's not 'my country, my country' - it's global music. It's everything we feel, it's all the people we meet."
"Whatever makes my heart sing is in the music."
- the high -
With three studio albums, Aftab made history by becoming the first Pakistani solo singer to hold a Grammy just a few weeks back, winning the Best Global Performance category for her song "Mohabbat".
She was also nominated in the prestigious Best New Artist field - although that award, as expected, went to pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo.
But Aftab is basking in a moment of recognition, enjoying his career laurels as well as his two performance dates at the premiere Coachella festival.
"It feels really amazing, it's a high - it's a high moment in my career," said the singer. "I'm working toward this moment and imagining whether or not this moment will come."
"And it did! Which is miraculous."
She also wanted to get back in front of live audiences, returning after a pandemic-induced hiatus of three years at Coachella.
Featuring artists from around the world, the 2022 Coachella poster is a reflection of the globalization of music and the fluidity of the genre.
For Aftab, it's a big win: "It's a door that's definitely open."
"And I'm definitely going to leave the door open."