Ali Sethi

Artist Profile

Ali Sethi is a Pakistani-American singer, songwriter, composer, writer, and performer known for bringing together the richness of South Asian classical music with contemporary pop, electronic, folk, ghazal, Sufi and global musical influences. Born on July 2, 1984, in Lahore, Pakistan, Ali Sethi has developed a distinctive identity in the international music scene through his expressive vocals, poetic storytelling and experimental approach to traditional South Asian music.

Although he first gained recognition as a writer with his acclaimed 2009 novel The Wish Maker, music eventually became the central focus of his artistic career. After graduating from Harvard College in 2006, Sethi pursued formal training in Hindustani classical music under respected musicians including Ustad Naseeruddin Saami and Farida Khanum. His classical background later became one of the defining features of his contemporary musical style.

Ali Sethi's Musical Career

Ali Sethi began establishing himself as a singer in the early 2010s. One of his early major musical appearances came through Mira Nair's 2012 film The Reluctant Fundamentalist, for which he performed "Dil Jalaane Ki Baat Karte Ho." He subsequently became associated with Coke Studio Pakistan, where his interpretations of ghazals, Punjabi folk songs and classical compositions helped introduce traditional sounds to a younger audience.

Songs such as "Umraan Langiyaan," "Aaqa," "Ranjish Hi Sahi," and "Chan Kithan" strengthened his reputation as an artist capable of modernizing traditional Pakistani music without completely abandoning its classical roots.

Sethi's music is particularly notable for its combination of Hindustani classical ragas, Punjabi poetry, ghazal traditions, Sufi influences and modern electronic or pop production. His work has also taken him to major international cultural and academic venues, including Carnegie Hall and institutions such as Harvard and Brown University.

Ali Sethi and "Pasoori"

The biggest turning point in Ali Sethi's career came in 2022, when he collaborated with newcomer Shae Gill on "Pasoori" for Coke Studio Season 14.

Co-written and co-composed by Sethi, the Punjabi-language song combined raga-inspired melodies with contemporary global production and became an international phenomenon. It was the first Pakistani song to reach Spotify's Global Viral chart, eventually reaching No. 1 on the Global Viral 50. It was also reported as Google's most searched/hummed-to-search song globally in 2022.

"Pasoori" transformed Ali Sethi from a highly respected Pakistani vocalist into a globally recognized South Asian music artist. The song crossed geographical and linguistic boundaries and became one of the most internationally successful songs to emerge from Pakistan in the modern era.

The track's enormous popularity continued well beyond its original release, with reports noting that its YouTube Music video surpassed one billion views, making it the first Coke Studio song to reach that milestone.

TIME100 Next Recognition

Ali Sethi's growing international influence was recognized in 2022, when he was included in TIME's TIME100 Next list.

The recognition highlighted his innovative use of ancient South Asian musical traditions to explore contemporary questions of identity, culture, gender and belonging. This achievement placed Sethi among a notable group of emerging global figures whose work was considered influential in shaping the future of their respective fields.

"Intiha" and Experimental Music

Following the worldwide success of "Pasoori," Sethi continued moving in a more experimental direction. In 2023, he collaborated with Chilean-American musician and producer Nicolás Jaar on Intiha, a project rooted in Sufi poetry and atmospheric experimental music.

Rather than attempting to repeat the formula of "Pasoori," Sethi used the project to explore a more unconventional sound, demonstrating his willingness to move between mainstream pop, classical traditions and experimental music.

He also released Paniya, a 2023 project centered on classical poetry, love and longing.

Ali Sethi's 2025 Debut Album – Love Language

One of the most important developments in Ali Sethi's recent career was the release of his first full-length solo album, Love Language, on August 1, 2025.

The album contains 16 tracks and expands considerably on the hybrid musical approach that Sethi had developed throughout his career.

The album includes songs such as "Hanera," "Rocket Launcher," "Lovely Bukhaar," "Hymn 4 Him (Ghoomray)," "Villain," "Bridegroom," "Jadugarni," "Kaava," "Subho Shaam," "Tera Sitam" and "Maya."

Love Language combines South Asian classical and folk traditions with elements of hyperpop, reggaeton, R&B, electronic music and contemporary global pop. Critics have described the album as an ambitious extension of Sethi's genre-blending musical identity.

The album also marked an important new phase in Sethi's international career, followed by a North American tour in 2025.

Ali Sethi's Latest 2026 Project – Room Jhoom

In 2026, Ali Sethi continued his experimentation with the release of Room Jhoom, a collaborative album with American drummer and composer Gregory Rogove.

Released on May 22, 2026, Room Jhoom contains eight tracks, including "I Wait," "Game," "Room Jhoom," "Angana," "Jogi Mera," "Embrace," "Binati" and "Flying."

The project takes a considerably more meditative approach than the high-energy sound of "Pasoori." It draws on Hindustani classical techniques, Sufi traditions and themes of longing while incorporating contemporary percussion and instrumentation. Music critics have particularly noted Sethi's use of classical vocal techniques such as meend within the album's modern arrangements.

Room Jhoom demonstrates that Ali Sethi has continued to evolve rather than simply capitalizing on the success of "Pasoori."

Ali Sethi's Musical Style

Ali Sethi's musical identity is difficult to place into a single genre. His work incorporates:

• Hindustani classical music
• Ghazal
• Punjabi folk
• Sufi poetry
• Qawwali influences
• Contemporary pop
• Electronic music
• R&B
• Reggaeton
• Hyperpop
• Experimental music

His greatest artistic strength is arguably his ability to reinterpret traditional South Asian musical vocabulary for contemporary audiences. Instead of treating classical and folk music as historical forms, Sethi frequently places them within modern arrangements and international musical contexts.

Major Songs by Ali Sethi

Some of Ali Sethi's most recognized songs and collaborations include:

• Pasoori – with Shae Gill
• Chan Kithan
• Ranjish Hi Sahi
• Umraan Langiyaan
• Aaqa
• Chandni Raat
• Ishq
• Dil Ki Khair
• Dil Lagaayein
• Left Right – with Shae Gill
• Love Like That – with Jonita Gandhi
• Lovely Bukhaar
• Tera Sitam
• Maya
• Hanera
• Subho Shaam
• Rocket Launcher
• Room Jhoom
• Jogi Mera

His catalog reflects a continuous movement between traditional Pakistani music and contemporary international sounds.