Ali Sethi, Singer & Songwriter

Globally-acclaimed Singer, Songwriter, and Author ‪Ali Sethi sits down with South Asian Trailblazers Host Simi Shah for a deeply personal podcast conversation on the heels of his debut solo album #LoveLanguage. WATCH IT ON YOUTUBE.

Born in Lahore, educated at Harvard University and currently based in New York, he studied under acclaimed mentors across musical genres before rising to international acclaim with his viral hit “Pasoori,” which has surpassed a billion streams. From ghazals to reggaeton, Carnegie Hall to Coachella, he blends the classical with the contemporary in ways that transcend borders.

A vocalist, composer, and published author, Ali is a TIME100 Next honoree whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The New Yorker, and Pitchfork. His debut novel The Wish Maker received international acclaim, and with Love Language, he offers his most personal work yet.

In this deeply personal conversation, we unpack:
💬 Growing up in a household of dissenters in Pakistan
💬 The story behind Pasoori — and how the most hummed song of 2022 became a cultural flashpoint
💬 The symbolism of the color red in his new album
💬 How a Harvard class on Sufi poetry and a collaboration with Mira Nair transformed his creative path
💬 What it means to be a queer South Asian artist making art in a climate of fear

Tune in for a rare and resonant conversation with one of the most compelling artists of our time.