The Grammys 2025 might turn out to be a remarkable milestone for Pakistani music as several submissions featuring Pakistani artists have been made for consideration.
From the globally renowned Coke Studio to Grammy winner Arooj Aftab and Ali Sethi, here are the submissions that have so far been announced.
Zulfiqar Jabbar Khan, popularly known as Xulfi, the mastermind behind Coke Studio Season 15, has proudly submitted two songs from the season for consideration in the Best Global Music Performance category.
Xulfi shared the news on Instagram, urging Grammy voters to consider the track, ‘Aayi Aayi’, featuring Noaman Ali Rajper, Babar Mangi, and Marvi Sahiban. The song captivated listeners with its rich, cultural resonance and powerful performances.
He also announced that ‘Piya Piya Calling’, featuring Kaifi Khalil, Norwegian hip-hop group Karpe, viral dance sensation Quick Style, and Amanda Delara, has been submitted for Grammy voters’ consideration. The fusion track embodies an eclectic mix of cultures and rhythms. It is also vying for the Best Global Music Performance category.
Grammy-winning artist Arooj Aftab, who made history in 2022 as the first female Pakistani to win a Grammy, is back on the ballot with her album Raat Ki Rani (Night Reign).
Aftab has submitted this critically acclaimed album for several categories, including Album of the Year, and Best Alternative Jazz Album. Additionally, the title track ‘Raat Ki Rani’ has been put forward for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Music Video.
The album features a stellar cast of musicians, including Kaki King, Cautious Clay, and Vijay Iyer, among others. In her Instagram post announcing the submissions, Aftab expressed her gratitude for being able to collaborate with such celebrated artists, calling it a “humbling” experience.
Ali Sethi, already a household name thanks to ‘Pasoori’, is part of another impressive submission. He is featured on Chinese-American composer Du Yun’s album Where We Lost Our Shadows, which explores themes of displacement and migration.
The album, conceived with Khaled Jarrar, includes performances by Sofia Jernberg, Shayna Dunkelman, and the Peabody Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Joseph Young.
This powerful collaboration is in the running for several Grammy categories, including Best Global Music Performance, Best Contemporary Classical Composition, and Best Immersive Audio Album.
Sethi’s unique vocal style has earned him international recognition, and his inclusion in this project adds another feather to his cap.
With these submissions, 2025 could be a historic year for Pakistani artists at the Grammys. Xulfi’s dynamic production, Arooj Aftab’s genre-defying album, and Ali Sethi’s cross-continental collaborations are a testament to the country’s growing presence on the world stage.
We have our fingers crossed for all the artists hoping to be considered, especially since the categories they are vying for have the most entries from around the world — according to Billboard, there are 20 times as many entries in this year’s most populated category.
The Best Global Music Performance category is among the top five with 456 entries, Album of the Year has 707, Record of the Year 780 and Song of the Year has the most entries for any category, with 978.
The 2025 Grammys, officially called the 67th Grammy Awards, will be held on February 2, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Nominations will be announced on November 8.
