With artistic freedom under increasing scrutiny, Pakistani-American singer/songwriter Ali Sethi breaks free with his latest project, Love Language. Across 16 tracks, Sethi creates a visceral pop world that flits beautifully across Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, and English in a true celebration of cross-cultural musicality. 

Opening with the haunting notes of O Balama, with its dystopian mix of devotional Sufi chants and jarring warlike undertones, Sethi makes a strong impression to kick off his debut solo album. Offering up a dramatisation of the censorship that hangs in the background of his work, the track mourns what’s been silenced while also delivering fierce notes of rebellion. 

Weaving bossa nova sensibilities with groove tones, Hanera, is unafraid to unspool the foundation of censorship and the concept of purifying identities as it begins to redefine what our home and our people can look like. Then comes the high-impact of Rocket Launcher, with its echoing beats and sticky melodies which extend perfectly into Lovely Bukhaar, with stifled, hypnotic vocals that Sethi’s signature mix of qawwali and hyperpop. With celestial yet glitchy sonics, the cinematic track fades away into the sweet interlude of Jhatka In Jaunpuri, before the empowered chants of Hymn 4 Him usher into a prismatic world overflowing with a sense of daring. 

The vengeful burlesque tones of tracks like Villian, are perfectly put together against the softer, brighter Sufi style of Bridegroom, and Kaava, before the emotional notes of Tera Sitam, and the anthemic beats of Maya that lead the compelling project to an impactful end. 

Love Language presents itself as a flamboyant yet tender musical exploration of exile and cultural synthesis, moving quietly and steadily through mystical synths and pounding beats led by whispered voices and crisp storytelling that stand tall in an era of suppression. A startlingly inventive look at identity as an expansive land of possibilities rather than shackles that define us, the album arrives at a time when Ali’s music and digital presence are facing censorship in India – his largest market – after the recent military clash between India and Pakistan. 

For Sethi, who was previously targeted by religious conservatives in Pakistan for his queer identity, this project comes to life in the thoughtful pocket that sways between personal and political. It’s a battle cry against creative resistance and emotional refusal to have his craft and identity be erased. 

One of the most celebrated Desi artists in the world, whose hit single Pasoori took over playlists in 2022, Ali Sethi seems to flourish even under restraint – delivering an expressive soundscape that spans a global roster of talents, from producers Romil Hemnani (Brockhampton) and Abdullah Siddiqui (Coke Studio) to Colombian beatmaker Juan Ariza (Camilo) and British hitmaker ADP. This album calls on us to live, feel, and reconsider the way we see the world.

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Written by Malvika Padin

Image courtesy of Zubberdust Media LCC

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