Ali Sethi

Ali Sethi, hailed by BBC as “the king of the modern ghazal,” returns to the Chan Centre for its season finale. The Pakistani-American blew up the charts with his record-breaking hit “Pasoori,” which has now surpassed 1 billion streams and earned him a spot in Time Magazine’s “100 Next” list.

A master of microtonal singing, Sethi’s music is a rich fusion of traditional qawwali, ghazals, and modern innovation. Following “Pasoori,” he collaborated with electronic producer Nicolás Jaar on Intiha, a “moving tribute to the multiplicity of identity” (Pitchfork), which premiered to a sold-out crowd at the Chan Centre in November 2024. Anticipation is high for his new album, set to release later this year.

Ali Sethi is a trailblazing artist who “uses an ancient form of music… to challenge and expand notions of gender, sexuality, and belonging.” (Time) With every new song, Sethi not only links past and present, but creates a new future for what the queer, South Asian diaspora can be.

You may also like the following events from Chan Centre for the Performing Arts:

• This September, 17th September, 07:30 pm, Tim Hecker and Fennesz in Vancouver
• This September, 20th September, 12:00 pm, ʔəm̓i ce:p xʷiwəl Come Toward the Fire in Vancouver
• This September, 21st September, 07:00 pm, Northern Cree and Tia Wood in Vancouver

Also check out other Contests in Vancouver, Arts events in Vancouver.