Grammy-winning Pakistani singer, composer, and producer Arooj Aftab joined In The Groove ahead of her first-ever Detroit performance to talk about the city’s rich musical legacy, her genre-defying approach to songwriting and the meaning listeners bring to her music.

Blending jazz, folk and South Asian influences, Aftab has earned international acclaim for creating atmospheric songs that invite listeners to slow down and immerse themselves in the experience.

Although it’s her first time playing Detroit, Aftab says the city has long been on her list. “It’s basically where almost every favorite musician of mine is from,” she says. Calling Detroit “one of the most important cities” for anyone who loves music, she pointed to jazz icons Ron Carter, Yusef Lateef and Regina Carter as artists who shaped her own musical journey. “I’m personally very excited,” she says. “I can’t believe I’ve never played in Detroit.” 

Aftab walked through her songwriting process and said that she thinks music shouldn’t always come with a clear explanation. She prefers to let people to discover their own meaning in her work and “leave a lot of magic on the table.”

Catch Arooj Aftab at the Detroit Opera House on July 24, where she’ll open for St. Vincent’s orchestral performance with the Detroit Opera Orchestra. 

Today’s playlist moves from soul and funk to indie, electronic, and jazz with music from Roy Ayers, ESG, Childish Gambino, Massive Attack, The Cure, and more. We wrap up the show with a conversation featuring Pakistani Grammy-winning artist Arooj Aftab ahead of her first-ever Detroit performance, along with several songs from her catalog. 

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above. 

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for July 23, 2026 

• “Everybody Loves the Sunshine” – Roy Ayers Ubiquity 

• “Sun for Someone” – Oscar Jerome 

• “Summer Haze” – Yazmin Lacey 

• “Fluye” – Helado Negro, Helado Tropical & Reyna Tropical 

• “Be A Witness” – Lady Wray 

• “Cos-Ber-Zam Ne Noya (Daphni Mix)” – Daphni 

• “Aye Aye Mi Mi (12″ Mix)” – Mano Le Tough 

• “Nobody Can Live Forever” – Tim Maia 

• “Time (You and I)” – Khruangbin 

• “Love Is a Hurtin’ Thing (12″ Version)” – Gloria Ann Taylor 

• “If You Don’t Want My Love” – Jalen Ngonda 

• “Home” – Caribou 

• “U.F.O” – ESG 

• “Alone (Four Tet Remix)” – The Cure 

• “Boys Don’t Cry (New Voice Club Mix 1986) [Remastered]” – The Cure 

• “Out In the Woods” – Leon Russell 

• “I Dig Love (2014 Remaster)” – George Harrison 

• “Our House (Demo)” – Graham Nash & Joni Mitchell 

• “I’m Confessin’ (That I Love You)” – Joe Webb 

• “Make Something Up” – James Blake 

• “PRIDE.” – Kendrick Lamar 

• “Whiskey” – Arooj Aftab 

• “Last Night” – Arooj Aftab 

• “Mohabbat” – Arooj Aftab 

• “Aey Nehin” – Arooj Aftab 

• “Fire on the Water” – Bonobo & Arooj Aftab 

• “One Love (feat. Horace Andy) [2012 Mix/Master]” – Massive Attack 

• “Feels Like Summer” – Childish Gambino 

• “Uptown Funk (feat. Bruno Mars)” – Mark Ronson 

Listen to In The Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.