Ali Sethi - Topic

Ali Sethi is a celebrated vocalist, songwriter, composer, and published author known for blending classical South Asian forms with contemporary global genres. Born in Lahore, educated at Harvard University and currently based in New York, he studied under Ustad Naseeruddin Saami and Farida Khanum before rising to international acclaim with his viral hit “Pasoori,” which has surpassed a billion streams across DSPs. He is the author of the critically acclaimed novel The Wish Maker, and his work has been featured in publications such as The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Pitchfork. In 2023, he released Intiha, a critically acclaimed collaborative album with electronic visionary Nicolás Jaar—an experimental meditation on longing, censorship, and sonic transcendence. A TIME 100 NEXT honoree, he has performed at Carnegie Hall, Coachella, and across the world, reshaping the boundaries of tradition with every note he sings.