The best music of 2024
A year soundtracked by long-lost qawwali gems, innovative reinterpretations of traditional South Asian instrumentation and a thrilling journey through 1980s Uzbekistan
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From posthumous discoveries to genre-busting debuts, unearthed historical wonders and reimagined folk traditions, 2024 has been a bumper year for inventive music. Stepping away from online algorithms to explore lesser-known global releases, the past 12 months have provided remarkable new work from the Pakistani fusion quartet Jaubi, singers Sheherazaad and Rosie Lowe, and many more. Here is a selection of our favourite albums produced from the Muslim world and beyond in 2024.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan & Party — Chain Of Light
Much more than another posthumous release, pasted together from offcuts of long-forgotten studio sessions by the late Pakistani qawwali master, Chain of Light by is a genuine discovery. Recorded in 1990, when Khan was on the cusp of crossover success with his fusion album Mustt Mustt, it showcases an artist in complete command of the soaringly expressive vocal tradition he helped bring to the world. The album’s four tracks include standards from Khan’s family repertoire, such as the keening vocalisations of Ya Allah Ya Rehman, but it’s Ya Gaus Ya Meeran — a song that, until the tape reels of these 1990 sessions were rediscovered in the Real World vaults in 2023, was believed to have never been recorded — that truly surprises, shifting rhythms and melodic counterpoints over its nine-minute length. Transcendent, beautiful and a release that cements Khan’s status as one of the greatest voices in a generation.
Qais Essar – Echoes of the Unseen/Mehfil Baby
Rabab maestro Qais Essar’s two 2024 albums present wildly divergent sides to his artistry. Released within a month of each other, Echoes of the Unseen explores the ancient Afghan instrument in a traditional context, combining field recordings of nature with classical raga compositions, while Mehfil Baby blends it with western pop. Across 11 tracks, Essar draws on the cinematic compositions of Ennio Morricone, contemporary R&B and tender balladry, all anchored in the rabab’s unique melodic twang.
Pakistani quartet Jaubi have spent the eight years since the release of their 2016 debut The Deconstructed Ego honing a distinct blend of jazz and Indian classical music. Combining the traditional bowed sarangi with flute, drums, synth and guitar, their fourth and most recent album A Sound Heart is the fullest expression of their vision yet. Blasting into life with the big band swing of Lahori Blues (Blues for Shorter), the album journeys through fast-paced funk, wonky hip-hop and introspective lyricism, all brought together in the group’s tight improvisations.
Sahrawi singer Aziza Brahim’s latest album Mawja is a testament to the emotive power of the human voice. Mourning the ongoing conflict in her homeland of the Western Sahara and the death of her grandmother, its 10 tracks blend cascading vocal melodies with clattering percussion on the opening Bein Trab U Lihjar, then take a tender turn on the plaintive Bubisher and journey into bluesy longing on Metal, Madera. An impressive and multi-layered work.
Dua Saleh – I Should Call Them
Sudanese-American singer Dua Saleh’s long-awaited debut album, coming after three striking EPs over five years, is a freeform journey through classic R&B vocals, trap, choral harmony and dancefloor-focused rhythms. Loosely telling the story of lovers who break up and then reunite against the backdrop of an apocalypse, it’s Saleh’s shapeshifting, processed vocals that captivate, effortlessly traversing from the sultry romance of Chi Girl to the moody chopped beats of Playing Games. A debut sure to keep listeners on their toes.
Following in the footsteps of South Asian diaspora artists as Arooj Aftab, Ganavya and Ami Dang, singer Sheherazaad’s debut release Qasr is a beguiling exploration of Indian classical vocal technique accompanied by western instrumentation. Produced by Aftab, the EP’s five tracks combine the luscious warmth of Sheherazaad’s voice with lyrical Hindi and Urdu storytelling, flamenco guitars, plucked strings and reverb-laden percussion to produce a suite of dark mood music. Subtle and atmospheric, Qasr provides a tantalising introduction into this artist’s soundworld.
Various Artists – Synthesising the Silk Roads
Investigating the cultural crossroads of Uzbekistan in the 1980s, this fascinating compilation from Ostinato Records charts a history of migration from the Soviet Union into Central Asia through sound. Among the tracks included on the album are a thunderous Uyghur rock band, a hard-swinging Crimean jazz group, an Afghan soul singer and an Uzbek disco outfit. Each provides a lively glimpse into the largely forgotten range of cultures that came together in Uzbekistan at that time.
Rosie Lowe – Lover, Other
London-based soul singer Rosie Lowe’s third album is a remarkable testament to creative freedom. Largely written and recorded while she waited to become a mother for the first time, Lowe set up a portable studio to lay down ideas whenever and wherever she could. The resulting 15 tracks cover a spectrum of moods with detail and sensitivity, from the languorous melodies of Mood to Make Love to the club-ready beats of Something. Lowe’s voice is powerfully clear throughout, taking the listener on an inspiring journey.
Bill Laurance and Michael League – Keeping Company
Co-founders of jazz fusion juggernaut Snarky Puppy, pianist Bill Laurance and bassist Michael League swap the maximalism of their band for something altogether more quiet and intimate on their recordings as a duo. Where You Wish You Were, their 2023 debut, was a gentle exploration of piano and oud, while this 2024 follow-up is a lesson in dynamic restraint, drawing the listener into whispered moments of piano melody and soulful bass rhythm.
Nicole Mitchell and Ballaké Sissoko – Bamako*Chicago Sound System
Kora player Ballaké Sissoko’s debut collaboration with Chicago flautist Nicole Mitchell is a joyous journey into the rhythms of the Afro diaspora. West African polyrhythms punctuate the lilting feel of the title track, while a driving funk groove anchors Mitchell’s ascendant lines in Spicy Jambalaya and solo improvisation blends with a syncopated shuffle on the deep swing of Se Wa Kole. A record that invites listeners to dance to its infectious beat.
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