outh Asian identity is in constant flux, continually rewriting itself and evolving with bold and beautiful ideas. A prime example is Sheherazaad, an Asian-American artist who has unveiled her new LP titled Qasr. Featuring five songs, it is produced by Grammy-winner, American-Pakistani artist Arooj Aftab.

This five-track collection, released worldwide on March 1 on Erased Tapes, marks a significant milestone in Sheherazaad’s musical journey.

Qasr (which translates to castle) delves into various themes such as displacement, the complexities of diaspora, and the struggle to reclaim lost cultural roots.

Sheherezaad’s 2020 self-released project, Khwaabistan, caught the attention of producer Arooj Aftab. Their long-distance collaboration during the pandemic resulted in Qasr, which features international musicians like Basma Edrees (Egypt), Gilbert Mansour (Lebanon), and Firas Zreik (Palestine).

The record explores the challenges and complexities faced by immigrants, particularly the pressure to conform to societal expectations.

The lead single, ‘Dhund Lo Mujhe (Search For Me)’, features pizzicato fiddles and Sheherazaad’s powerful vocals, creating a sense of urgency and unease.

“With Qasr, I aim to dismantle the idea of a single, monolithic Asian identity,” explains Sheherazaad. “I want to celebrate the multifaceted nature of our experiences and empower others to embrace their own unique narratives.”

“Sheherazaad’s musical path has been a rich tapestry of diverse influences,” notes a press statement. “Born into an art-centered, Asian-American household, she began her musical journey at a young age, absorbing the music of Lata Mangeshkar and RD Burman while also receiving formal training in jazz and American Songbook.

“However, a growing sense of disconnect from her cultural heritage led her to explore experimental theatre, Bollywood dance, and the emerging South Asian electronic music scene.”

Featuring songs such as ‘Mashoor’, ‘Dhund Lo Mujhe’, ‘Koshish’, ‘Khatam’, and ‘Lehja’, collaboration plays a key role in Qasr with Arooj Aftab as the producer as well as international musicians.

Aftab, who has won a Grammy award (in addition to being nominated on multiple occasions), is no stranger to music production. She is also the producer of a mini-album by iconic sitar player Anoushka Shankar. They first collaborated on the single ‘Udhero Naa’, which landed them a Grammy nomination, and though they didn’t win, Arooj Aftab and Anoushka Shankar delivered a powerful live performance at the Grammy stage.

Post-haste, we learned that Aftab would be producing Anoushka Shankar’s mini-album, Chapter I: Forever, For Now which would include four songs. Between the announcement and now, the mini-album that was recorded in Berlin has been released and shows just how skilled Arooj Aftab is when playing the role of a producer.

That skillset has also been applied to Sheherezaad’s Qasr, and the result is a rich record that cannot be put in a box.

A meeting of the minds, Qasr has raised the bar of what we expect from Asian-American artists and/or South Asian artists.