Irfan Ali Taj is a singer, songwriter, and a multi-instrumentalist from Chitral, a culturally rich and diverse district of KPK in the north of Pakistan. He plays rubab, an instrument that spread via Islamic trading routes over much of North Africa, the Middle East and Europe. Irfan’s music derives from the rich cultural sounds of Chitral, fused with modern sounds of the city. The core of his artistic experimentation lies in the fusion of these two styles of music, bringing the peaceful music of the north to the world.

Irfan’s work is mostly written in Khowar (کهووار), also known as Chitrali, an Indo-Aryan language of the Dardic group, spoken in northern Pakistan. His songs, such as “Ashiqi Angar” that features Zoe Viccaji, also include Urdu lyrics. Irfan’s work has been featured on TV channels such as BBC, Dawn, and The News.

Taj’s new album Mahal is due to be released this year along with his experimental singles — Ibn-e-Adam, Talib-e-Wahdat, and Ta Khayala — featuring seasoned session musicians. He has also been actively involved as a producer, musician, composer and lyricist for other bands and artists.

With his music Irfan hopes to bring the message of love, peace, and harmony to the listeners and, in doing so, capture the purity and warmth that defines the spirit of the Chitrali people.