Song Of The Summer?: Khruangbin Just Reinterpreted Arooj Aftab's 'Raat Ki Rani '

Did we just get the song of the summer? Not the poolside party banger, but something more somber, like what you play while sitting on your balcony on a late, windy summer night. The track we are talking about is the Khruangbin remix of Raat ki Rani by Arooj Aftab.

Arooj and Khruangbin hit the road together for their 2024 tour, and after months of sharing stages, a collab was bound to happen. The Pakistani-American singer, known for her hauntingly ethereal voice and genre-blurring compositions, found a kindred spirit in the Texan trio famous for their alternative psychedelic soundscapes. From that emerged Khruangbin’s hypnotic reworking of Aftab’s track.

Originally featured on Aftab’s 2024 album Night Reign, Raat Ki Rani which translates to 'Queen of the Night', named after the intoxicatingly fragrant flower, was already a rich, atmospheric track influenced by Brazilian maracatu rhythms and classic house beats. But in the hands of Khruangbin, it transforms into something even more expansive. Their signature dub-funk sensibilities infuse the track with deep, heady grooves, while Aftab’s re-recorded vocals float over the new arrangement.

Its beat feels a lot like the iconic Sadeness by Enigma, but instead of Gregorian chants, Aftab’s voice takes center stage in a drunken and minimalist ballad. The track blends new-age, worldbeat, and electronic music, with subtle elements of pop and rock woven in.

Night Reign marked an evolution in Arooj Aftab's sound. Known for pairing Sufi poetry with jazz, ambient, and folk influences, she took a bold step into electronic textures, even experimenting with autotune on Raat Ki Rani. The song’s debut was met with critical acclaim, with fans comparing her voice to Sade's. Meanwhile, her headline tour took her through iconic venues, from London’s Roundhouse to Glastonbury Festival, cementing her status as a global force in contemporary music.

Khruangbin, on the other hand, have built a cult following with their signature sound made up of global influences like 70s Thai funk, surf rock, dub, and soul . Their latest album, A La Sala continues their tradition of groove-heavy, instrumental-driven music. Teaming up with Aftab for this remix was a natural extension of their genre-defying ethos and their sonic explorations within psychedelia.

If you’re familiar with Arooj Aftab and Khruangbin as artists, this track will feel like a no-brainer to you. These are two voices in music that share an inexplicable kinship and this track makes the impression that they were always meant to cross paths like two forces quietly drawn together over time. The remix is the perfect cross-pollination of Arooj's evocative storytelling and Khruangbin's bewitching atmospheres.

Follow Arooj here, Khruangbin here and listen to the remix below:

If you enjoyed reading this here's more from Homegrown:

Fugazi x South Asian Feminity: Listen To Ecca Vandal’s Pulsating New Pop-Hardcore Single

The Magnitude Of Peter Cat Recording Co.'s Recent KEXP Performance Cannot Be Overstated

Listen To Steel Banglez, NAS, & Sid Sriram's Genre-Bending Anthem Of Resilience