Arooj Aftab’s 9PM rendezvous with ‘You’ star Penn Badgley is an ode to nights

Singer invited actor to a chess forum to talk upcoming album ‘Night Reign’

Singer Arooj Aftab and You star Penn Badgley embarked on an evening filled with candid conversations, deep reflections and musical musings. A teaser of this 12-minute-long video of the duo’s rendezvous was released earlier to much anticipation. The eagerly anticipated collaboration between the Grammy-winning artist and the acclaimed actor left fans intrigued and their night out did not disappoint.

Titled A Night with Arooj Aftab and Penn Badgley, a video shared on YouTube offered viewers an intimate glimpse into their encounter. Aftab led Badgley into a chess forum where the game served as a mere backdrop to their heartfelt dialogue. As they feigned attempts at chess, the two artists talked music, Aftab’s upcoming album Night Reign and deep longing for Lahore’s floral-infused nights.

Reflecting on the timing of their meeting, Badgley initially hesitated, citing parental duties. “When you first asked me to do this, I was naturally inclined to do it. But when you told me the time, I was like, ‘Wow, starting at 9? I have kids…,’” shared the Gossip Girl actor, to which Aftab playfully responded, “I’m sorry…About the time, not the kids.” Their banter set the tone for an evening of genuine connection and mutual appreciation.

Aftab said, “I finally honed in on the fact that I like the night a lot. And that I am thinking a lot at night about what all the things are.” Delving into the essence of nighttime, she likened herself to Batman, preferring the cloak of darkness for creative exploration. Badgley, intrigued by her nocturnal inclinations, shared his perspective on the vast spectrum of nighttime activities, finding resonance with the Mohabbat crooner’s music amidst the shadows.

When Penn met Arooj

As the conversation meandered through Aftab's creative process and thematic explorations, Badgley reminisced about their serendipitous friendship born from witnessing her perform live. “So my wife, Domino, who's responsible for all of my friendships at this point. I mean, I don't know how that happens. Including this one,” he confessed with a laugh while Aftab nodded in agreement. 

The event, which included Laurie Anderson, Boy Genius, Philip Glass and “some monks without any disrespect” as performers, turned Badgley into her fan. “That night for me, you blew... It wasn't a competition and I'm sure you weren't thinking of it this way, but you blew the rest of the roster.”

Singing the Grammy winner’s praises, the actor recalled, “From the moment of sound came out, it was like, who brought the singer? Where's this voice coming from?... It felt as though you were being mastered on a different desk or something.”

Badgley furthered on, “It happens every time I put on any one of your tracks. Like the moment your voice comes in, I'm just like, oh, that's a, it's a deeply organic human.” With April marking the release of her lead track, Raat Ki Rani, from Night Reign and its music video, a first for Aftab, the singer is all ready to own the year.

“It's the shortest amount of time that I've spent making a record,” Aftab revealed. Probably just a little over a year, or like a little less.” When asked whether the emotional journey that began with the record met an end with its conclusion, the 39-year-old contemplated.

“I was in a time of healing and grief and loss, which also is associated with dark time,” Aftab talked the making of Vulture Prince. “You know, it's like you lost somebody, it's dark, you are sad, you know. And after doing that record and having some space from it and spending this time like crazily on the road touring and like not actually being so active in the daytime, so like just really kind of spending time and realising that the night is evolving for me and what it means and what darkness means.” 

On nights and ‘Night Reign’

According to the Love in Exile artist, Night Reign “is a contemplative kind of presentation and a culmination of all those realisations.” She added, “I think that's really nice because it's not giving such a big platform to meditate. I want it to be a little more inclusive of me, that like I like being out at night.” 

Aftab elaborated, “I like falling in love, I like meeting people and being inspired by conversation and busy streets and you know, like do you sit on your porch and listen to music? Just listen to the bugs, man.”

A pivotal moment arose when Aftab shared the inspiration behind Raat Ki Rani, evoking memories of Lahore's verdant beauty and the intoxicating fragrance of the Queen of the Night flower. This nostalgic ode to the night encapsulated the essence of her forthcoming album, poised to entrance audiences with its emotive resonance.

She explained, “There is a flower in the Jasmine family that only blooms at night, smells amazing, it is called Queen of the Night. I remember 90s Pakistan visiting with my parents and it was so garden-y, so green. And people would plant this incredible flower in their garden and that is like the most stunning kind of subtle, beautiful scent that you would associate with driving around in Lahore in the 90s.” 

Delving into the inspiration she gained from her last visit to Pakistan, Aftab offered, “You know, I don't go to Pakistan. Like I go after nine years, after four years, you know, I stay here. And so the last time I was there, I was hanging out at a party and I was meeting people and it was really inspiring.” 

“I thought of raat ki rani aka Queen of the night as a party, as a person, as those interactions. I was gonna name the album Queen of the Night. That was the first working title,” the singer disclosed.

Talking about the song Raat Ki Rani, she said, “The song has to do with the intoxication, like the nostalgia of night. Like being a kid, being like an 11-year-old in the 90s, you know? In these gardens of your parents' friends.” Night Reign is slated to hit all streaming platforms on May 31.

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