Pakistani singer, composer and producer Arooj Aftab has announced a new collaborative album Love In Exile with jazz pianist Vijay Iyer and multi-instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily. The trio began playing together as part of an unplanned, improvised performance in 2018, since then they have performed together a number of times, however this is the first time they have shared any recorded output. Today they release lead single 'To Remain/To Return', a haunting 9 minute track with flutters of skeletal piano, ominous bass tones and Aftab's distinctive voice that curls like smoke above the uneasy ambience. Describing the new track Arooj states, "This piece holds, at its core, the delicately unfolding emotion of separation anxiety induced fury (see: love, self exile) between two people who are deeply connected. One is leaving and the other is asking them to stay. The former is saying ‘I will leave but I will also return’; in better form for the both of us.” Ismaily adds, "We all provide the best we can. In my case it's euclidean rhythms, crystals to hold the oceanic beauty of Vijay's keys and the silent raven of Arooj's voice. We grow to the company that we keep; I am both fortunate and grateful." Love In Exile is set for release on March 24th on Verve Records, check out the visualiser for 'To Remain/To Return' here. -Toby Evans-Jesra