Rewriting the Soundscape

music

For as long as Pakistan has had a musical heartbeat, women have played a defining role in shaping its rhythm. From the powerful resonance of Madam Noor Jehan to the genre-shifting pop of Nazia Hassan, women artists have always enriched the country’s soil with depth, colour and emotion. Each era brought with it a few remarkable women who left a lasting imprint. Today, something extraordinary is happening: it’s no longer just a few. A new wave of women artists - diverse, dynamic and creatively fearless - have stepped into the spotlight and Pakistan is embracing them with enthusiasm. The proof is in the numbers. As per Spotify’s 2025 Wrapped data, local women-artist streams in Pakistan surged by an incredible 223 per cent this year. This uplift is not merely a statistic; it is a reflection of a nation eager to explore new voices, new stories and a new musical era. At the heart of this rise are the artists celebrated through Spotify EQUAL Pakistan, a program that showcases how women are not only finding their voice but redefining the country’s musical landscape in ways richer and more diverse than ever before. Read on…

Annural Khalid and

Nehaal Naseem

- The Digital-Native Generation

Young, confident and unmistakably modern, these emerging artists represent a new chapter shaped by self-expression and digital discovery. With Annural topping the EQUAL Pakistan list at number one and Nehaal at number six, the data shows how quickly fresh voices are rising, as well as how openly listeners are embracing them.

Hadiqa Kiani and

Sanam Marvi - The Soul Divas

Hadiqa Kiani, the second most-streamed EQUAL Pakistan ambassador, pushed boundaries further, moving effortlessly between pop, folk fusion and multilingual expression. With every album, she has expanded what women’s voices could represent, showcasing versatility, innovation and deeply rooted cultural pride.

Similarly, Sanam Marvi, another EQUAL Pakistan ambassador in the Top 10, carried Pakistan’s rich Sufi and folk traditions into the modern era. Her powerful command of Sindhi, Punjabi and Saraiki poetry bridges generations, connecting young listeners to centuries-old spiritual narratives through a voice that feels timeless.

Momina Mustehsan

and Aima Baig

- The Contemporary Pop Powerhouses

From chart-topping OSTs to viral pop hits, these two musicians have become defining voices of mainstream Pakistani music. Be it Momina’s ‘Tera Woh Pyar’ or the effervescent ‘Afreen Afreen’ that still plays in our heads, or Aima’s ‘Aey Zindagi’, these artists show command over their melodies, making them inspirations for the generation. Their accessible melodies and modern pop sensibilities resonate with a nationwide audience that spans every age group.

Yashal Shahid - The OST Queen

With her soaring vocals and emotional resonance, Yashal has fast become the go-to voice for television soundtracks. From her first OST ‘Bharas’ to ‘Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay’ or ‘Aye Musht-E-Khaak’, her standing as the artist of choice for tracks that resonate with drama themes speaks volumes. Her ascent reflects how women continue to shape the sound of Pakistan’s most-watched dramas.

Shae Gill - The Modern Folk-Pop Glow

Since her breakout moment with the ever-green track ‘Pasoori’, Shae Gill has brought a fresh softness to Pakistan’s musical palette. Her tone, with its warm, earthy and conversational style, has become synonymous with the rising modern-folk pop aesthetic. She represents a sound that feels intimate yet contemporary, rooted yet global. Tracks like ‘Bulleya’ and ‘Left Right’ are perfect showcases of her versatility.

Arooj Aftab

- Pakistan on the World Stage

Arooj Aftab’s Grammy-winning global presence introduced ambient, neo-Sufi, and experimental sounds to millions around the world. ‘Muhabbat’ with its neo-Sufi reinterpretation, ‘Suroor’, a fusion of Sufi-jazz and ‘Baghon Mein’, which combines classical ghazal sensibility with modern sonic vibes, are all masterpieces that reflect her talent as well as her command of the genre. At number eight on the list, she symbolises how Pakistani women are not only shaping the local soundscape, they are expanding it globally.

Natasha Noorani

– The Indie Visionary

Few artists reflect Pakistan’s creative evolution as clearly as Natasha Noorani. With her mix of genre-blending sounds, alternative pop and experimental production she represents the innovative spirit that today’s audiences deeply relate to.

Each of these women brings something distinct, and together, they form a mosaic of genres: pop, folk, Sufi, indie, fusion, global experimental, OST-pop and digital-native music. This isn’t just an evolution, it’s something much bigger.

Pakistan’s listeners

are ready for more

One of the most uplifting aspects of this transformation is that the audience is leading it. The 223 per cent growth in women-artist streaming proves that Pakistani listeners actively seek out diverse voices and are excited to discover something new. This shift isn’t driven by hype; it’s driven by genuine curiosity and appreciation. There is no doubt about that Spotify’s in-roads in Pakistan have made it easier for listeners across cities, towns and regions to explore genres that once felt “niche.” Today, someone in Hyderabad can discover indie pop from Lahore, someone in Peshawar can connect with Sindhi folk from Jamshoro, and someone in Gilgit can fall in love with Urdu ballads instantly. And the same cycle flows across borders too.

This ease of discovery has allowed women’s voices to travel further and faster than ever before. The country’s growing digital audience is not only embracing women artists, they’re amplifying them. And with listeners embracing this change so enthusiastically, the path ahead looks brighter than ever. And with every artist who rises, Pakistan’s music grows more colorful, more diverse and more beautifully in tune with the future.

- You! desk