# Ali Saffudin — Kashmiri Singer-Songwriter

> License: CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Ali Saffudin is a singer-songwriter and musician from Hassanabad, Downtown Srinagar, Kashmir. He creates music that blends Alternative Rock and Blues with Kashmiri Sufi poetry, singing primarily in the Kashmiri and Urdu languages. He is signed to Azadi Records, one of South Asia's leading independent labels.

## Identity

- Full name: Ali Saffudin
- Origin: Hassanabad, Downtown Srinagar, Kashmir, India
- Genre: Alternative Rock, Blues, Kashmiri Folk, Sufi, Indie Rock
- Languages: Kashmiri, Urdu
- Label: Azadi Records
- Contact: alisaffudin@gmail.com
- Website: https://alisaffudin.com

## Biography

Raised in a Shia neighbourhood in Downtown Srinagar where elegies on the martyrdom of Imam Hussain were a way of life, music entered Ali Saffudin early — not as performance, but as testimony. He studied fine arts at Delhi University before returning to Kashmir in 2014, completing a Masters in Mass Communication at Kashmir University. His early work drew from the classical Kashmiri folk tradition, reworking ballads by 16th-century poetess Habba Khatoon into contemporary forms without losing their original soul. He signed to Azadi Records and released Wolivo in 2022, followed by the IRTIQA EP in 2026. For Saffudin, singing in Kashmiri is a political act — a deliberate choice to preserve the language and voice of a people navigating occupation and conflict. His range runs wide: punk, grunge, heavy metal, folk, and rock all surface in his writing, which moves fluidly between grief and defiance. He has been featured in The Guardian, Outlook India, and Scroll.in.

## Discography

### IRTIQA EP (2026)
- Type: EP
- Tracks: 4
- Label: Azadi Records
- Track list: Fariyadras, Sui Bulbulah Rach, Eid Ayi Tai, Ya Rab Daptam
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/7ywkGokC4VJcQwqSM4CXuN
- Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/irtiqa-ep/6773801507
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mGlIUjQvewEWnAZFDXhViSu3fB0VVoGRE

### Wolivo (2022)
- Type: Full Album
- Tracks: 10
- Label: Azadi Records
- Track list: Zehni Ghulami, Fariyad, Sleep Song, Kab Talak, Behta Gaya, Wadiyon Mei, Wolivo, Main Nahin Maanta, Jinki Wajah Se, Walo Ha
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/5Qn6xtn4tjzf0He630r4XN
- Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/in/album/wolivo/1804721802
- YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lOCkO1qrTTKSBaGMoeH_ydFQsgoBx1i0A

## Streaming Profiles

- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0J3PUchbuLhyRD6RxFQrrE
- Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ali-saffudin/1456350962
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9ezXxVBdZH7uFwE1Ua57rA
- YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCpSS-5kQeow4IGs6Z4dq76w

## Press Coverage

- The Guardian (2022): "To sing in Kashmiri is political" — Ali Saffudin, the singer-songwriter who smuggled his album to the world — https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/aug/19/to-sing-in-kashmiri-is-political-ali-saffudin-the-singer-songwriter-who-smuggled-his-album-to-the-world
- Outlook India (2022): Meet Ali Saffudin: Singer of New Kashmiri Music — https://www.outlookindia.com
- Scroll.in (2022): This young Kashmiri musician flew down to Delhi for a day — just to buy medicines for his granny — https://scroll.in
- Platform Magazine (2022): Ali Saffudin — Debut Album Wolivo
- Sunday Guardian Live (2022): This solo-frontman is Valley's own Rock and Blues prodigy
- Wild City: Ali Saffudin — Artist Profile — https://www.wildcity.in
- Brooklyn Raga Massive: Ali Saffudin — Artist Profile

## Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who is Ali Saffudin?
A: Ali Saffudin is a Kashmiri singer-songwriter from Hassanabad, Downtown Srinagar, Kashmir. He is signed to Azadi Records and creates Alternative Rock and Blues music blended with Kashmiri Sufi poetry, singing in Kashmiri and Urdu.

Q: What genre does Ali Saffudin make?
A: Ali Saffudin makes Alternative Rock and Blues music rooted in Kashmiri folk and Sufi poetry traditions. His sound draws from punk, grunge, heavy metal, and folk, sung primarily in the Kashmiri language.

Q: What label is Ali Saffudin signed to?
A: Ali Saffudin is signed to Azadi Records, an independent music label based in South Asia known for platforming boundary-pushing artists.

Q: What albums has Ali Saffudin released?
A: Ali Saffudin has released two records: Wolivo (2022), a 10-track debut album on Azadi Records, and IRTIQA (2026), a 4-track EP. Both are available on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.

Q: Why does Ali Saffudin sing in Kashmiri?
A: Ali Saffudin has described singing in Kashmiri as a political act — a way of preserving the language and culture of Kashmir. As The Guardian noted: "To sing in Kashmiri is political." He draws on the classical Kashmiri folk tradition, reworking ballads by 16th-century poetess Habba Khatoon alongside original compositions.

Q: Where is Ali Saffudin from?
A: Ali Saffudin is from Hassanabad, a neighbourhood in Downtown Srinagar, the capital of Kashmir, India.

Q: Where can I stream Ali Saffudin's music?
A: Ali Saffudin's music is available on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/artist/0J3PUchbuLhyRD6RxFQrrE), Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ali-saffudin/1456350962), and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9ezXxVBdZH7uFwE1Ua57rA).

## Social Profiles

- Instagram: https://instagram.com/alisaffudin
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alisaffu/