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Eman Pirzada is a Toronto-based Pakistani-Canadian R&B artist crafting vocally driven, soulful music that blends modern groove with a nostalgic emotional pull. Rooted in Indian classical vocal training, her sound is intimate, expressive, and centered on love and heartbreak from a distinctly female perspective. She first gained international attention with Irteassh on Coke Studio Pakistan (2017) and has since performed on major stages including Wembley Arena, Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena, The Rivoli, and Toronto’s iconic South Asian music festival, DesiFest. Her self-produced debut EP, To Love and Unlove, is set for release in 2026. |
Photographer: -
multifaceted, spontaneous, curious
Describe your sound:
Intimate, vocally driven music that fuses R&B with South Asian influences and a multi-genre sensibility.
Describe the moment you knew that you wanted to pursue music:
Honestly, it feels like it was always there. I grew up in a really musical household, and my mom used to host these music nights where she’d perform ghazals and semi-classical songs for hours with friends and family gathered around. Then when I was about six, I won my first singing competition. I was a pretty shy kid, but being on stage and singing my heart out felt so natural - I think that’s when I realized music was something I’d always want to pursue. It’s kind of always felt inevitable.
How does your heritage impact your art?
My heritage plays a huge role in how I approach music. I’m Pakistani and trained in more classical vocal techniques, and my career actually started in Pakistan, so that foundation is something I carry with me into everything I make. Even though my sound now leans more toward R&B and neo-soul, the way I use my voice, the emotion in the melodies, and the storytelling are all influenced by that background. My songwriting really sits between both worlds - the South Asian musical traditions I grew up with and the contemporary sounds I’m drawn to today. It’s a blend that feels very natural to me.
What moment are you most proud of in your music journey so far?
Graduating from my Music Production program! It was a dream to formally study music and even more so in a way that made me completely self-sufficient. Now I can take a simple melody to a fully finished product which feels so special- especially having come from a very male-dominated industry back home.
Your next music goal:
Playing a major music festival in North America!
If you could collaborate with anyone, who and why?
Abdullah Siddiqui and Avara! Both are such incredible producers and really embody creativity in a way I admire. I think we could make some really cool music together!
Your favourite song/lyrics:
"But she cries to the clicking of time, oh time" - Grace by Jeff Buckley
I was an angsty teenager and I guess that's partly why Jeff Buckley's music really resonated with me and made me want to write my own songs. This one just always stuck.
3 songs you're listening to right now:
Golden - Jill Scott
Wishes - Hasan Raheem
TEMPTED - Avara, Ayush
Your community shout out:
Salman Ahmad (@sufisal) played a huge role in mentoring me early into my career! Forever grateful to all the opportunities and support he provided me along the way!
Anything else you'd like to share:
My latest song 'Hazy' was released March 31st! Written and produced by me, this is the first track on my upcoming EP "To Love and Unlove".
