NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani names Pakistan's Shamoon Ismail among favourites

Pakistani singer and rapper Shamoon Ismail has been named among the artists on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's current music playlist, with the mayor saying he has been listening to the musician for several years.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Mamdani said he had recently been listening to Ugandan duo Radio & Weasel as well as Shamoon Ismail.

"Right now, I've been listening to a lot of Radio & Weasel, who are a duo from Uganda who were running the charts for a long, long time," Mamdani said.

"I've also been listening to a Pakistani rapper named Shamoon Ismail, who I've listened to for a few years. If I'm feeling reflective, throw on some Kacey Musgraves."

The mention has drawn attention to Ismail, whose music blends Punjabi, Urdu and English. His songs, including Tuntuna, Rung and Confetti, have attracted millions of streams across digital platforms.

Mamdani, who previously pursued music before entering politics, represented Queens in the New York State Assembly after winning election in 2020.

According to the report, he previously performed under the names Young Cardamom and Mr Cardamom, and continues to receive small royalty payments from his music. He also contributed to the soundtrack of the 2016 film Queen of Katwe, directed by his mother, Indian filmmaker Mira Nair.