Urvah khan biography of mahatma

Zee Ahmed interviews Canadian-Pakistani musician and festival organiser Urvah Khan about being a Pakistani kid growing up with the music scene in Toronto, reconciling Muslim tradition with Western culture, and what inspired her to start ScrapFest.

This interview is part of WEIRDO’s ‘We Are The Weirdos, Aunty-ji’ series.

I had the pleasure of speaking with “scrappy” brown girl Urvah Khan, who is helping push punk culture from Toronto to Pakistan.

In a candid conversation we had in November 2023, I was in awe of Urvah – an absolute trailblazing force. Urvah’s story transcends borders, defies conventions and amplifies the voices of those often unheard. We talked about her identity, the evolution of her distinctive musical genre, the challenges she faces as an advocate and the resilience that propels her forward.

Born in Karachi, Pakistan and immigrating to Canada at the age of 12, Urvah's musical journey