Zayn Malik’s Upcoming Album Konnakol Includes a Song Called “Nusrat,” a Direct Tribute to the Legendary Qawwali Maestro
Zayn Malik has paid his most personal tribute yet to Pakistani musical icon Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, revealing that his upcoming album features a track named after the late qawwali legend.
During a recent appearance on the Track Star Podcast, the 33-year-old singer took part in a guessing game with host Jack Coyne where he was asked to identify songs and their artists. A classic Nusrat track was played, Zayn identified it immediately, and used the moment to open up about the late singer’s influence on his work.
“I’ve got a song on my record called Nusrat,” he said. “I named it after him.”
This is not the first time Zayn has channeled Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s legacy. His debut solo album Mind of Mine included Intermission: Flower, a song sung in Urdu directly inspired by Nusrat’s spiritual, improvisational style. The tribute in Konnakol goes a step further, with the track title serving as a direct, unambiguous homage.
Konnakol, set for release on April 17, features 15 tracks and marks a bold creative shift for Zayn. The album title references konnakol, a South Indian vocal percussion technique where the singer uses their voice to create rhythmic, beat-like sounds. Zayn reportedly used this approach across much of the album, layering vocals over voice-generated percussion. The result, by his own description, is his most South Asian album yet, drawing heavily on qawwali and Sufi influences.
The Album, the Artwork, and What Fans Can Expect
Announced in February 2026, Konnakol also reunites Zayn with producer Malay Ho for the first time in nearly a decade. Parts of the album were recorded in Pennsylvania. The cover art, shot by photographer Nabil Elderkin, blurs Zayn’s face with a snow leopard, an animal native to South Asia and Pakistan, which Zayn described as a deliberate symbol of heritage.
Fans got a taste of the album during his January 2026 Las Vegas residency at Dolby Live, where he performed several unreleased tracks including Nusrat. The lead single Die for Me was released in February, followed by Sideways whose music video dropped on March 27 to strong fan reaction online.
A global Konnakol tour kicks off on May 12 in Manchester, with dates across the UK, North America, and beyond. For South Asian music lovers and longtime Nusrat fans, the album is shaping up to be something genuinely special.
