From the first track to the last, it is clear that Zayn Malik, now known professionally as ZAYN, is experimenting with his sound, pushing his vocal range, and continuing to evolve as an artist, all while consistently weaving in elements of his South Asian heritage.
The 33-year-old artist, formerly of the British band One Direction, releases his fifth studio album KONNAKOL, a title that reflects both his creative inspiration and his turn toward an R&B-driven sound.
Malik shared on The Zach Sang Show, “[Konnokal] is the act of creating percussive sound with your voice. It's rhythmic sounds. That was the integral part of making this record, and add this Indian element to it.”
The album cover reinforces this vision, blending half of ZAYN's face with that of a snow leopard—a symbol that nods to his Pakistani roots.
Malik kicks the album off with the first track "Nusrat," who is a big inspiration for him.
Legendary Pakistani singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is an artist Malik has listened to since a young age, and his influence helps set the tone for Malik’s experimentation with rhythm and vocal layering. In the track “Nusrat,” Malik opens by singing about staying by the side of a loved one. It’s the kind of music you might play in the mountains, overlooking the beauty of the earth and reflecting on life’s blessings.
In "Better Folk," the beat begins similarly to the 2016 song "Sunset Lover" by Petit Biscuit. Malik continues to incorporate vocal harmonies alongside lush violins, while singing about healing his broken heart and learning to let go of the pain, evident with lyrics such as, “Lift me up, I fall again. Lightning strikes the same place again. Holding on, I let it go, leave it for the better folk.”
Malik continues to sing about coping and finding ways to heal in "Used to the Blues," which is his favorite track from the album.
In the track, Malik experiments with the lower register of his voice, backed by bold drum percussion and tambourines. In contrast, “Sideways” leans into piano-led instrumentation and a more familiar sonic palette for ZAYN, as he reflects on moments spent with someone special and the quiet comfort of their presence with lyrics such as “I miss lookin’ at you sideways. Face to face with your lips on mine. And our legs on the pillowcase. Sideways, late at night with your love lyin’ next to mine.”
The slower, more melodic tracks “5th Element” and “Prayers” find ZAYN exploring new emotions for someone and trying to make sense of what he feels. Across both songs, he leans into vulnerability while still holding back, cautious not to fully surrender in ways that echo past experiences.
This sentiment is only highlighted through lyrics in "Prayers" as ZAYN sings:
"Not consistent, I spot different, ran distance / The plot thickens, the clock tickin', the floor stickin' / To boot bottoms, acute problems are large things / I'm so sick of these no distance ménages."
Although the primary genre of KONNAKOL is R&B, ZAYN still weaves in pop elements, offering moments that feel built for parties or karaoke nights with friends. With Maroon 5–style energy and Adam Levine–like falsetto inflections, he delivers an upbeat highlight in “Side Effects,” where he reflects on what comes with being involved with him:
“Gonna try to be the one for you / But I know I got some work to do / If we get closer, I need you to see the side effects of loving me / We gon’ get up sometimes / We gon’ get low some nights / I really wanna get this right / I know sometimes I won’t.” The track will have you humming the tune after repeating it a few times.
Shifting to the theme of sex and heat, “Met Tonight” showcases ZAYN's sensual side, a recurring element across his albums. Whether it’s forever or not, ZAYN makes it clear he will be making the most of the night: “Girl, you looking nice. Wanna spend the night. Know it’s a quarter to something, I think it’s midnight. No lie, are you looking for somebody that you met tonight . . . Body is heaven I wanna sin tonight. We ain’t taking no Ls tonight. I just wanna win tonight.” If you want a similar sound to South African singer Tyla but in a male voice, this is the track for you, and it will also have you moving your hips.
“Fatal,” “Take Turns,” and “Blooming” bring back R&B, dance, and dark ambient grooves. Across these tracks, he also expresses a more healed version of himself before transitioning into slower, more melodic moments in “Like I Have You” and “Loving The Way I Do.”
If you think there is only one song about making love, think again, because it is not a ZAYN album without more than one track exploring intimacy.
“Breathe” is the cousin of “Sweat” from Nobody Is Listening or “TiO” from Mind of Mine. ZAYN will have you seduced on this track, but make sure to breathe before arriving at the final song, “Die For Me,” where he showcases his highest vocal range and the strength and beauty he embraces despite abandonment.
ZAYN also shared on The Zach Sang Show that he wrote the track some time ago but felt now was the right moment to release it, folding it into the KONNAKOL era and closing the album with a powerhouse finish.
No matter the genre, one thing is certain: ZAYN consistently incorporates cultural elements into his music.
