Zayn Malik is stepping into a new sonic and cultural space with his upcoming album Konnakol, a project he says is heavily inspired by his Indian heritage and the musical traditions he grew up around.
Speaking about the album, Zayn explained that the title itself holds deep meaning. Konnakol refers to the South Indian art of vocal percussion, where rhythmic patterns are created entirely using the voice. It is a form rooted in Carnatic music, and Zayn revealed that this concept became the foundation of the album’s sound.
According to the singer, much of the production on the record was built using his own voice. Instead of relying solely on traditional drum kits or electronic beats, he layered vocals to create rhythmic textures, essentially turning his voice into percussion.
He shared that once the team experimented with this approach on the first few tracks, the idea naturally evolved into a full album concept. What began as an experiment became the identity of the record.
Zayn also noted that this cultural influence is not entirely new to his music. Fans may remember subtle vocal flourishes and tonal choices in earlier songs, including his hit “Dusk Till Dawn” with Sia, where he incorporated stylistic touches inspired by South Asian vocal traditions. He says those elements were always present in small ways, but Konnakol is the first time he has fully leaned into them.
For Zayn, the project is not just about sound. It is also about identity and representation. He described wanting to explore his roots more deeply and introduce listeners to elements of culture that are not widely understood in mainstream Western pop music. Even the choice of the word Konnakol, he said, was intentional, as many listeners may be encountering it for the first time through this album.
This direction reflects a broader shift in global pop, where artists are increasingly blending regional traditions with contemporary production, creating music that feels both personal and universal.
Zayn’s willingness to experiment also signals an artistic evolution. Over the years, he has moved steadily away from the polished boy-band pop of his early career toward more intimate, atmospheric, and experimental sounds. Konnakol appears to be another step in that journey, combining technical vocal performance, cultural storytelling, and unconventional production techniques.
While details about the full tracklist and release date remain under wraps, the concept alone has already sparked curiosity among fans and music enthusiasts. A mainstream pop artist centering an album around vocal percussion and cultural exploration is not something audiences see every day.
If Zayn delivers on the vision he has described, Konnakol could become one of his most distinctive and personal projects yet, not just musically, but culturally as well.