British-Pakistani singer Zayn Malik has made a heartfelt tribute to one of the greatest voices in music history, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (NFAK). The former One Direction star has revealed that one of the tracks on his upcoming album is called “Nusrat,” named directly after the legendary Pakistani qawwali maestro.
Zayn made the revelation during a recent appearance on the Track Star Podcast, where he took part in a guessing game with host Jack Coyne. When a classic Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan track was played, Zayn correctly identified it and used the moment to speak about the late singer’s deep influence on his own music.
Zayn did not hold back in his admiration, calling NFAK “the OG” and saying that hearing him even once is enough to understand the magic of his voice.
The tribute appears in his new album KONNAKOL, scheduled for release on April 17. The album features 15 tracks and marks a major shift in Zayn’s sound, blending elements of qawwali and Sufi music with contemporary R&B. The album title itself refers to a South Indian vocal technique that uses rhythmic syllables to mimic percussion.
Zayn also pointed out that he is not alone in being inspired by NFAK, giving the example of the late Jeff Buckley, who was a devoted admirer of the qawwali legend.
This is not the first time Zayn has connected with his Pakistani roots through music. For fans of both Zayn and NFAK, this tribute feels deeply personal, a son of Pakistan honoring the greatest voice his homeland ever produced.
