British-Pakistani singer Zayn Malik has revealed a heartfelt tribute to the late qawwali icon Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan through a dedicated track on his upcoming album.
During a recent appearance on the Track Star Podcast, Zayn took part in a guessing game with host Jack Coyne, where a classic track by the legendary Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was played. Zayn correctly identified the song and used the moment to speak about the late singer’s influence on his work.
The 33-year-old singer confirmed he has a song on his album called “Nusrat,” named directly after the legendary Pakistani singer. This is not the first time Zayn has drawn from Nusrat’s musical world. He also pointed out that Jeff Buckley was deeply inspired by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and even performed Nusrat’s songs live in New York in 1993.
Zayn’s album KONNAKOL features 15 tracks and marks a significant shift in his sound, with elements of qawwali and Sufi music shaping the production and vocal style.
The title refers to a South Indian vocal technique that uses rhythmic syllables to mimic percussion. The album is scheduled for release on April 17.
Fans are eagerly waiting to see how Zayn blends his contemporary pop style with the spiritual depth of South Asian classical music on this deeply personal project.
