Last month, Zayn Malik released his newest album, Konnakol, and from the moment it was announced, I knew it would be something special.
The album draws inspiration from Carnatic Indian music, particularly konnakol, South Indian vocal percussion in which rhythms are spoken using syllables rather than played on instruments and is incredibly technical.
Zayn blending those influences into contemporary R&B and alternative pop felt exciting because it wasn’t something many mainstream artists would even attempt, let alone fully commit to.
His music has always carried subtle influences from his Indian and Pakistani heritage, whether through vocals, instruments or melodies, but Konnakol feels like the first time he completely embraced that side of himself.
A week before the album was officially released, I had the chance to attend a pre-release listening party hosted at Real Groovy in early April 2026. As a longtime fan, hearing the album early felt unreal.
At that point, Zayn had only released “Die For Me” and “Sideways,” which gave us a glimpse of the album’s moody, emotional, sensual, and deeply layered vibe.
I had also watched basically every interview leading up to the release, and he had mentioned that “Sideways” was one of his personal favourites, which made me even more excited to hear it in full context with the rest of the album.
I was especially looking forward to “Nusrat,” a track inspired by and dedicated to the legendary Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. You could really feel that influence throughout the song, with its emotional intensity and spiritual atmosphere, but in a Z-way.
As expected, not many people showed up for the listening party because Auckland was under storm warnings and multiple red alerts that weekend. Despite the weather, the event still went ahead with a small but dedicated group of fans, which honestly made the whole experience feel even more intimate.
After recording a video message for Zayn and receiving our goodie bags, we finally sat down to listen to the album from start to finish.
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My First Listen Reactions
- Nusrat – An absolutely beautiful opener. Emotional, cinematic, and such a powerful tribute.
- Betting Folk – Very Icarus Falls-coded but with heavier South Asian influences woven through it.
- Used to the Blues – Deep, reflective, and honestly hit harder emotionally than I expected.
- Sideways – OOOOOO. So sexy. The production, the vocals, the vibe, everything works. And the music video just elevated it even more. The fan edits online? Incredible!
- 5th Element – Another standout. Super vibey and addictive.
- Prayers – WHOAAAAA. One of those songs that just completely washes over you.
- Side Effects – Fun, catchy, and instantly replayable.
- Met Tonight – Probably my favourite on the entire album. Obsessed immediately.
- Fatal – 10/10 No notes. Perfect.
- Take Turns – SO GOOD. One of the strongest tracks on the album for me.
- Blooming – Slow, soothing, and dreamy.
- Like I Have You and 13. Loving the Way I Do – Both chill tracks fit perfectly into the album’s softer second half.
- Breathe – Another slower song that feels emotional and comforting at the same time.
- Die For Me – Still hits every single listen.
After painfully waiting a whole extra week for the official release, my opinions honestly didn’t change much, and now I’ve listened to the album top to bottom more times than I can count.
Vocally, Zayn remains completely unmatched to me. There’s genuinely no doubt that he has one of the most beautiful voices in music today. He sounds effortless, almost unreal. It’s what I imagine heaven sounds like with Zayn’s angelic voice.
My favourite stretch of the album has to be Tracks 7 to 10, “Side Effects,” “Met Tonight,” “Fatal,” and “Take Turns.” Those songs scratch a specific part of my brain in the best possible way. Every single one is a banger, and listening to them in order is genuinely an immaculate experience. The production, the energy, the vocals, everything just flows perfectly.
Overall, Konnakol is such a refreshing album. It feels experimental while still staying true to Zayn’s sound, and I really wish he received more recognition for just how talented he is. With Konnakol, he has proved willing to take creative risks and explore his identity in ways most mainstream artists wouldn’t.
Now all I need is to hear him live on stage in New Zealand!
