Summary
- Zayn Malik has officially announced his fifth studio album titled Konnakol, scheduled for release on April 17, 2026
- The lead single “Die For Me” serves as the project’s introduction, blending contemporary R&B with intricate rhythmic vocal patterns, releasing on February 6
- Malik collaborated with legendary percussionists to incorporate the titular South Asian vocal percussion art form into the album’s production
Zayn Malik is preparing to take listeners on a cross-cultural sonic journey with the announcement of his fifth studio album, Konnakol. Named after the traditional South Asian art of performing percussion syllables vocally, the project marks Zayn’s most ambitious and experimental body of work to date. Released through Mercury Records, the album is spearheaded by the new single “Die For Me,” a track that signals a departure from the stripped-back folk-pop of his previous record, Room Under the Stairs, in favor of a high-concept fusion of global rhythms and late-night R&B.
The concept for the album stems from Malik’s desire to explore his heritage through a modern lens. “It’s that time again, I have been lucky enough to make a fifth studio album,” Malik stated in a press release. He added, “Konnakol in its definition is the act of creating percussive sounds with one’s voice but what it means to me lies somewhere much deeper. It is a sound that holds the reverberation of a time before words existed. I have always drawn on my heritage for inspiration since I first started making my own music, this album is a development of that understanding, knowing more now than ever, who I am, where I come from and where I intend to go.” The album features production from a diverse group of collaborators, including experimental electronic producers and traditional Indian classical musicians, aiming to bridge the gap between East and West.
The lead single, “Die For Me,” offers a first glimpse into this hybrid soundscape. The track features Malik’s signature falsetto floating over a syncopated, bass-heavy arrangement that utilizes human breath as a percussive element. Lyrically, the song explores themes of intense devotion and the vulnerability required to sustain a connection in the digital age. Accompanying the single is a cinematic music video directed by creative collaborator Ricardo Gomes, which utilizes surrealist imagery to visualize the rhythmic tension of the music.
The rollout for Konnakol is expected to include a series of intimate “immersive listening experiences” in major cities, where fans can hear the album in high-fidelity spatial audio. Having spent much of the last year recording in his rural Pennsylvania home studio, Malik describes the process as a “reawakening” of his creative spirit. As the artist enters this new era, Konnakol stands as a testament to his refusal to be boxed into a single genre, further establishing him as one of the most unpredictable and culturally curious voices in contemporary pop.
The full Konnakol is releasing on April 17 and the single “Die For Me” arrives on February 6.
