Zayn Malik is leaning into his Pakistani heritage following the release of his latest album Konnakol, during an interview on the Zach Sang Show.

 

The singer talked about his roots, stating, "I’m literally half Pakistani, it sets me apart from everyone." Malik noted that representing his background serves as a way to educate others, adding that, "Many people live in fear of things they don’t understand." 

 

He said that explaining his culture and where he comes from feels like "a good thing."

 

The comments have sparked a divide across social media regarding his South Asian identity. While some fans defended the singer, noting he has discussed his Pakistani heritage several times in the past, others remained critical. One user claimed he only embraces being Pakistani "when it’s convenient" for album sales, while another suggested that "explaining Pak culture would be like Trump explaining Christianity."

 

The discourse also touched on regional tensions. One reaction suggested that "Indians are not going to like this". Arguments broke out over previous instances where Malik mentioned South Asian culture more broadly, with one person noting that some mistakenly associated him with other nationalities because of those references.

 

This cultural focus is a central theme of the new project. Malik previously revealed that Konnakol is his most culturally connected work yet, incorporating the South Indian vocal technique it is named after.

 

In a separate appearance on the Track Star podcast with Jack Coyne, Malik confirmed the album features a track titled ‘Nusrat,’ named after the legendary qawwal Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. During a game of "Guess the Artist," Malik correctly identified Khan’s ‘Mast Mast Dum Mast’ after taking a moment to listen to the track.

 

After identifying the maestro, Malik told Coyne that he isn't alone in being inspired by the Shehenshah-e-Qawwali. He cited Jeff Buckley as a devoted admirer who famously covered Khan’s ‘Halka Halka Suroor.’