ZAYN has unveiled his new single Sideways, an atmospheric R'n'B/pop track that leans into his signature breathy falsetto.
Arriving with a sleek official visualizer featuring the singer himself, the release gives fans another glimpse into the world of his forthcoming fifth studio album KONNAKOL, due April 17.
Sideways follows the album’s lead single Die For Me and continues to build anticipation around what is shaping up to be one of ZAYN’s most ambitious projects to date.
The new track blends his velvet-soft vocals with a darker, more textured production palette, hinting at a record that pushes deeper into mood-driven pop and R 'n'B while keeping the emotional intensity that has defined his solo career.
As the rollout gathers pace, ZAYN has admitted he is still surprised that people care as much as they do.
The singer, who left One Direction in 2015 to pursue a solo path, revealed on the Call Her Daddy podcast that he never expected to make it this far. Zayn said he was "buzzing" that fans embraced his first album (2016's Mind of Mine) after leaving the band and that he is proud of the progression and self-understanding he has found through his music.
KONNAKOL contains 15 tracks and marks what ZAYN calls his most culturally inspired project to date.
The Believe Me singer, who is of Pakistani descent and was raised by Muslim parents, hopes listeners gain more insight into his heritage through the album.
Konnakol is the act of creating percussive sounds with one’s voice, teasing a project that blends South Indian Carnatic influences with pop and R'n'B.
Alongside the album, ZAYN announced a KONNAKOL arena tour across the UK, North America, and South America, spanning 31 shows. The jaunt kicks off on May 12 in Manchester.
Fans recently got their first taste of the new era during his Las Vegas residency, where he debuted several unreleased tracks, including Used to the Blues and Fatal, the latter featuring Urdu lyrics in a powerful nod to his South Asian roots. He also surprised longtime fans by performing She from Mind of Mine live for the first time.
