Zayn Malik's Konnakol tour announced, India not part of the list
British pop star Zayn Malik has announced his fifth studio album, Konnakol, with a release date of April 17. The tour excludes India despite strong South Asian musical influences, sparking disappointment among fans.
British pop star Zayn Malik is stepping into one of the most personal and experimental phases of his career with his fifth studio album Konnakol. On February 4, Malik officially revealed the album’s title and release date. Konnakol will be released on April 17 via Mercury Records and Island Records and is currently available for pre-order.
The album’s lead single, Die For Me, dropped on February 6, offering the first glimpse into what Malik has described as a deeply introspective body of work.
Speaking about the album in a statement quoted by Billboard, Malik said, “It’s that time again, I have been lucky enough to make a fifth studio album 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.”
The reference to konnakol, a South Indian vocal percussion technique rooted in Carnatic music, has resonated strongly within India, particularly given Malik’s own South Asian heritage.
However, the announcement of the 31-date Konnakol tour has sparked disappointment. The tour will span the UK, North America, South America and Mexico, beginning in Manchester in May and wrapping up in Miami by November. India and the wider Asian region are missing from the itinerary.
While this is Zayn’s first-ever stadium and arena tour announcement, it also highlights a recurring pattern where South Asian sounds influence global pop, but the region itself is overlooked as a live-performance market. Especially after Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Travis Scott, among others, have set a precedent and proven that India is ready to host more concerts.
Meanwhile, Malik’s solo career has consistently delivered commercial success. His debut album Mind of Mine (2016) debuted at No. 1 in both the US and UK, followed by Icarus Falls (2018), Nobody Is Listening (2021) and Room Under The Stairs (2024). With Konnakol positioned as his most culturally layered project yet, Indian fans are now watching closely to see whether future tour legs will finally bring the music home.
British pop star Zayn Malik is stepping into one of the most personal and experimental phases of his career with his fifth studio album Konnakol. On February 4, Malik officially revealed the album’s title and release date. Konnakol will be released on April 17 via Mercury Records and Island Records and is currently available for pre-order.
The album’s lead single, Die For Me, dropped on February 6, offering the first glimpse into what Malik has described as a deeply introspective body of work.
Speaking about the album in a statement quoted by Billboard, Malik said, “It’s that time again, I have been lucky enough to make a fifth studio album 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.”
The reference to konnakol, a South Indian vocal percussion technique rooted in Carnatic music, has resonated strongly within India, particularly given Malik’s own South Asian heritage.
However, the announcement of the 31-date Konnakol tour has sparked disappointment. The tour will span the UK, North America, South America and Mexico, beginning in Manchester in May and wrapping up in Miami by November. India and the wider Asian region are missing from the itinerary.
While this is Zayn’s first-ever stadium and arena tour announcement, it also highlights a recurring pattern where South Asian sounds influence global pop, but the region itself is overlooked as a live-performance market. Especially after Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Travis Scott, among others, have set a precedent and proven that India is ready to host more concerts.
Meanwhile, Malik’s solo career has consistently delivered commercial success. His debut album Mind of Mine (2016) debuted at No. 1 in both the US and UK, followed by Icarus Falls (2018), Nobody Is Listening (2021) and Room Under The Stairs (2024). With Konnakol positioned as his most culturally layered project yet, Indian fans are now watching closely to see whether future tour legs will finally bring the music home.