Zayn Malik has shared a heartfelt tribute to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, revealing how the legendary Pakistani singer influenced not only him but also the late American artist Jeff Buckley.
Speaking in a recent street interview, the former One Direction star highlighted a surprising musical connection. He said Buckley was “madly inspired” by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, widely regarded as a pioneer of modern Qawwali.
According to Zayn Malik, Jeff Buckley frequently listened to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s music, which shaped his unique vocal style.
“Jeff Buckley was weirdly madly inspired by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan,” Zayn said. He added that Buckley’s distinctive vocal runs were influenced by his appreciation for Pakistani music.
#ZAYN mentioned his song ‘Nusrat’ was named after Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, noting how amazing his voice is especially during live performances. He mentions how Jeff Buckley was inspired by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and how he loved listening to Pakistani music. pic.twitter.com/Yay0hmm5OO
— Zayn Base (@ZaynJMBase) March 30, 2026The discussion also referenced a live performance where Buckley sang Yeh Jo Halka Halka Suroor Hae at Sin-é in New York in 1993. In his own tribute, Zayn revealed that he has dedicated a song titled ‘Nusrat’ to his upcoming album ‘Konnakol’.
“I’ve got a song on my record called Nusrat, and then I named it after him,” he shared. The track will feature on his fifth studio album, set for release on April 17. Zayn also explained the concept behind the album’s title, Konnakol, which refers to the art of creating percussion sounds using the human voice.
He described experimenting with vocal percussion techniques to build layers of music before adding vocals. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s impact continues to reach artists across generations and borders. His work has influenced musicians in both Eastern and Western music traditions. Zayn Malik’s tribute highlights how deeply rooted Pakistani music is in global soundscapes.
