Zayn’s fifth album out

Zayn Malik released *KONNAKOL* on Friday, April 17, his fifth solo studio album and his second full-length project in under two years. (universalmusic.ca) The album came out through Mercury Records, a division of Universal Music Group, with 15 tracks listed on major streaming and retail pages. Apple Music and Mercury’s store both show the release date as April 17, 2026. (music.apple.com) (mercuryrecords.com) The track list includes “Nusrat,” “Sideways,” “Breathe,” and “Die For Me,” with “Die For Me” released first on February 6 and “Sideways” arriving in late March. Zayn’s official YouTube uploads tied both songs directly to *KONNAKOL*. (mercuryrecords.com) (youtube.com 1) (youtube.com 2) The album title refers to konnakol, a South Indian vocal-percussion form built from spoken rhythmic syllables rather than drums. Mercury’s release materials say Zayn framed the project as his “most culturally inspired” album and linked it to his South Asian heritage. (mercuryrecords.com) (universalmusic.ca) That marks a shift from the sound and rollout of *Room Under the Stairs*, the 2024 album that ended a three-year gap between Zayn records. Billboard reported that album debuted at No. 15 on the Billboard 200, while Official Charts lists a No. 3 peak on the U.K. albums chart. (billboard.com) (officialcharts.com) The release also extends the label era Zayn began after signing a new solo deal in 2023. Official Charts reported then that his upcoming music would be released through Island Records, while current *KONNAKOL* materials in North America credit Mercury Records under Universal Music Group. (officialcharts.com) (universalmusic.ca) Retail listings point to a conventional album-length release rather than a short EP or deluxe teaser. Apple Music lists 15 songs, and Mercury’s U.S. store priced the CD at $13.98 ahead of release. (music.apple.com) (mercuryrecords.com) Zayn’s official site now pairs the album cycle with live dates listed for Boston, Orlando, and Miami in November 2026. The album arrived the same day the campaign went live across his channels, closing the pre-order period and starting the streaming push. (inzayn.com) (music.apple.com)