Zayn Reflects on Past Intimacy on R&B-Inspired Single ‘Sideways’

Zayn has officially shared his latest single, “Sideways.” The intimate R&B track serves as the newest preview from the artist’s highly anticipated forthcoming album, Konnakol, which is scheduled for release on April 17 via Mercury Records.

The song finds Zayn in a reflective mood, contemplating the complexities of a past relationship. “I miss lookin’ at you sideways/ face-to-face with your lips on mine,” he sings. “And our legs on the pillowcase/ sideways, late at night with your love lying next to mine.”

Konnakol arrives following the 2024 release of Room Under the Stairs, a stripped-back project produced in collaboration with Dave Cobb. Last month, Zayn unveiled the album’s emotive lead single, “Die for Me.” The new record was co-produced by Zayn and Malay, a frequent collaborator who previously worked with the singer on Mind of Mine and Icarus Falls.

Regarding the album’s title and inspiration, Zayn shared in a statement: “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. It is a sound that holds the reverberation of a time before words existed. I have always drawn on my heritage for inspiration since I first started making my own music, this album is a development of that understanding, knowing more now than ever, who I am, where I come from and where I intend to go.”

In support of the new music, Zayn is set to embark on the 31-date global Konnakol Tour. The trek begins on May 12 at the AO Arena in Manchester, England, with stops in London, Los Angeles, Mexico City, and São Paulo, before concluding on November 20 at the Kaseya Center in Miami.