Naalayak Head to the Himalayas for ‘Zakir’ Music Video

Although their upcoming album is simply titled Hindi Gaane, Chandigarh rockers Naalayak do employ a fair amount of Urdu in their latest song “Zakir.”

Written by vocalist-guitarist Sahil Samuel in the middle of the pandemic last year, he sent the song across to his band members – guitarist Akshat Kakar, drummer Garry Singh Arora and bassist Aashish Kalanta – for their approval. It led to the song becoming a new addition to Hindi Gaane, which has had four tracks out so far in 2020. The band says in a statement about their latest release, “It was intimidating to keep watch of nature [while] being cooped up at home. Yet, it was captivating to see how the day turned into evening.”

“Zakir” captures feelings of when the evening turns to night, which the band terms “fascinatingly beautiful.” Over easygoing acoustic rock that lilts and uplifts, Samuel attaches ideas of relationships, courage and reminiscence. “In the lyrics, the morning asks the evening how it is faring […] This song is a message to just not preserve [with] those feelings, rather unwrap it and communicate it,” the band adds.

In the music video shot in the Himalayas by filmmaker Rajeev Thakur, we see the quartet walk, play and sing around seemingly boundless snow, settling down to jam by a bonfire while also generally bonding. Naalayak were slated to take the bonhomie back on stage this week, with a gig on April 8th alongside Hindi rock band Moongphali in New Delhi, but the show currently stands canceled due to new pandemic-related restrictions.

Watch the video for “Zakir” below. Stream the song on Spotify, Apple Music and JioSaavn.