It's a dream come true to work in Urdu with Zayn Malik, say band

Pakistani band Aur expresses their excitement about working with Zayn Malik in Urdu, calling it a dream come true. They admire his down-to-earth nature and are impressed by his singing in Urdu.

“He is so down to earth, he sang in Urdu, what can be bigger than that?” say Pakistani band Aur.

“Raffey Anwar, one of the band members, expressed his excitement over the broadening of their audience, which now includes people from the UK, Brazil, China, in addition to their original Pakistani audience.

The revamped version of Aur’s hit song ‘Tu Hai Kahan’ features the former One Direction singer performing in Urdu.

While the original song has accumulated over 100 million views, the remake is quickly gaining traction, already amassing over eight million views.

According to the band, the collaboration stemmed from discussions between Malik’s and Aur’s management teams.

The bandmates, hailing from Karachi, shared that their friends and family were incredulous upon learning about the collaboration with Malik.

Fans were particularly thrilled by Malik’s fluency in Urdu, considering his Bradford roots.”

Malik expressed his profound humility when Aur approached him, stating, “I’m incredibly humbled.” He further conveyed his affection for the song, emphasizing his personal contribution to it: “I love the song and have brought some of myself to it. I hope people love what we’ve done.”

Aur’s musical style seamlessly fuses R&B and hip hop elements. The band’s members, Usama Ali (21), Ahad Khan (20), and Anwar (18), had already garnered significant popularity in South Asia.

For the band to collaborate with Malik and gain traction with global audiences represents the realization of their dreams, according to Ali.

At home, the bandmates are also experiencing a surge of attention. Khan noted that their friends and family were “crazy” with excitement upon hearing about the partnership. Anwar added that disbelief was a common reaction among acquaintances.

Ali remarked on the immediate recognition they receive when out and about, highlighting the overwhelmingly positive response from not only friends but also from across Pakistan.

Malik, aged 31, was born in the UK, and his father is an immigrant from Pakistan.

His journey in music commenced in 2010 as a member of One Direction, the boy band formed through the TV music competition, The X Factor. Alongside him were Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Liam Payne.

In 2016, Malik launched his debut album, Mind of Mine. Notably, his 2021 album, Nobody is Listening, featured a track with Urdu lyrics.

The remake of “Tu Hai Kahan” swiftly garnered online praise, particularly from Urdu-speaking fans, one of whom hailed it as a “gift for his fellow Pakistanis.”

Fans were effusive in their admiration for Malik, lauding his humility and his rendition in Urdu.

Regarding potential collaborations, the bandmates expressed openness, with Khan mentioning 21 Savage, Drake, and The Weeknd, while Ali humorously added that they are open to collaborating with anyone.