ALAN WALKER & JAMES ARTHUR JOIN HAMZA MALIK & ZAIN ZOHAIB FOR GLOBAL CROSSOVER ‘ALFAAZ (ALAN WALKER RELIGHT)’

Norwegian electronic music superstar Alan Walker and British singer-songwriter James Arthur have joined forces with Pakistani artists Hamza Malik and Zain Zohaib for ‘Alfaaz (Alan Walker Relight)’, a new interpretation of one of Pakistan’s biggest recent musical breakthroughs. Bringing together South Asian musical traditions, contemporary electronic production and English-language vocals, the collaboration marks another milestone in the original track’s remarkable international journey. 

Released in July 2026, the original ‘Alfaaz’ quickly became a phenomenon. Driven by Hamza Malik, whose vision and vocals were central to bringing the song to life, alongside the distinctive qawwali and Sufi influences of Zain Zohaib, the track found an audience extending far beyond Pakistan. It reached #26 on Spotify’s Global Daily Top Songs chart, topped charts in India and Pakistan, made an impression on the UK’s Official Asian Music Chart, and generated extraordinary engagement across social media, with over 1 million Instagram Reels and approximately 2.4 million TikTok posts featuring the original. 

The song’s popularity eventually caught the attention of Alan Walker, whose catalogue has amassed more than 100 billion streams worldwide. A seemingly small moment in the original ‘Alfaaz’ music video, featuring a mysterious masked figure reminiscent of Walker’s iconic onstage identity, helped spark an unexpected connection between the Norwegian producer and the Pakistani artists. What began as an exchange online soon developed into a collaboration, with Walker travelling to Lahore to work alongside Hamza Malik and Zain Zohaib. 

The trip also provided the setting for a new music video, with Walker stepping directly into the visual world established by the original ‘Alfaaz’. Shot in approximately 12 hours, the production brings together the imagery and atmosphere of the Pakistani original with Walker’s recognisable visual aesthetic, creating a continuation of the story rather than a conventional remix video. 

For the new version, Walker brings his distinctive electronic production style to the composition, while James Arthur, whose music has accumulated over 16.5 billion Spotify streams, introduces an English-language vocal dimension. Together, their contributions open the track to new audiences while preserving the musical identity that made the original resonate. 

Behind the release is also a deeper connection to Pakistan’s rich musical history. Zain and Zohaib are the grandsons of Ustad Haji Rehmat Ali Khan, a musician who performed alongside legendary qawwali vocalist Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Having continued their family’s musical tradition, the brothers represent another generation bringing qawwali to contemporary audiences. 

That history carries a notable parallel. In 1990, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s ‘Mustt Mustt’, recorded with producer Michael Brook and subsequently remixed by Massive Attack, introduced his music to new audiences in the UK and beyond. More than three decades later, ‘Alfaaz (Alan Walker Relight)’ brings a new electronic interpretation to a musical tradition carried forward by the family of one of Nusrat’s longtime collaborators. 

For Xulfi, CCO and Co-Founder of Giraffe, and an internationally recognised music producer, the project represents something greater than a collaboration: “Music is one of Pakistan’s greatest strengths. That’s been my core belief since I started my journey of music and my endeavours have always gravitated towards opening the global doors of music for my country, whether it’s through the platforms I’ve worked on or through the music we work on at Giraffe.” 

CEO & Co-founder @ Giraffe Muhammad Ibrahim seconded Xulfi’s enthusiasm: “Pakistan has some of the richest musical traditions in the world and a new generation of artists ready to take them global. What has often been missing is the bridge, and that is what we are building at Giraffe: an ecosystem that discovers and backs Pakistani talent and connects it with the best artists, partners and audiences anywhere. ‘Alfaaz’ shows what becomes possible when that bridge exists. A song made in Lahore which has found listeners around the world” 

Rather than simply placing internationally recognised artists alongside an established regional hit, ‘Alfaaz (Alan Walker Relight)’ builds on a musical story already resonating across borders. From the traditions of qawwali to the global reach of electronic and pop music, the collaboration connects different generations, cultures and creative worlds while keeping the original Pakistani artists at its heart. 

Alan Walker, James Arthur, Hamza Malik & Zain Zohaib’s ‘Alfaaz (Alan Walker Relight)’ is out now.