When Jisoo, one fourth of BLACKPINK, dropped a surprise single announcement earlier this week, none of us expected it to be a duet with ZAYN.
Zayn Malik, best known as 1/5 of boyband One Direction and haircut inspiration for millions in the Indian subcontinent, is easily one of the most recognisable faces of South Asian representation in global music, especially at a time when there weren’t many. His rise paved the way for more South Asian artist collaborations that blur the lines between cultures and genres.
With four solo albums under his belt, the last time Zayn had a collaboration this high profile was “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever” with Taylor Swift in 2017. His song with Jisoo, titled “Eyes Closed”, came out today (Friday, October 10) at midnight. It’s the latest example of South Asian pop crossovers, and “Eyes Closed” is a slow, sultry Pop/R&B track.
Nothing out of the ordinary for Zayn, whose voice settles on this track like a glove, but new for Jisoo, who has been making more music since setting up her own agency, BLISSOO. Her voice suits the tone and the lyrics of this track, presenting a soft husk that blends well with Zayn’s timbre.
Through this unexpected collaboration, we couldn’t help but wonder about the other times South Asian artists have collided and collaborated with artists outside their immediate sphere of influence. So, we decided to round up the Top 5. Prepare for some old, some new, and some timeless tracks.
Another K-pop artist and South Asian artist collaboration, "BUCK" came out earlier this year on the heels of Jackson Wang’s much-publicised trip to India. It can be found on Wang’s latest album, MAGICMAN 2. A high-energy, cross-cultural fusion, this song blends EDM with Diljit Dosanjh's Punjabi rap and gives way to a fun dance track, all about self-confidence.
Who remembers our desi girl’s attempt as a crossover popstar? Priyanka Chopra released a few singles during this time, the most memorable of which was the 2013 dance-pop track, “Exotic”. Featuring Mr. Worldwide himself, Priyanka Chopra croons for listeners to “Mumbai, Cuba, baby let’s go / L-Love me all the way to Rio.” The catchy fusion of Indo-Western pop makes this a fun, guilty pleasure track.
It’s no surprise that after the appearance of Priyanka Chopra, her husband Nick is also on this list. King, a Delhi-based musician, brought Nick Jonas onto a remix version of his popular song, “Maan Meri Jaan”. Listen for the chill vibe and for Nick Jonas singing in Hindi.
2. Sonu Nigam x Kylie Minogue, “Chiggy Wiggy”.
Taking it back to the early 2000s, a collaboration between the queen of dance anthems and Bollywood’s most versatile voice was orchestrated by maestro A.R. Rahman. What resulted was a catchy hit with the Punjabi tadka. People praised Rahman’s ability to blend English pop sensibility with bhangra beats. The movie the song featured in, however, sank back into the very blue it came from.
Before we reveal the first pick, here are some honourable mentions: "Heartbeat", Enrique Iglesias and Sunidhi Chauhan; "Jai Ho", A.R. Rahman and The Pussycat Dolls; "I Don’t Wanna Live Forever", ZAYN and Taylor Swift, "Beware of the Boys (Mundian Toh Bach Ke)", Panjabi MC and JAY-Z; and "Chammak Challo", Akon and Hamsika Iyer.
The Dhoom franchise is best known for its slick action, handsome actors, and of course, the iconic Dhoom theme song. But did you know Thai singer Tata Young’s appearance on the track was one of Bollywood’s first international collaborations? Evidently, the song was successful enough to spawn a new version for each installment.
These cross-border collaborations prove that music knows no boundaries. As more desi pop crossovers emerge on global charts, it’s clear that South Asian artist collaborations are not just a trend—they’re a movement.
If you enjoyed this deep dive into music mashups, check out our companion piece below: 50 Thoughts on "The Life of a Showgirl".