Written by Sophie Johnson
Indian-born Atif Afzal, known musically as A-Zal, is a New York-based singer, who has just released his debut single ‘Movie Script’. Available on all streaming platforms, the song brings a vibrant and feel-good touch to the summer playlist. A-Zal invites music enthusiasts around the world to join him on this exciting journey of melodious expression.
A-Zal grew up in Hounslow, London, and trained with an alumnus from the Royal College of Music. Then, in 2018, A-Zal was given the opportunity to leave everything behind and pursue his musical dream in the West. As a child, he was inspired by the pop-culture scene in London and this, combined with his move to the US, allowed his music to resonate with people around the world.
Before the release of the single, A-Zal had worked with various major Hollywood film studios, such as Marvel Studios, Netflix, and the CBS Network. He recently came into the limelight for his soundtracks in Marvel Studios’ Loki and Ms. Marvel, but he has also worked on NCIS: Los Angeles, The Twilight Zone, and Resort to Love. Additionally, he composed the original score for the Bollywood movie Monsoon Shootout, which received critical acclamation at the 2013 Festival de Cannes.
Released on the 11th of August, ‘Movie Script’ gained popularity almost immediately. In its opening week, it was in the 114th position on USA Mediabase charts and has been gaining airplay on both US and UK radio stations.
Alongside the song, he has released a self-directed music video, which prominently features the artist himself and offers a refreshing coolness with perfected choreography. In the video, he inspires anyone who is watching to break into dance with him. This video signifies the experience of ‘Movie Script’ as being something both auditory and visual to be enjoyed by a diverse audience around the world.
This single marks his transition from film composer to a musician who wants to have the opportunity to share his own narrative through lyrical storytelling. A-Zal makes his mark as the first Indian singer to break into the American pop music scene. He shared that he “wasn’t able to tell [his] own story through [his] music for films”, so this single gave him the opportunity to be able to tell his story his way.
He is praised by critics for his soulful voice and his ability to blend together various cultural influences to create music that transcends borders. The track is also noted as featuring infectious rhythms, and catchy hooks with contemporary funky melodies, therefore creating a very distinctive style.
The song is also praised for its heartfelt lyrics describing the emotional longing for someone we love. This, with the infectious chorus and funky music, will quickly leave the track as your new earworm.
You can listen to ‘Movie Script’ here.
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