Features : Pop Artist A-Zal Reminds Us to Live Cinematically with Latest Single, “Movie Script”

New York-based pop singer Atif Afzal—otherwise known as A-Zal—released his new single, “Movie Script” on August 11. Fun and fresh, the track reminds us that life is meant to be more than ordinary—it’s our own cinematic experience, so we ought to live large!

“It’s exactly what the name suggests,” tells A-Zal of his new single. “We need to live a life that’s bigger than a normal life. It should be cinematic, fun…as opposed to something alright, a mundane life.”

“When I’m old, I don’t want to think I had an opportunity and didn’t do it,” adds the artist. “I believe that you need to live every day and be aware of life, aware of each day.”

The first pop singer of Indian origin to break into the American pop music scene, A-Zal is known for his soulful voice and thoughtful writing style. “Movie Script’ isn’t a romantic track yet it reminds us that there is an element of romanticism in life itself. “It’s not a deeply profound, philosophical song, but it does have a message. It’s a fun song,” adds A-Zal.

When it came to writing the song, he did so with a sense of direction. “I laid out the guitar with a funk rhythm, then started building up the beat. The song has three parts—the pre chorus, then a magical kind of feel, then back to the chorus with a fun, peppy upbeat. Most of my compositions start with the piano or guitar, but for this one I wanted a funky chord progression on guitar. Once I laid out the basic structure, I roped in studio musicians to weave their magic.”

As a child, A-Zal was exposed to British pop culture in London. At age 10, he learned the mouth organ and later went on to study the guitar professionally. His multicultural experiences helped shape his unique perspective and introspection that would later on become the basis for his songwriting. In 2013, A-Zal debuted as a composer, writing original scores and songs for many international films.

In 2018, A-Zal relocated to the U.S. from India with a an “extraordinary ability” visa to get a fresh start. Over the course of a few years, he established a resume of major Hollywood contributions, including collaborations with Marvel Studios, CBS Network, and Netflix. The talented composer developed two soundtracks for episodes of Ms. Marvel and one soundtrack for an episode of Loki, in addition to credits on popular shows.

A-Zal’s career is remarkable not only for his achievements but for his life transitions. From working for a renowned corporation to pursuing his passion in music, A-Zal understands the value of diligence, hard work, and believing in his ability to do great things. “When I left the corporate world, I took a sabbatical and began setting the foundation for my career in music. I began meeting people and working on my songwriting,” adds A-Zal. “My second transition was going from a composer to an independent artist. I had to grow through the grime and earn my place with music supervisors. The bottom line is I knew I needed to tell my story.”

“Movie Script” is the first single from A-Zal’s upcoming album, 17 & 11 Nights, which will focus on the artist’s transition from film composer to independent artist as he tells his own story. “I’ve worked on credible film projects but always writing to a film brief given by production or the studio. I couldn’t tell my own story,” adds the artist. “This is finally my chance. A part of me is coming out through each song. It’s exciting—there have been tons of ups and downs, like a roller coaster. But I never wanted to live a linear life.”

Make sure to stay connected to A-Zal on all platforms for new music, videos, and social posts.

IMDb
YouTube
Spotify
Facebook
Instagram
TikTok
Wikipedia
EPK
Rolling Stone