INTRODUCING: ZAYN MALIK
Zayn Malik, or Zain Javadd Malik, as he was known before fame beckoned, was born on January 12, 1993, in Bradford, West Yorkshire. The British singer skyrocketed to fame as a member of the internationally-renowned boy band One Direction. Raised in a Muslim household by his Pakistani father and English-Irish mother, Zayn’s passion for singing and performing was ignited early on. At just 17, he auditioned for The X Factor, a popular British music competition show. While he was initially eliminated, destiny had other plans, and he was invited back to form what would become one of the best-selling boy bands of all time – One Direction. Little did he know, this was just the beginning of his epic journey.
Fun Fact: Did you know that the name “Zayn” translates to ‘beautiful” in Arabic?
UNCOVERING THE TRUTH: WHY DID ZAYN LEAVE ONE DIRECTION?
Zayn Malik sent shockwaves around the globe in 2015 when he announced his exit from One Direction. The initial reasoning given was “stress,” but on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, Zayn finally shed light on the real reasons behind his abrupt departure. According to him, the band’s future appeared uncertain when other members showed hesitation in renewing contracts.
He stated, “I knew something was happening, so I just got ahead of the curve. I was like, ‘I’m just going to get out of here, I think this is done’.” He confessed his ambition to be the first to produce his solo record, saying, “I just saw it coming, and I completely selfishly wanted to be the first person to go and make my own record. If I’m being completely honest with you, I was like, ‘I’m going to jump the gun here’.”
Zayn made it clear that his passion for music and business was non-negotiable, adding, “I’m a passive dude, but when it comes to my music and my business, I’m serious about it and I’m competitive, so I wanted to be the first to go and do my own thing. That was the reason.”
Zayn also talked about the brewing tensions within the band after five long years in the spotlight following their X Factor debut, noting, “There were obviously underlying issues within our friendships, too. We’d got sick of each other if I’m being completely honest.” However, he also stated that time has provided him with a broader perspective on his boy band days.
ZAYN’S SOLO VENTURE AND EMBRACING FATHERHOOD
After his departure from One Direction, Zayn took the music world by storm as a solo artist. His debut album ‘Mind of Mine’ and its lead single ‘Pillowtalk’ both climbed to number one in the UK and US. Alongside his soaring music career, his personal life blossomed too. In September 2020, Zayn and his then-girlfriend, supermodel Gigi Hadid, were blessed with a daughter, Khai. On the ‘Call Her Daddy’ podcast, Zayn expressed his feelings about fatherhood, saying, “The time I have with her is so important because I feel like she’s growing up so fast. So when I’m with her, I don’t work, like, at all.”
Fun Fact: Did you know that Pillowtalk debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart, with 112,497 sales and over 4.972 million streams in its first week?
TEASING THE NEW RECORD ‘LOVE LIKE THIS’
Let’s get to the exciting stuff! Zayn has announced his new single, ‘Love Like This,’ set for release on July 21, 2023. He hints at a departure from his typical sound, saying, “I’m doing a record I don’t think people are really going to expect. It’s a different sound for me.” He further teases more narrative and real-life experiences in the song, even mentioning his daughter a few times.
Conclusion: So, there you have it – an exclusive insight into the life and times of Zayn Malik, from his One Direction days to his upcoming single ‘Love Like This.’ It’s been a roller coaster ride, and we can’t wait to see where his journey takes him next. What is your favourite Zayn Malik song? Share with us in the comments section below. We at Discernatively are excited to hear your thoughts! https://youtu.be/sE1OKGi-0bw