It has been close to a year since Zayn Malik made the decision to depart from One Direction, and now as a solo act, the 23-year-old singer is shedding light on the restrictions he felt bound by during his time in the boy band.
In an interview with Complex magazine, Malik discloses that the members of One Direction were constrained to maintain a “young teen boy look” in terms of their appearance.
He specifically mentions his beard, stating that he was not allowed to retain it.
However, as he matured, he chose to defy this rule and kept his beard, feeling that his appearance reflected his age more accurately than his bandmates’.
Having autonomy over his appearance is one of the freedoms Malik appreciates most about establishing himself as a solo artist.
He expresses his desire to dye his hair during his tenure with the band but reveals that this wish was denied.
Regarding his departure from One Direction, Malik articulates that it was primarily driven by a need to remain authentic to himself.
He emphasizes that staying true to his musical preferences and personal identity was paramount.
This conflict between authenticity and conformity ultimately led him to exit the group.
Malik’s debut solo album, Mind of Mine, is set to be released on March 25, coinciding with the anniversary of his departure from One Direction.
He notes that the new music diverges significantly from his previous work with the band, attributing this distinction to the deeply personal nature of his current songs.
Malik reflects on the emotional connection he feels towards his single “Pillowtalk,” underscoring that his earlier music with One Direction lacked this personal touch.
In a bid to infuse his music with personal elements, Malik enlisted his real-life girlfriend, model Gigi Hadid, to star in the music video for “Pillowtalk.”
While Malik usually maintains a boundary between his personal and professional life, he admits that collaborating with Hadid was a seamless experience, especially during intimate scenes.
He narrates that their interactions on set were spontaneous, devoid of traditional cues like ‘action,’ which contributed to a natural and unrestrained dynamic between them.
