Since its beginnings in One Direction, Zayn Malik He was the most enigmatic member of the band. Owner of a low profile and an aesthetic that brought him closer to the “bad boy” archetype, knew how to stand out within a group that swept and became the great phenomenon of teenage pop in the past decade.
In March 2015, at the height of the band’s growth, he made a decision that surprised millions of fans: He was the first to leave the group. A year later, as a soloist, he began a new stage with a sound that quickly made clear his intention to detach himself from that past and build his own identity.
Since then, He chained album after album with a personal imprint marked by experimentation. Malik allowed himself to explore genres, climates and aesthetics without being tied to commercial formulas, consolidating a career in which creative risk occupies a central place. Now preparing for the launch of Konnakol, his fifth album as a solo artist, which he will present in Argentina with a show at the Movistar Arena on October 6.
In a talk with Clarionthe artist spoke of his rejection of the logic of success measured in rankings, of his role as a father and of his time in Argentina with the band in 2014, of which he barely retains specific memories.
-After having achieved such early and massive fame, what does success mean to you today?
-Sincerely, I don’t focus much on commercial success, but rather on the quality of the art. I try to focus on improving myself and getting better with each new job. It is an interesting question, because it depends on what one understands as success. I feel like I had a lot of successes in my life as a person, so I no longer obsess over the most listened to lists. I’m not trying to get to number one or anything like that. I just make music because I love making music.
Zayn Malik was the first member of One Direction to leave the band and go solo. Photo: Universal Music. -And isn’t it difficult to do that in this industry that pressures you to make hits and release more and more music?
-Everyone is constantly pushing, but I have another perspective. I try not to think too much about the impact of things. I think that comes through clearly if you listen to my discography. What’s more, if everything depended on me, I would publish the songs the day they are ready and that’s it. Unfortunately, that’s not how it works. That’s not how record company businesses work.
Zayn Malik assures that he no longer measures his success by the views his songs have. Photo: Universal Music. An animal that represents it
-You have just made your first residency in Las Vegas after years of tiring tours. Did you feel that this helped you connect better with the public?
-I don’t think that affects the connection with the public. I think it’s just a personal preference. Some people like to travel, they like to move, they like to go to different places. Others like to stay in one place. I had never done it before. It was the first time for me. Being in the same place was great. But it was also a bit repetitive in a sense. It’s good to have a change of scenery, go to different places, see different landscapes….
-You chose to share the cover of your new album with a snow leopard. What does that image represent for you personally at this stage of your life and career?
-I saw on the Internet that many people speculated that he had done it, because it was an endangered species. And, of course, there is a positive side to this, since it creates awareness. But the reality is that I used it because of the geographical habitat of the snow leopard, which is native to Pakistan (his father’s country of origin). I used it because it represents me and because, at the same time, it is something symbolic. I didn’t want to just put my face on the album cover. I wanted something more, that could be recognized. And I think this works perfectly. Plus, it’s a cool looking animal. That also influenced the decision.
–Die For Methe first track on the album, has a very pop vibe. Is it the gateway to the sound of the album, or is there more to discover throughout the album?
-No, I would say that it is a gateway for the entire album. All the songs, although they form a coherent whole, have their own style in terms of interpretation and genre, which are mixed together a bit as I usually do. There’s a little bit of rock, a little bit of blues, a little bit of alternative R&B, a little bit of pop. It’s always a mix. So there’s definitely more experimentation on the album with certain songs. And I think people will be able to hear that when they hear it.
-Was there a particular artist that inspired you to create the album?
It’s funny you ask that. There is no direct inspiration. I try not to listen to too much music when I’m in the studio recording, because, like anyone, I’m influenced by things and sometimes I don’t want to be influenced. I want to create something from my own original space. So there are no direct influences of that kind. But I’m always listening to music when I’m not working on my own projects. Only in those cases do I listen to music from other artists.
From bad boy to loving father
In September 2020, Malik became a father for the first time with model Gigi Hadid. From that relationship was born Khai, who is now five years old and grows up far from the media spotlight, in an environment in which both seek to preserve their privacy.
Zayn Malik with his daughter Khai. Photo: Instagram-Has fatherhood influenced the way you make music in any way?
-Fatherhood influenced me as a person in general. I never thought about the direct connection that has with my music. But, without a doubt, he changed as a person. My way of dealing with things in general is a little different since I became a father.. That’s for sure.
-Your daughter Khai wants to be a K-pop singer. Are you taking music or dance classes?
-Right now you are taking artistic gymnastics classes. We had a conversation and he told me that now he wants to start dancing seriously. So she’s taking dance classes. We’ll see what happens. I don’t know if it’s specific training to become a K-pop star. He is five years old. He changes his mind every day about what he wants to do. But we still support it.
Khai, daughter of Zayn Malik, at a Blackpink concert, her favorite K-Pop band. Photo: Instagram-And if he decides to dedicate himself to music, what advice would you give him about the industry?
-Don’t dedicate yourself to this. That would be the only thing I would say to him. I would tell you that if you love music, don’t do it as a job because you will be doing it for a long time and you might lose some of the love for what you are doing.. At the end of the day, I would always support her in whatever she wanted to do. If you decided to get involved in the music industry, regardless of what I had to say, I would probably tell you to make sure you give 110% to whatever you do.
His (almost zero) memory of Argentina
Malik’s only visit to Argentina was in 2014, at the height of One Direction’s rise, in a frenetic period in which the group recorded albums practically without rest while touring the world. That passage through South America, furthermore, was marked by controversy. Malik was involved in a scandal with Louis Tomlinson after the broadcast of a video in which they both smoked marijuana during their stay in Peru.
-More than ten years have passed since your last presentation here in Argentina. Do you remember anything from that short time here?
-To be completely honest, at that moment everything was a whirlwind. Everything was going very fast. It was difficult to remember specific things about each place we went. And it wasn’t for lack of interest. We wish we had more time to be there, but everything happened so quickly. All the memories were mixed. So, to be honest, I don’t remember anything in particular. I only remember that South America, in general, was one of the best moments of the tours I did with the band, thanks to the energy of the people and the genuine love there is for music, for artists and for having a good time. I really want to go back and create new memories. And I hope to do even better than before.
Zayn Malik during his show in Buenos Aires, at the Vélez stadium, with One Direction. Photo: EFE. -What can Argentine fans expect from the show?
-This tour is based a lot on the album Konnakol. We are going to use many of their songs for the repertoire. I’m going to remove some of Icarus Fallsyou know, I have five albums now, so I’ll probably remove some. No one is listening, there will probably be a couple of songs from each, if I can include them. So it really depends. It will definitely be based on Konnakolbut in certain places I want to vary it, so I might just play a song in one place and then change it for the next.
-What is the song that you are most excited about singing to them live?
-One called Blooming. It’s on the album that hasn’t come out yet. It is very similar to It’s You. It has that mysterious and romantic sound that I find beautiful. And that’s why I really want to try it on stage and see what it feels like. I hope I can do it well, because it’s a good song.
