Why Zayn Malik Was Never The Same After One Direction
2010 was the year Zayn Malik's life changed. According to Gigwise, the British singer auditioned for The X Factor in the U.K. The then-17-year-old sang a rendition of Mario's iconic "Let Me Love You" and made it further into the competition. Despite applying as a solo artist, the judges thought it would be a better idea for Malik to a part of a boyband. He was grouped with Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Liam Payne, who became One Direction.
One Direction made it to the live shows and finished in third place. But that definitely wasn't the end for the young lads. After signing a record deal with Simon Cowell's label, Syco, for £2 million, it's safe to say it was all worth it. One Direction's debut single, "What Makes You Beautiful," became their first No. 1 single in the U.K. and introduced their music to audiences around the world.
Malik's success with One Direction continued. According to Billboard, their first four albums peaked at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and all sold over 3 million copies globally, per Chart Masters. However, all the success in the world wasn't enough for Malik to stay in One Direction. As previously reported by Capital FM, Malik announced his departure on March 25, 2015 while in the middle of a tour due to "stress" and wanting to have a more "normal" lifestyle.
Since 1D, life has definitely changed for the "Kiss You" hitmaker in many ways. Keep reading to find out how.
Zayn Malik has since become a solo artist and father
After Zayn Malik left One Direction, the band continued as a foursome and released their final album Made in the A.M. in 2015. The following year, Malik announced he would be pursuing a solo career. His debut single "PILLOWTALK" was a complete departure from 1D's music and heard the star take on a more R&B sound. The song matched the success he had with the group and topped iTunes' chart in 60 countries, according to Financial Express.
Malik's first album, Mind of Mine, got his solo career off to a good start and became the first British male artist to reach the top spot with a debut album in the U.S., per NME. According to Billboard, Malik has since dropped two more studio albums — Icarus Falls and Nobody Is Listening. Despite having a lot of material to perform and embarking on past world tours with 1D, Malik has yet to go on his own tour. As reported by Z100, Malik was planning his first tour in 2019, but had held off performing in the past because of his anxiety.
Malik has definitely achieved a more low-key lifestyle since 1D, but still remains a hot topic. In September 2020, Malik and his partner Gigi Hadid became parents for the first time to their daughter Khai Hadid Malik, per People. Malik appears to be enjoying life as a solo artist as he has the freedom to be in the spotlight when he chooses to be.