Zayn Malik Says Being A Solo Artist Is ‘A Good Place To Be In’

Zayn Malik is enjoying his time as a solo artist. Since leaving One Direction, Malik has been trying to carve his own path as a musician, and the singer says he’s really happy about the experience.

In an interview with Elvis Duran, the “Pillow Talk” singer said: “I’m enjoying what I’m doing at the minute. When I was in the band, there were times where I needed time away to go see my family and recollect my thoughts. But right now, I feel like I have the time to process things, and I’m doing things in my own space, so it’s a good place to be in.”

Malik has been doing many personal projects since leaving his band, and one of them is writing a book. Speaking of the experience, Malik said it was cathartic to free his mind of the things he had been harboring for a while and sharing them with people who are interested.

Despite enjoying the freedom of doing things on his own, Malik also shared that he was anxious about becoming a solo artist. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, the singer said that he found it difficult to perform by himself. Malik added that he was anxious about fans not liking him as a solo musician. In the end, the singer said he found it would benefit him and his fans if he would speak about his struggles instead of trying to hide them.

Speaking of his decision to leave the band, Malik told Complex that there were “many restrictions” and that he was just eager to do things his way. “Mainly my beard, honestly. I wasn’t allowed to keep it,” Malik said about the restriction. “Eventually, when I got older, I rebelled against it, and decided to keep it anyway.”

Malik left One Direction in 2015.