On January 29, 2016, Zayn Malik released “Pillowtalk”, the first single from his upcoming album and his first single since he departed from One Direction

“I genuinely enjoyed the band and did whatever I could to be myself within that,” Malik said. “But it’s just not where I sit as a musician.”

Malik signed a deal with RCA Records and began working on his upcoming album “Mind of Mine” in July 2015. The album’s sound includes R&B influence, the type of music Malik wanted to make while in One Direction.

“He is singing lyrics that he wants to sing now,” said Trisha Ghandi, senior. “It makes it more meaningful and relatable to the listeners.”

Right before Malik released “Pillowtalk”, he tweeted this picture:

Malik felt like being in One Direction held him back as an artist. Once he released Pillowtalk, he felt like was free to express himself and do his own thing. He was producing music HE wanted to make.

“I couldn’t give my opinion on this or that because it didn’t the grain of what we were as a band and what we represented,” Malik said.

When Malik came out with “Pillowtalk,” he also released the music video. The single debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and the video has been viewed over sixty million times as of Wednesday, February 10. “Pillowtalk” has received very positive feedback from Malik’s fans.

“I think it’s a really good, deep song,” said Ghandi. “He has a nice and rich voice. He is getting the attention he deserves for being a great singer!”

“Pillowtalk” is about the pains of being in a relationship and how the conflicts you encounter can bring you and you significant other closer together. It is about the bad times in a relationship becoming good times.

“Pillowtalk” is definitely more mature of a song than the music Malik used to make with One Direction.

“‘Pillowtalk’ is definitely different from the One Direction music,” said Maia Sepiashvili, senior. “It changes his fan demographic for sure.”

“Pillowtalk” is available for purchase on iTunes and Google Play. To watch the music video, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_3d6GntKbk.