Will Zayn Malik Actually Break Out As A Solo Pop Star?

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When Zayn Malik left One Direction a year ago, 1D fans and the pop universe at large were shocked and horrified — appropriately so, of course. Whether he was your favorite band member or not, he was undeniably an essential part of the group, and the thought of the band continuing on as a four-piece couldn’t help but feel underwhelming. The band stayed on course with last fall’s Made in the A.M., but it seemed like Zayn’s exit was the move that put the final nail in One Direction’s coffin. Luckily, there’s something for 1D fans to rejoice over: Zayn has the potential to become a breakout solo act.

His first single, “Pillowtalk,” topped the Billboard Hot 100 charts this year, and it was a revelation. Far removed from the power-pop bubblegum of “What Makes You Beautiful,” it’s a slinky, sexy, and somewhat dark song that reflects how much he’s matured as an artist over the past five years. Particularly telling is his anguished vocals, which slightly recall a slightly deeper-voiced Thom Yorke. If Zayn’s solo debut, Mind of Mine is full of similarly mature, self-assured tracks, he can move beyond his 1D past, and become a superstar in his own right.

Elsewhere, “BeFoUr” has a slinky groove and a memorable chorus, and has a solid chance at becoming another chart-topper. The “say what you wanna say” hook is quite an earworm, and as a whole, the track has a nice Justified vibe to it. “Like I Would” starts off like a weary breakup ballad, but turns into a dance song on the chorus. The transition isn’t as clumsy as you think it would be. It’s a track that wouldn’t have felt out of place on Justin Bieber’s Purpose, and gives off a similar vibe of maturation. The cover art for Mind of Mine features a juxtaposition between a picture of young Zayn’s face against the tattoos that adorn his arms now, illustrating the divide between fresh-faced boy band star we knew him, and the serious artist he wishes to become. With these strong singles, and his strong, deep vocals, he’s off to a promising start.

This leaves us to wonder if any other 1D members will find a second life with their solo careers. Usually, boy bands either have one breakout solo member (Justin Timberlake, Robbie Williams, sort of Nick Lachey), or none (not single member of the NKOTBSB camp had much luck on their own, aside from a hit or two). So, if Zayn is the first 1D member to make it big outside of the band, it’s enough to make us wonder if any other of the 1D guys will have success outside the band.

Out of the remaining four members, the one most likely to be a star outside of the band would have to be Harry Styles. He’s been the band’s most visible member since its inception; he’s had high profile relationships with Taylor Swift and Kendall Jenner, and he has the type of natural charisma where he just feels like a star. That said, he may end up making more of an impact as an actor than as a vocalist. He recently signed on to play a role in Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk, a prestigious project that will also include Tom Hardy and Mark Rylance. If this film is a success (and it has all the potential to be), Styles could make a seamless transition from acting to film. Or it could be like Timberlake’s acting career, where everyone just wanted him to get back in the studio again. Only time will tell.

It seems a bit telling there’s been a bit of a war of words between Zayn and Harry recently. During the promotion of Mind of Mine, Zayn’s been presenting himself with a new, more rebellious image, and talking about some of the ways he was restricted in 1D (apparently, he wasn’t allowed to grow a beard!). Styles essentially called BS on this, saying that Zayn was not restricted during his time in the band. At this point, this is strictly a he-said-he-said situation and we don’t know who is telling the truth. That said, it’s certainly telling to see the two most famous members of the band having such a public feud. It’s becoming all-too clear that Zayn and Harry are by far the most likely members of 1D to become famous independent of the band. Now, we’re seeing the beginnings of what may prove to be a not-so-friendly rivalry. Don’t be surprised if we see the pair trade barbs more in the future.

We can’t say for sure if One Direction is truly over, but it certainly is looking that way at the moment. Zayn has a slinky new album that will redefine him both as an artist and as a sex symbol, and Harry might be looking to turn acting into his new primary career. With both of them likely to become rich without 1D, it seems unlikely that they’ll have much interest in working with the band again. So, the bad news is, we could be losing one of the more memorable boy bands in history, but with Mind of Mine looking to be Zayn’s breakout moment, we may be seeing the launch of a new pop superstar.

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