Zayn Malik has released his first solo song since quitting One Direction. Last night UK producer Naughty Boy posted a demo of Malik's new track "I Won't Mind" with the message "Let the music do the talking guys. Thank us later."
On the SoundCloud page that hosted the clip, which has since been taken down, there was the message: "Let the music do the talking. There is nothing but love for what was left behind. That's why we don't mind. ;) #2016 #zaughty #zindabad."
The song is stripped down with Malik's voice accompanied simply by an acoustic guitar and some gentle percussion at the end. It sounds more like a blend of Ed Sheeran and Bon Iver than it does One Direction. It's also a different sound for Naughty Boy, whose work with Sam Smith on "La La La" was much more produced.
"Don't look around cause love is blind and darling right now I can't see you / I'm feeling proud, so without a doubt, I can feel you. / Cause we are who we are, when no ones watching / And your right from the start, you know I got you / Yeah you know I got you," he sings on the first verse before launching into the hook.
"I won't mind, you know I know you," he sings. "You'll never be mine."
Honestly, this sonic direction seems to suit Malik, and we're excited to hear what comes next.
News of Zayn Malik quitting One Direction rocked the Internet last week. Fan reactions ranged from being supportive to being heartbroken, for the most part, but now it appears that anger is the emotion taking over after "I Won't Mind" dropped. Although Malik mentioned plans for a solo career in a recent interview, fans must not have expected it so soon. Rather than support their former idol, they have started to comment on his new song, saying that it was a betrayal and that he lied about his reasons for leaving 1D.
One YouTube commenter wrote, "How could zayn do this to all of us..... he is the reason why hundreds of us commited suicide. He lied millions of us. Why? :("
"I'll always love and support zayn," another wrote. "But I don't say that it doesn't hurt."
Check out the track below, and let us know what you think in the comments section!
