Cop a gander of Zayn Malik a-front of GQ!
The former One Direction staple is aiming to cement his solo status with his upcoming sophomore album, which features production from the likes of Timbaland.
And while the success of debut offering ‘Pillowtalk’ saw him shoehorned onto the path of a Pop pin-up ala Justin Timberlake, Malik explains that’s not the trajectory he wants.
His words below…
“I don’t work well in group situations, with loads of people staring at me. And when you say a star everyone wants you to be this kind of character that owns a room or is overly arrogant or confident. I’m not that guy. So I don’t want to be a star.”
The piece points out that Zayn seems to be angling for the “anti-star” ethos of Prince, something another of his comments seems to be suggest:
“No (I don’t have any industry confidants). I don’t ever want to cross wires with other people too much. I just want to see the world through my eyes.” [Source]
Hmm.
Zayn’s approach is ultimately his decision, but he really needs to digest that he’s still very much in the show and prove phase and that the “rebel” angle only works if he adequately satisfies with his music and live performances – the latter of which he’s yet to do at all.
Yes, he’s been open about his struggles with anxiety. But the last uttered on that matter was that he felt much better and would be hitting the live circuit soon. And yet, per the videos below, he’s released several songs over the last year and has yet to promote any of them.
Put simply, the “anti” angle only truly works if he’s giving folk “something” to hook onto and that won’t happen if he doesn’t get out and about and earn authentic clout.
Pretty pictures will only carry him so far.