ZAYN
“It’s You”
Mind of Mine (out 03.25 on RCA)
As we hear more of Zayn Malik’s solo singles, it’s becoming more clear why the 23 year-old decided to leave the group that made him famous. Press originally reported that he left One Direction to pursue a radically different, Drake-inspired sound. But this gorgeous, cinematic ballad and his smoldering debut single, “Pillowtalk,” hint that he actually left the group for much simpler reasons — he wanted to sing the kind of love songs that are super awkward to sing with your friends.
In general, boy bands don’t have a great track record of putting out successful songs about real love and sex. Sure, they can hint at it or talk about it in general terms, but like watching porn or hooking up, overtly sensual music often gets pretty weird when you throw five young men or women into the mix at once. “It’s You” is the kind of direct, personal break-up track that is best sung by one, and Malik shines on it. Unencumbered by other voices or perspectives, he pours his tender falsetto over a luxurious, Lana-ish arrangement — his voice simultaneously pining for a past love and reveling in his newfound freedom.
