Zayn Malik is reflecting on being “laughed at” while working hard in a “white band.”
Over the holiday weekend, the pop star took to Instagram to share a snippet from a new song titled Fuchsia Sea, which dives into some pretty heavy themes. In the video post, Zayn walks into a music studio before rapping about the challenges of being the only person of color in the otherwise all-White One Direction boy group, which also included Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and the late Liam Payne:
“Got my back against the wall so much they think I got a brick fascination / Do you remember every conversation? Cause I have been conscious of every connotation / And while they concentrate on their elevation / I’ve got a round trip to the constellation / I’m a convert to the concert, and I did that for inflation, ‘cause I worked hard in a white band, and they still laughed at the Asian.”
Listen (below):
In the comments, fans rushed in to show support as the 32-year-old prepares to drop new music:
“YES ZAYN GET IT”
“From being laughed at for ur identify to rapping it with power…daz the kind of revolution we really needed ZAYNluv from Pakistan~”
“Can’t wait for this We missed you”
“He’s back we won”
“Never been more proud”
The UK-born singer’s father Yaser is Pakistani while his mother Patricia is English and Irish. Zayn didn’t share a specific release date, but teased the full track will be “coming soon.”
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This comes just months after the 10-year anniversary of his decision to leave One Direction, which shocked fans across the world in 2015. He announced at the time:
“I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band. I’d like to apologize to the fans if I’ve let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right in my heart. I am leaving because I want to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight. I know I have four friends for life in Louis, Liam, Harry and Niall.”
While his relationship with the other boy banders has been touch and go over the years, he commemorated the anniversary of his departure in March by performing 1D’s Night Changes in Mexico City. He said at the time:
“It’s the first time I’ve sung that song in 10 years. Thank you, that was f**king amazing. I almost cried.”
We’re innerested to hear more about his experience in the boy band when Fuchsia Sea drops soon!
[Images via Zach Sang Show & One Direction/YouTube, & WENN]
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