CNN –
Zayn talks about his life and career.
The singer and former One Direction member appeared on the video podcast Call Her Daddy, where he talked about everything from being a part of the hugely successful boy band to co-parenting with model Gigi Hadid.
The interview – his first in almost six years – was conducted at host Alex Cooper’s childhood home in Pennsylvania. Zayn now resides in that state as well, leading Cooper to ask, “Why Pennsylvania?”
“A lot of people ask me that. They always think it’s a coincidence that I live here,” he said. “I came here with my ex [Hadid] a little… i’m in love with it. It’s super quiet and relaxed. I just wanted to take a break from the hustle and bustle.”
He and Hadid are parents to a young daughter. The couple split in October 2021.
Zayn has equal custody of the toddler and said fatherhood has changed him and even eased his fears.
“My main focus since having my daughter is to be a good role model for her,” he told Cooper. “That’s why I’m doing this interview in the first place, you know? I used to be very scared of having a conversation like this. And I want her to be able to look at me and say, ‘My dad does that.'”
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Liam Payne, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan of One Direction in 2013.
The fact that he became super famous as part of One Direction alongside friends Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson didn’t help his fear.
He was the first to leave the group in 2015 and said it was intentional.
“Totally selfish, I wanted to be the first to make my own record,” Zayn explained.
“I was like, ‘This is my first strike,'” he said. “I’m passive, but when it comes to my music and my business. I’m serious and I’m competitive. I wanted to be the first to do my own thing.”
Zayn also shed light on what was going on at the group at the time, which officially went on hiatus months after his departure.
“Obviously there were underlying problems in our friendships as well,” he said. “We were together every day for five years and we were sick of each other if I’m being completely honest.”
In 2016 he released his debut album Mind Of Mine.
“It’s a completely different experience being alone on stage,” he said, telling Cooper that it came with its own pressure.