New Story Of My Life
Diverging from One Direction, Zayn has accomplished No.1 both in the US and UK charts with a single and an album, a great achievement that even the band have never made. Mellifluous, provocative, and at times discreetly bittersweet, he sings his age-adequate story of love and sexuality that reveals his other side. How can we interpret this transformation?
From Boy to Man
In the case of nurturing a girl into an adult female artist, one of the most common maneuvers, exemplified by idol stars from Disney Channel, is wearing an excessively skimpy dress and turning to sex appeal. What about boys then? Well, there has been no obvious answer before Zayn, whose method will probably serve as an important precedent.
Breaking up with his girlfriend, Perrie Edwards of Little Mix, colouring his hair, growing a beard, one of the restrictions in the 1D-era, and making a heavy petting scene in the video of first solo single “Pillowtalk” with his new girlfriend, fashion model Gigi Hadid, he takes you into a smoky, adult world with a sense of sex over the course of his beguiling new album, “Mind of Mine.” Discovered beyond its silky soundscape are vivid love affairs: the love indulgence of “Fool For You” and the disrespect of “It’s You,” where Zayn beefs about his ex. Both tracks bring up sensitive matters that he wouldn’t have addressed in the boy group.
At odds with the predetermined path of 1D, the album suggests his rebellious spirit similar to James Dean as well as blunt honesty and sensibility, exuding something eminently human. It could be a key to maturing into an adult male artist to exhibit human frailty.
＊Written by: Hisashi Murakami
The Adornment of modern R&B sound
Becoming independent from a boy band and revealing his true self through sensual and introspective lyrics over trendy tunes sounds familiar though Zayn sends the alteration–counter haywire on his debut solo album, “Mind Of Mine.” Having on board producers like Malay, who collaborated with Frank Ocean for “Channel Orange,” the album is completed with R&B based on a modern ambient style.
Of course, its main focus is still on Zayn’s vocal and backing tracks just complement him. Demonstrated on lead single “Pillowtalk” and “Wrong,” an arousing duet with Kehlani, virile glamour through his falsetto has remarkably full-bodied charm, and “Fool For You,” a ballad where Questlove plays the drums, sees Zayn belting out the song with fervor. He croons “It’s You” in his clean, high-pitched voice while buoyant mellow soul “Truth” employs his relaxed natural speech-like delivery. And “Tio,” with night vibes reminiscent of The Weeknd, shows his cool presence. This is a real gem that unveils the vocalist’s hidden disposition on each song, turning out to be a welcoming album for R&B fans.
＊Written by: Masayuki Ikeya
