Zayn Malik signs solo deal, reveals why he left One Direction

After weeks of leaked audio, video, and social media fallouts with long-time collaborator Naughty Boy, it seems the Zayn Malik solo project is finally on track.

The 22-year-old has signed a solo deal with industry heavyweights RCA Records, who are home to artists like Chris Brown, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Miley Cyrus.

Announcing the news on Twitter last night (July 29), Malik also went into more details about why he quit One Direction back in March.

Having said at the time that he wanted to leave the world-dominating boyband to spend some time with his family and friends away from the spotlight, Malik revealed the real reason for his shock exit was to show the world “who I really am” – while making sure to include an oh-so-loaded reference to ‘real music’.

I guess I never explained why I left , it was for this moment to be given the opportunity to show you who i really am! #realmusic #RCA !!

— zayn (@zaynmalik) July 29, 2015

pic.twitter.com/8AnmCLdU8Z

— zayn (@zaynmalik) July 29, 2015

#REALME

— zayn (@zaynmalik) July 29, 2015

Malik was quickly congratulated by former boss Simon Cowell, who tweeted that he had been working on the young star’s move to RCA “for a while”, and that he was sure “whatever they release together will be special”.

We have been working on this for a while and I am pleased to say congratulations to @Zaynmalik on signing with @RCARecords

— Simon Cowell (@SimonCowell) July 29, 2015

I believe they are the perfect label for @ZaynMalik’s solo career and I am sure whatever they release together will be special.

— Simon Cowell (@SimonCowell) July 29, 2015

Not so quick to congratulate Zayn are his former bandmates, who are yet to publicly respond to the news. Who knows, maybe they’re just too busy celebrating after beating the likes of Kylie, Gaga and Madonna to be named Britain’s gayest music act…

In This Article: