Call Her Daddy - Zayn: For the First Time in 6 Years (FBF)

Episode Date: May 16, 2025

Multi-platinum recording artist Zayn joins Call Her Daddy for his first sit-down interview in nearly 6 years. From Alex's childhood home in Pennsylvania, he opens up about his surprisingly quiet life in PA, his pre-fame days, his X Factor audition, his reflections on his time with One Direction, and his decision to leave the group. Zayn also discusses the impact of fame on his mental health, proudly sharing his experiences as a father and how it has shifted his priorities. With his highly anticipated new music on the horizon, Zayn provides insight into his inspirations. Get ready to discover a whole new side of Zayn, zaddy gang ;)

What is up daddy gang it is your founding father Alex Cooper with call her daddy. Hey Zayn welcome to call her daddy. Hey. I'm so happy that you're here. We have to preface this with my fans are watching this like where the fuck are you guys? We are in my childhood home daddy gang, okay? Zayn and I are in my living room that I grew up in. Zayn got here and has had to look at all the embarrassing

childhood photos of me. Thank you so much for coming, I've never done a minute. There was no embarrassing photos, just for the record. What did you say? I didn't see any embarrassing photos, I think you hid them all. I actually, there's a couple. You'll see them on your way out

and then you'll never look at me the same. I have never done a podcast in my childhood home. So this feels like a little sentimental. Also, you never really do interviews. I don't. When is the last time you did something like this? I think I did an interview like six years ago. It was the last time I did one. So we're kind of like popping the cherry back off. I think so did an interview like six years ago. It was the last time I did one.

So we're kind of like popping the cherry back off. I think so, yeah. Something like that. So you're living in Pennsylvania and I obviously grew up here. I loved it growing up. It's very family oriented, very suburban. But I'm curious to know like of all the trendy spots that you could have picked why Pennsylvania? Yeah it's interesting a lot of people ask me that like they always think it's

super random that I live out here. I ended up coming out here with with my ex a bit like and I fell in love with it like it was just super like calm and chill like you said suburban and I just wanted to like take a break from like the busy city because like I was living in New York for three years at the time and it just got a bit overwhelming you know like going out of your door to like just craziness all the time so I just wanted a bit more like of a surrounding that like I'm used to like where I grew up in Bradford like in the UK it's a lot more this kind of pace and

vibe so I feel like I just fit in better around here than, like in the UK, it's a lot more this kind of pace and vibe. So I feel like I just fit in better around here than I do in the trendy spots as it were. Yeah, you give trendy vibes, but I think I totally relate to that of like, sometimes when you get to- I'll take that. Yeah, yeah.

I give trendy vibes. You give trendy vibes. Like look at your outfit, it's like pretty swaggy, but then you're also like hanging with the Amish folks. So it's like a good little juxtaposition Zayn, okay? But what I find interesting is I love that you said like, you would be in New York City and I'm assuming you would be going out

and there's paparazzi everywhere taking photos of you. Pennsylvania, there ain't no paparazzi. Oh yeah, that's a great thing. Are they finding you or no? No, no, there's none out here. I think there's like laws and stuff. They're not allowed to even take photos in certain places. Oh, that's amazing.

Okay, the most important question. Have you gone to Wawa yet? I have. Wawa is a nighttime lifesaver out here. I was like, how am I going to get along with Zane if he hasn't like had a love for Wawa yet? So you love it. Yeah, like late night studio sessions, there's nothing else open.

You have to go to Wawa, get the meatball sub. It is so fucking superior. I remember growing up and my excuse whenever I would wanna go like meet up with boys would be like, mom, like, I just wanna go get a Wawa sub. And she'd be like, you're not getting a- She's using Wawa as your cover up. Yeah. up with boys would be like, Mom, like, I just want to go get a wah-wah sub and she'd be like, you're not using wah-wahs your cover up.

Okay, so I feel like again, you're kind of this mysterious guy, Zayn. We don't really know too much about you. You're kind of under the radar. So can you take me through a typical day in the life of Zayn in Pennsylvania? Like what are we doing? Make us feel like we're a part of your life. A typical day for me is, it kind of varies, it depends what kind of mood I wake up in, but I take it pretty easy.

Now because obviously I've got my daughter like 50% of the time, it's a balance between the two things, but when I buy myself a typical day is I probably wake up around midday, have a shower, eat some food, and then like figure out if I'm gonna go to the studio and do some writing, because I've been in like writing mode for a long time, just like working on my records and stuff. So just, yeah, just getting into the studio pretty much.

And then I'll be there like all day until I got sleep. Then you're going to Wawa. And then I go to Wawa, yeah. Of course, of course. And stop off for a sandwich. Are you go to Wawa. And then I go to Wawa, yeah. Yeah, of course, of course. That's it, yeah. And stop off for a sandwich. Are you someone that likes to be alone? I like my own space.

I like to collect my thoughts in like a more quiet environment. I feel like when there's a lot of people around, it kind of like just gets a bit hectic for me. Yeah, I just, I like to chill by myself from time to time. But I don't mind hanging out with people now, like on occasion. You know what I'm saying? Like it has to be the right kind of environment and after like

want to be there, you know. No, I get that. I feel like that's also growing up. Like I was recently talking to some of my audience. I was meeting them in person and we're like, it's kind of weird when you just start to grow up, you just get more specific with who you wanna spend your time with. I think that's a healthy thing. Obviously you're on a even bigger stage

because you were around millions of people in stadiums and tours and everything. But I also think that's kind of relatable. It's like, you know what, sometimes I wanna be alone and then I'll still hang with people, but like you gotta be good company. Yeah, I've always thought like, it would be, you know, a pretty normal reaction to feel that way around so many people. I think anybody who was like overwhelmed in that manner would

feel, you know, a certain type of way about it. But I'm definitely learning to manage it a lot better. Like, as I'm getting older, like it's more of a choice, you know, rather than a hindrance. It's not like I can't do that. It's like I'd rather prefer not to. Yeah. That makes sense. I own it a bit more, yeah. You obviously love music, but can you share with us,

like, what are some of your other hobbies? What are your passion about? What's other than music? Like my main passion, I think outside of music is, is art. I love to paint and I love to draw. I do a bit of cooking. Okay, tell me one of your dishes. Come on, I can't cook for shit. I can cook a lot of different things. But I like to cook meat, like specifically, like, I have a smoker outside and I like to smoke like lamb and I cook like my

like I'll do like grilled vegetables with it and stuff. Oh is this like new or were you always good at cooking? I wasn't always good at cooking unfortunately for me, no my mum kind of spied up me as a kid so when I was living by myself like at 17 there was some botched jobs done for some meals. Yeah, it wasn't great. Some disgusting stuff was going down for sure. Yeah, horrible. Yeah, just sandwiches, you know, out of like crisps. That's kind of nice to be able to know, like you can cook. You're over there painting.

You can sing. OK, no big deal. Don't keep bragging over there. Wow, making us all look bad. Do you have animals? I do, yeah, I've got a lot of animals. I have three cats, three dogs. Do they get along? They're kind of like in different places.

I have some dogs that are one part of my house and the cats in the other. We have three turtles, six chickens. Do you name them all? No, I haven't, not this time. I got too attached last time and it made me really sad. Did the chickens die? Yeah.

I took my chicken to the vet to get a scan because something was wrong with her. And the vet laughed at me and said, people don't bring chickens here Um, and and then they still charged me for an x-ray and then I took my chicken all the way home and cried And she died in my arms. Wait Zane. I'm like not laughing because it's funny It is kind of funny, but not because the chicken died But it's just funny seeing me take a chicken to the vet. I think it-

And when you say you're holding your chicken, like are you holding your chicken like this? Yeah, fully on my lap, yeah. She died on my lap. So you weren't crazy for going to the vet? No, yeah, she had something wrong with it. We tried to rescue them. They were gonna be slaughtered, I think.

And they had all kinds of things wrong with them, yeah. But I've got new chickens now, and they're all healthy and stuff, but I didn't name them for that reason. Okay, and what are the kinds of things wrong with them, yeah. But I've got new chickens now and they're all healthy and stuff, but I didn't name them for that reason. Okay, and what are the names of the cats? Salem, Dobby, and Vito. Dobby, is that from Harry Potter? It's from Harry Potter, he's a sphinx, he's a pink sphinx, yeah.

So he looks a little bit like Dobby. Dobby! Ourself. Harry! That's so good, you're a Harry Potter fan. I'm a big Harry Potter fan. Zane, I didn't know that about you. I wouldn't have pegged you You're a Harry Potter fan. I'm a big Harry Potter fan. Zayn, I didn't know that about you. I wouldn't have pegged you as like a Harry Potter guy. This is like really good vibes.

It was my thing as a kid. That's really good. Okay, and what are the dog's names? Zion, Zeus and Thumper. Thumper? With an F, yeah. Thumper? Thumper. Like Thumper, but with an F. How did you come up with that? Bambi. Thumper? With an F, yeah. Thumper? Thumper, like thumper, but with an F. How did you come up with that?

Bambi, thumper, the rabbit. But you wanted an F? Yeah, thumper, I thought it sounded better. Yeah. Yeah. Just put it there. It's better in my accent, thumper, you know? Yeah, it does sound pretty good.

Something I love to do on Call Her Daddy is like, the reason we all are the way that we are is because of our childhood, where we came from, who we were raised by, our environment growing up. Obviously you living in Pennsylvania right now is so different from where you grew up in the UK in Bradford like you described. Can you explain to people that may not be familiar

with Bradford, like what was your upbringing like and what was that environment like? Where do you want me to start? Just wherever it feels right, go ahead. Yeah, Bradford's not obviously like Pennsylvania in terms of the wealth and the way that it's like, looked after and taken care of. It's an impoverished community,

there's people below working class there that have a hard environment that they're growing up in, you know, everyone's kind of got some issues going on at home or something's happening, you know, even if it's on the street or whatever, wherever you go, there's a lot of confliction, you know. So it was very different to here in that sense for sure, but I'm very grateful for where I grew up because it definitely, like you said, shaped and molded a lot of identity for me.

Early on, I was questioned, you know, and like interrogated about my identity because of my environment. Like, it's just the way it is. Like, you have to have a good understanding of who you are. And I'm really grateful for that. You know, it helped cement my own identity myself, I think. When you talk about like people would question your identity, I know your family is not from the UK.

Your family is Pakistani. And I'm curious, is that what you're- My father is, my mom's English. Okay, so are you saying like, is that how that was influenced? No, not necessarily, just in every sense of the word. Like even like your fashion, the clothes you wanna wear,

the way you wanna cut your hair, it was always, something was questioned, you know, if you weren't doing the norm that was like, that everybody was doing or everyone was following, you know, everyone would wear a certain type of pant or a certain type of shoe. And if you weren't dressed that way, you would get questioned about it.

People would be very in your face and be like, give you shit. So you had to have a bit about you so that you could know who you were and have a conversation back. Have a bit of wits about you as it is street smarts. For sure. You gotta be able to hold your own. Exactly, yeah.

And when you say people are coming at you, is it more like peer dynamics of, or is it more like authoritative figures? Yeah, there's a mix of everything. It depends, there's the peer pressure in schools and stuff, but then it's on the street. If you go out there and stuff, if you're just trying to have a good time,

it's not the street if you go out there and stuff, if you're just trying to have a good time, you know, like it's not as friendly fun, you know, it's a bit more like irate. There's a bit of aggression going on, you know what I mean? Talk to me about where you grew up. Like, are you in an apartment? Are you in a condo? Are you in a home?

Oh no, I grew up in a terraced house, in a rented property. We never owned our own house. So yeah, it was a small house. There was like three bedrooms, kitchen, living room, but the streets are all like, every house is like stuck next to the one next to it. You know what I'm saying? There's no space. You have a garden that's like enough for maybe a dog to sit in.

So yeah, it's a bit different for sure, yeah. So you have three sisters? Okay, and so you are the one boy and three sisters. I do have three sisters, yeah. What was it like growing up with all, mostly women around you? Like, how do you think that shaped you? I feel like I learned a lot of things like early on.

My sisters are very opinionated, you know, they're very strong characters. And yeah, I love them, they're great. They're a lot of fun, yeah. It was always entertaining in our house for sure. I love, I really love when I meet a guy and I'm you can just tell that he has sisters because you can just tell the way they move around women. You guys learn what a fucking tampon is earlier.

I had to go to the store and buy them. Wow. So you were like really supporting that time of the month. Yeah. Terrified. Yeah. But supportive. For sure. Okay. Were you reluctant to go to the store and buy anything? but supportive. For sure, yeah. Okay.

Were you reluctant to go to the store and buy anything? Definitely not. It was just kind of weird when the shopkeeper would ask me why I was buying them. And I'm like, obviously I'm not buying them for myself. Do you have to ask me that? Just let me buy this. You wouldn't stick a couple extra snacks around it.

You're just tampon. No, yeah, we didn't have money for extra snacks. It was just, it needs to remain, yeah. Zane's like, I'll take the supers, these bitches are on it. Me too, the other way around. But yeah, exactly. It was always an awkward conversation,

but yeah, I didn't mind it. I respect it, I really do. You gotta do that for your sisters. Okay, to people obviously that weren't there in your childhood, how would you describe your personality as a kid? My personality as a kid, I think I was a bit of a cheeky, cheeky chappy, yeah, used to mischievous,

used to get into all kinds of just childish stuff, you know, like climbing in places I shouldn't have been and falling out trees and smashing windows and stupid things, yeah. Oh. With a football, accidentally of course. Right, right, right, for sure, for sure. So you were getting in trouble a little bit.

Just like childish stuff, nothing too serious. Yeah, like climbing trees. Exactly, yeah, exciting shit. Okay, so you were kind of just like doing your thing as a kid, but I also think the way that you're describing the environment that you grew up, was there a way that you could have gone

down the wrong path easily because of that environment, it was easy to get wrapped up in the wrong crowd? Oh, definitely, yeah. I think there was always an opportunity to go and do something that would have got you in serious trouble. I was really lucky in a sense that like my mother and father like were super protective of that environment. My dad was always aware of you know the things

that were out there and he always explained stuff to me from a young age and kind of kept me away from that if I'm being honest and that's where like I developed into being a person that likes to be by myself and like in my room like singing, recording, writing. I got into poetry and things like that because I was in my room a lot. Like, and I didn't like to be in them kind of environments. It was just a bit too much, you know?

I was always a bit more of a reserved kind of guy, but you know, artistic, wanted to do my own thing. I didn't really want to be in that. So my parents did a good job of keeping me away from it, I think, yeah. Did you get along with kids in school? Were you like the cool kid? Were you bullied?

Like what was the vibe? Yeah, I think I got on with pretty much everyone, but I wasn't like, I was the type of person who only ever had like two, three close friends. I didn't have like a big group. Like I knew people, people knew of me. I don't think I was the cool kid, but I wasn't have like a big group. Like I knew people, people knew of me. I don't think I was the cool kid, but I wasn't bullied either.

Yeah, like if people knew me, they were friendly with me. Yeah. I feel like a lot of kids, we always have that like memory. Maybe it's financial, maybe it's something with the parents or the siblings or extended family, like of like a childhood memory that you remember your family kind of just being like stressed or going through something difficult,

kind of like if you could remember kind of a childhood memory that you remember just being like stressed about something in your life. Like looking back at like childhood stresses, like I feel like a lot of them were so like finicky that there's just probably just some teenage shit. You know what I mean? It wasn't anything important.

So I don't really look back at things like that in my personality, the way I am. I've never really looked back and been like, oh yeah, this is one thing that kinda was a stressful thing. I think life is interesting like that. I think it depends on what you're going through at that time and how you feel, and then you can reflect on it at a different point and feel completely differently about it.

Yeah. It's so interesting. I have a lot of respect even for you answering it like that, because I know that you've been open about at one point your family being on food stamps, and I feel like a lot of people would sit here and that may have been the answer, right? Yeah, yeah. That would have been like, well, fuck. Like I couldn't even, I didn't know where my next meal was. And you're like, oh, you know, maybe it was childish shit, like no big deal. And it's like, that's interesting if you.

Yeah, no, and obviously there is, there was some serious things like that for sure too, but I don't look back at it in terms of a negative light. You know, it all helped to like shape a mold who I am and make me grateful for the things that I have now, you know? Yeah. So we are here because you can sing. When did you first realize you were passionate about singing and you could sing? I think I was about 11, 12. I'd sung a little bit before, like I'd done a bit in like school

choir and stuff. Funny story, I actually fancied like I'd done a bit in like school choir and stuff. Funny story, I actually fancied like these three girls that were in choir and they were triplets and that's why I just was like I'm gonna be in choir just so I can hang around these girls. And then it developed from there when I went into high school, I went to a performing arts college, like specifically like majored in sports and performing arts. And they were doing the school production that year for greets and I auditioned and nobody could sing like at all, like in our whole school. And I went and did this like singing audition. Everyone was like, whoa, you can sing. And then my music teacher like recommended that I get like a couple of singing lessons and stuff.

And then she said, I think you should go on X-Factor. I think you've got a good chance. Like, and it just kind of went from there. Like, so. I love that the story started with, you know, there were these three triplets and it just felt right to join choir. I was like eight as well, by the way.

So swaggy. You're like, I got to get in that class. I need to just spend this time here. Right. So like your natural just like boy interests ended up, you realized something that you had a true talent from the triplets to X factor. You made it. So it's so funny too, because you say you wouldn't be where you are without your mom, because

you didn't want to get out of bed the morning that you had the X Factor audition and your mom made you go. Why did you also not want to go initially? I think it was just nerves. I built it up in my head and I was like, yo, this is a massive thing. And yeah, I was like, I don't think I'm gonna go today. And my mom's like, you are going, you're going right now. You're gonna go see what happens. So yeah, I definitely owe it to her for that, for sure.

Oh my God, and so did you like practice? You were practicing for it. Yeah, but I had no idea, no clue. Like they told us like we had to have like a backing track like a Karaoke version and like I was so like inexperienced at that time that I didn't even know what that was So like I was just planning on singing acapella. So I was just gonna do it like without anything And it was so weird for me to adjust to singing on a backing track. I was like this is such a weird experience I think even Simon looked at me a little bit was like, this is such a weird experience.

I think even Simon looked at me a little bit weird, like when I did the acapella, because everybody had backing tracks and stuff, but yeah. So that probably made you stand out though. I don't know, it could have worked either way. Maybe it made me sound really bad too. No, it will obviously not look where you're fucking sitting. Yeah, true.

Do you remember what you sang? Yeah, I do, Mario, Let Me Love You. And the reason I said that is because I've seen that performance back a few times and cringed every time I watched it. So yeah, it's not my best vocal performance. There's a lot of nerves involved there for sure. But clearly there was something in there, Zane. There's some talent.

Yeah, there's some potential. Wow. Acapella and he just nails it. When you look back at that moment, obviously, is it like surreal? Like if you even had to like watch it back, like is it, does it even feel like a lifetime ago? Yeah, it does. It feels like so much longer than it actually was. Yeah. Because so much stuff's happened in that time.

Yes, it's very interesting, very surreal. And I feel all them nerves again, like when I watch it, like I feel like I could like give myself a hug, you know, and be like, it's okay, bro. Cause I literally, I'm like holding onto the mic for dear life. Please, nobody hurt me. Yeah. It's so good.

So obviously then X Factor, everyone, Simon, everyone came to you guys and they had this idea to invent One Direction. And then I think people don't, I don't even know, like did you even meet anyone before they put you guys together? Yeah, we knew each other like just from around. Cause we were like a similar age and stuff.

So naturally you speak to people who were like a similar age to you around there and stuff. And we were at bootcamp together. And we'd, I met Harry on my audition day because we both auditioned in Manchester. And we were literally sat next to each other in the audition. Oh, so it was like fucking meant to be.

He was sat right next to me, we spoke and I went in and did like a producing audition round. And then he went in straight after me. And we spoke a little bit there, yeah. So you weren't complete strangers. That's good to know. Cause I didn't know if they like just threw you all together and then you were like, hey, what's up? It's edited very well, obviously, you know, you don't see all. That's good to know. Cause I didn't know if they like just threw you all together and then you were like, hey, what's up?

You said it very well, obviously, you know, you don't see all behind the scenes and stuff. But yeah, you spend a lot of time with the contestants. Okay, got it. Once you started obviously One Direction and you joined One Direction, like how quickly did your actual life change? Was it overnight immediate or was it a little bit gradual?

It was kind of strange. Like visual evidence of life changing, people being outside of the studio and stuff was like, when we were on the live shows, we started to get like a fan base and an audience and you could see that people were paying interest in us. So yeah, from that point on, like it was kind of a bit crazy. Like what were you even able to comprehend it?

Not really, I don't think I comprehended it at all. Like I think it's just a rush, you know, it was like just fun. And then the repetitive fun over and over again, eventually is going to take its toll, you know what I mean? so then you look at a certain way when you're in that and like it feels overbearing now I look back at it like it was a rush you know it was it was fun it was and it was something that was amazing like so of course I wasn't gonna understand it it's not something I expected in my life but it was definitely fun for sure yeah because it Cause it is so interesting. I think people forget like you were 17 at the time. Yeah, 17. Yeah.

Like my brother lived in this house at 17 and was like picking his nose and going to wah-wah and like trying to fucking get girls to pay attention to him. And you are like all of a sudden overnight become one of the biggest stars in the world. Can you help us commoners over here Zane? Commoners. Commoners. Can you help us commoners over here, Zane? Commoners.

Commoners. Can you help us understand like what skyrocketing to that level of fame can do to you as an individual when you're like by yourself at night laying in bed trying to understand like what is happening to you and your life? Yeah, you can definitely get into deep places of thought if you really reflect on it in that kind of manner. To be honest with you, I don't think I was even intellectually capable to do that at that age.

I think it's took time for me to process them things. I think I've had to process it with an older mind and look at it backwards and be like, yo, this was why this happened and this is what happened and you know, we took off at this point and this interview made this happen and then this song made this happen and just decipher it, you know, as like facts rather than like in an emotional manner. Because emotion like just seems to just blur things, you know?

So I try not to think about them things on that kind of level, like, oh, I'm super famous. Like I just make music, you know? I love singing and people seem to have an interest in it. So yeah. Yeah, a little bit, just a little bit. No, I almost get what you're saying. Like you kind of have to black it out and just be present because if you stop to think about

all of it, then it's all going to come washing over you. Exactly, yeah. That's how I deal with it. I don't black it out so much, but I just don't overthink. It works for me that way, I think. Yeah, you just almost have to stay present because it's like what else are you going to do? In the moment, yeah, just enjoy it.

And then like in 10 years time, you can look back and be like, this is what happened. Like now you can look at it in hindsight and be like. If you have 10 years time, but you know. Right, right, right. If you have that luxury. Yeah, but you've had time probably now to be like, whoa, in your quiet moments now in life,

where you can actually sit and dissect things that at 17, 18 years old, again, like you said, I was just having fun. I was just going with it. And also it's not like you were just on this solo tour, like you were a part of something. So that also probably affected of like, be a good team player, like go with the flow, like do what you gotta do.

Obviously your guys fans are insane. They're obsessed, they're still obsessed, they're everywhere, they love you guys. Can you share any memorable fan moments that you remember to this day that have stuck with you of just anything that happened that you're like, damn. I've probably said this a lot of times, but honestly, it was one of the craziest

and most bizarre moments ever. I remember coming out of a studio once in Sweden when we were recording What Makes You Beautiful. And this is before even we dropped our first single and there was like a row of like maybe five, six bins, like trash cans, like outside of the studio. And I came out and like every single one of the trash cans opens and there's like three people

inside of each trash can. And they tried to like grab me and it was a very memorable moment. That was for sure, yeah. I think I had a mini heart attack. Humans popped out from garbage cans and tried to grab you. It's like a fucking video game. Like swallow you into the fucking, what?

Yeah, it's funny. Oh wow. Do you think that in any way... That's dedication though, right? Like to get into a trash can, like... Zayn, they were willing to get in the trash bucket for you. That's so good. Okay?

Motherfucker, they are loyal. They are. Do you think that those kind of moments though, not that we don't love the fans, we're obsessed, but like people being so obsessed with you, like is there any lingering paranoia from people constantly staring at you and following you? No.

No, not really. I don't have paranoia in that sense, no. That's good. You sleep well. Yeah, I do. I sleep in Pennsylvania. Yeah, I know. Look, it's raining.

I can hear the crickets. It's amazing. There's no crazy people out there. No one crazy in Pennsylvania. That, I know. Look, it's raining. I can hear the crickets. It's amazing. There's no crazy people out there. No one crazy in Pennsylvania. That's debatable. You're performing in front of massive crowds and I know you're kind of saying like you were in the moment, but like were you able to just easily get in front of all these people? Was there no fear or anxiety that came with like standing in front of thousands and hundreds of thousands of people when you're on stage? I think there was, but I don't think we had time for it.

Like there was no, like you have time to have anxiety or be nervous, you're just kind of going to go do it. You know, like get on with it. So yeah, we just, we kind of, I think we just got thrown into the deep end and we kind of just had to swim. And I feel like we did a good job in terms of like, you know, keeping it together and making the music

that we were meant to make. I think I got out at the right time. I think if it had done it any longer, it might have affected me a bit more. But I think we did the right amount. Yeah. I think it's interesting too, because when you look at bands, or even just like any brand that has like multiple people attached to it, like everyone loves to put archetypes with people.

Like the Spice Girls, for example, perfect example. You have to label everyone. And so for a boy band, it would be like the boy next door, like the bad boy, like the brooding one or the funny one. What persona do you think you played? This is the make out that I was like the brooding serious one. Yeah, but that wasn't necessarily my personality type. I think it's just a marketing scheme. You know, you've got the Teletubbies, you've got Spice Girls, you've got whatever. Like it's just a marketing scheme, you know, like, oh, this is this one. So I get it, but I don't think you can define an entire person to one personality trait,

you know, we're a little bit more complex than that. Yeah, I don't know what my trait would have been if I'd have given myself one. It might have took a long time to come up with one if I was going to do that. So I can see why they just said, oh yeah, you can be the mysterious one. Yeah, it's interesting. I love the Teletubby reference. You're like, the Teletubbies, the Spice Girls One Direction. I'm like, the fucking Teletubbies. Yeah, I think Simon was behind the Teletubbies too.

Wait, stop. What's the other one? Yeah, and the Power Rangers. Yeah. It's so fucking crazy. I think Simon was behind the Teletubbies too. Wait, no, stop! What's the other show? Yeah, on the Power Rangers, yeah. It's so fucking crazy. It's all coming full circle. It's all making sense. Fuck, no, but it's interesting,

because I was gonna ask, I agree, you kind of had this brooding, mysterious personality, and that's why I'm excited to sit down with you today, because again, those stereotypes that were put onto people, I'm curious if first of all, who comes up with that marketing people, I guess. I'm guessing so. Yeah. It's not like the fans, it's kind of just happens.

Well, yeah. And maybe some of the fans kind of like naturally say this too, you know what I mean? From like pictures and things like that. Like, so you, did you agree? So you didn't agree with it, but do you think you leaned into it more or do you think I just had one face to pull? You know, in my I was doing the Zoolander like that was it. You know, I mean, I was only a young kid. I didn't know what else to do. I get it. If anything, maybe it made it easier

because you're like, this is just my lane. Yeah, this is me. Just stick with this. They won't ask me too many questions. Do you think you're mysterious? Not really, I just like to just like chill, I like to be in the back a little bit. Yeah, I'm a bit more relaxed. I'm not like trying to like be in your face. You're not trying to jump in front.

Yeah, exactly. Okay, well now you're solo, so you got to jump in front. That's it. Okay, we're gonna get there. Take the reins. I love how you kind of mentioned, you know, you got out at the right time. And I think that you leaving the band

obviously shook the fucking world and everyone was like, Zayn, like, no, like, keep it together. But I think what again we forget is you're a human being and you clearly had to take care of your mental health and do what was best for you. Can you, I know you've lightly talked about this, but just so we get a full circle moment, can you just take us back to that moment of like actually sitting with yourself and knowing it was time to leave?

Yeah, I think I'd known for a minute. There was a lot of, look, I don't want to go into too much detail, but there was a lot of politics going on. Certain people were doing certain things, certain people didn't want to sign contracts. So I knew something was happening. So I just got ahead of the curve. If I'm being honest with you, I was like, I'm just going to get out of here. I think this is done. And I'd just seen it. And I completely selfishly wanted to be the first person to go and make my own record.

If I'm being completely honest with you, I was like, I'm going to jump the gun to be the first person to go and make my own record, if I'm being completely honest with you, I was like, I'm gonna jump the gun here for the first time, I'm a passive dude, but when it comes to my music and my business, I'm serious about it and I'm competitive. So I wanted to be the first to go and do my own thing. That was the reason. And then there was obviously underlying issues

like within our friendships too, we'd been together every day for five years and we'd got sick of each other for being completely honest. So we were close, you know, we'd done crazy things with each other and that nobody else in the world will ever understand or have them experiences that we've shared with each other.

And I look back on it now in a much fonder light than I would have, you know, as I'd just left. There were great experiences, I had great times with them, but yeah, we just run our course. I love that you're saying that too, because I think people can relate to that of like, if you're with the same people 24-7, no shit, and I think I can imagine as you guys were younger, everyone was so idealizing this band that you couldn't say that back in the day of like, yeah, we got fucking sick of each other. It was time to like do our own things. And I think that's so okay.

But because there was this obsession, obviously, I get it. There's the nostalgia. For sure. Yeah. It's an idea, isn't it? Yeah. When you watch Friends, you don't want Joey cussing off Chandler, you know what I mean? You want these people to be best friends. Like it's an idea. Yeah. You want them to stay together forever.

But I also think it's so healthy because imagine if you hadn't ended it, then you really would have fucking hate each other and being able to go on your own way. Also, someone always has to be the first one to leave. Exactly. And maybe it's the best thing for it, but in the time I can imagine there's hurt feelings.

Were you afraid of what the world was gonna think of you when you made that decision? I don't think I was afraid, no. Um, I just, um, the first thing I wanted to do was, uh, call my mom. As cheesy as that sounds. I just wanted to call her and be like, is it okay if I come home? Like, is this, this, this good? Like, and she was like, yeah. So as soon as she said that, I was like, yeah, I'm good. Like, I'm, I'm good. Like I'm I'm done. Like I'm over this I don't I didn't really care about what anybody else thought. That's that's a type of person I am like we were talking about earlier. I try to close them opinions off

I'm not really the type of person who defines myself on other people's opinions of myself if people know me and know me well They know who I am And I spend that time on them people and make sure that they're looked after and they get that time with me rather than the people that I'm never necessarily even gonna see or have a conversation with, especially if it's a negative remark. Positive remarks are always nice.

I don't really pay attention to either of them if I'm being completely honest with you. Just don't let it get in my head. I think that's so smart because I think social media, even if you're not famous, everyone is feeding themselves and their worth by what other people are saying about them. And it's like, you good with your family?

And I don't mean family by blood. You may not be good with your family. Just yeah, people that you have around you, yeah, your circle, yeah. And as long as they're good, then that's all that matters to me. Wait, but did you not tell your mom you were doing it? Did I not tell my mom I was leaving?

Yeah. No, it was like kind of spurred a moment. Like I had not told her beforehand like, oh, I'm thinking of leaving. I just called her on that day that I was leaving and said, I'm coming home. Is it okay if you still got a bed for me? She was like, yeah. Same, stop. Yeah, man.

So it's long. She's like, can't come back. Yeah, my dad wasn't so cool about it. He was like, no, no, you got to stay with Simon. Stop. Yeah, man. So it's long. She's like, can't come back. My dad wasn't so cool about it. He was like, no, no, you got to stay with Simon. Simon's going to stay, you're right. Like don't come home, stay there. But my mom was like, yeah, you can come home. Please son, come home.

You know? Oh my God. That's actually really cute that the first person, like, mom, do you have a bed for me? She's like, let's go. Cause didn't you also buy your mom, one of the first things you did with your success is you bought her a home.

How cool was that to be able to buy your mom something after everything she's done? It's a great feeling. Wild. Okay, so you leave the band and take me to when you're laying in your mom's home, you're in bed. What were those next couple of weeks like for you, like mentally and emotionally?

It was interesting, I was just trying to get stuff together like I wanted to get like a plan of action you know what I mean? So I was like on a bit of a mission. I wasn't there too long, I went home for a little bit and then I went back to London and started working and stuff. That must have been so stressful too because I feel like, I guess we see it in various different forms, but like if you make a jump, even if someone like quits their job, right? They're like, I need to prove to myself and other people that like, I now can do it.

Like, and so did you put pressure on yourself when obviously you came out being solo? Like, were you fucking nervous? Yeah, for sure. It's a very different experience starting on stage by yourself too. Like it's a whole different workload as well well singing three and a half minutes of a song completely by yourself like when you've got a song divvied between five people you're singing a

little bit of a verse maybe some ad libs you know I preferred the workload don't be honest um but you're like taking a nap in the back you're just like dang it's your part yeah oh yeah nice one You're like taking a nap in the back. You're just like, dang, it's your part. You're like, fuck. Yeah, oh yeah, nice one. But yeah, I just kind of had to like make an adjustment. I started practicing a lot more, singing a lot more, and just like making sure I could sing for three minutes.

Right, you had to be like, I need to get back to my let me love you days. That's it. Where I'm like back on X Factor. It's just me. I'm curious, and I don't know, cause I know you were saying, and I totally respect it of like, you were saying, and I totally respected of like,

you were kind of just in this phase of going, going, going, and you didn't have time to stop. But when you did go solo and you left, did you have to take any moment to be like, who the fuck am I independent of now not being a part of something that I was identified as in media? not being a part of something that I was identified as in media?

Yeah, definitely. I think that's why I've took the time I have to not even necessarily do interviews and do too much press exposure because I feel like we were so overexposed in the band that it takes a bit of time for you naturally to progress as a human and give something else that is interesting that you have to say. You don't want to be sat there just saying the same shit on repeat, you know what I mean? Day in, day out. I think this should be a good healthy break in between and that was my approach to it for sure. So I feel like in terms of figuring out what your identity is as an artist, the only way you're going to do that is by living.

You can't just be on the conveyor belt and expect to have any sort of experience that's new that you're gonna give people. I love that too, because I feel like people, especially creators, they're such a stress about taking a break. And it doesn't mean you're actually taking a break. You could be working your ass off.

Still working, yeah. But like popping out of not doing it in the spotlight yeah and you did were you able to just not have the anxiety about it so you're like I know I'm coming back but it's like I got to just be good on my own shit and not be fulfilling the tabloids and everyone else like how am I on my own right exactly yeah that was all behind it for sure you start doing your own solo music and I remember when you came out, Pillow Talk, all the good stuff, you popped off. And it's like really dope to see you coming out

with your own sound and creative and it's you. And that's exciting to know, like you are producing this and it's not obviously a no shade to One Direction, but like you're one of five. Like you can't really have a full say in shit. Now this is you. When you started on your solo career, like was there anything that you really wanted

to make sure that you could bring to life that maybe you weren't able to when you were in a band? Like creatively? Creatively, I just wanted to talk about things, you know, that were a bit more real like an authentic Situations I was going through in my life like obviously certain things that we would talk about in the band was always very you know clean Cut like just glazing over the top not really any depth or any stories to what's going on And that was always a big thing for me

obviously, I understand again from a marketing scheme that like the audience and the fan base we were appealing to at that point was that kind of vibe. So it was never going to work for that kind of audience. But yeah, I just wanted to show people that I had a bit more depth. Yeah. Yeah. I get that. Because like, even earlier you said like you like to write poetry and I'm like I can only imagine how much the writing process is therapeutic and you get to infuse parts of yourself and your identity Whereas that just like wasn't in the past which it shouldn't have been like it was a band. It was great Whatever, but now you can actually artistically exercise that part of yourself, which must be I think it's difficult for people to write songs

Even from one one perspective, you know exercise that part of yourself, which must be really fun. I think it's difficult for people to write songs even from one perspective, you know? There was five of us in the room when we used to write sometimes, and it was so hard to get us all to have the same viewpoint and wanna talk about the same thing. So in that sense, from a creative point, it is a lot more freeing for me.

I can fully get to grips with every part of it, you know, the melody, the story, the production, the emotion, the feeling that I'm trying to convey in each song. So in that sense, it's super liberating. It's cool. Cause I think you're getting now, we're getting to know you a little bit better now that you are doing solo music, but do you think,

do you think that the world even like slightly knows Zayn yet? I don't know. I try to like move in a certain way that, you know, hopefully I will still have some juice, you know? I don't want to give everything all it would got. So if they don't know everything yet, that's okay. But hopefully they get to know me a bit better

in this interview, you know? See, maybe. They get to see my thought patterns. Still a little mysterious, Sane. I'm trying, I'm trying. I'm trying to be an open book. We like it. Okay, how about this?

Describe yourself in three words. Describe myself in three words. Describe myself in three words? Mm-hmm. Well, I'm definitely not gonna use mysterious as one of them. I would say I'm a chill, funny, loving guy. All the girls watching this are like, ah, that's so nice. That's so nice.

What's your favorite thing about yourself? I don't know. I think I like the fact that I'm pretty witty. Like I'm pretty smart. And I enjoy that about myself, I think. You're a good company with yourself. Yeah, yeah. I enjoy that I'm pretty smart.

I have a little laugh to myself about that. What's your least favorite thing about yourself? I'm a bit sensitive sometimes. Not in a bad way. Yeah, it's a good thing. I can take things the bit sensitive sometimes. Yeah. Not in a bad way. Yeah, it's a good thing. I can take things the wrong way sometimes. I'm definitely working on that. Like give me an example.

Like I just tend to like, if somebody says something to me, like I'll take it the wrong way. If I really care about their opinion, what they're saying to me. Got it. Yeah. Then you'll get upset.

Yeah. I think that's good though. That means you care. Right? Yeah. Like I said, with the people that are close to me. Right. Do you think you at times can be too caring in moments that you need to learn to like... I'm learning to be a bit more tame with it, yeah, for sure. Well, boundaries. Yeah, no, not boundaries, just like I'm just learning not to like get in my head about certain things, not boundaries, just like, I'm just learning not to get in my head

about certain things, you know, across the board. Like I exercise that well in terms of dealing with the media and things like that, but I don't necessarily do that too well in my personal life sometimes. I take things to heart, yeah. That's good though. Again, it does mean you care.

But I get, then you're like, yeah, but then I'm over here dying inside. I gotta muster up the courage to be like. Then I get, then you're like, yeah, but then I'm over here like dying inside. I gotta like muster up the courage to be like. Then I go write a song. Yeah, yeah. Put that into a song, okay? Give us one that's like really sad so we can like cry. Oh, I've got a few, I've got a few.

Oh, really? A few really sad ones, yeah. Mm-hmm, see, this is what we need, Z. Okay. We need some criers. We've got some cry moments. What do you think is the biggest misunderstanding about you? That I'm like super serious. Like that I like just, I'm like super stern and serious, yeah, all the time. When I'm not, like, I'm just chill.

I know that like a lot of people have like high energy personalities and it's just not the way I am. It's, you know what I'm saying? I'm just a bit more relaxed about things. It's actually nice to be in person with you because I could see in media, it could come off, I get it, like serious. You're literally just chilling. Yeah.

You're relaxed. I'm just relaxed. You're cozy in your sweater, there's thunder, there's rain, we're just relaxed. We're in Pennsylvania, sweater. There's thunder, there's rain. We're just relaxed. Pennsylvania, didn't even drive too far, came to your mom's house. ["Diamond City"]

Let's talk about anxiety. I know that you have lightly talked about it in times and I just want to talk to you about how anxiety affects your life. What has it done in terms of playing a part in your personal life, in your career? Just talk to me about what you're comfortable with. Yeah. or just talk to me about what you're comfortable with? Yeah, so I think we kind of touched on it a bit earlier, like when we're talking about the nature of our job, what we were doing in the band, and the situation being on stage

in front of thousands of people. I think it's a really normal place to experience anxiety. You're gonna go and perform in front of, you know, a lot of different people that you don't know who they are. And it's not a natural thing to do, you know, in terms of everyday life. You don't just talk to thousands of people, you know. So it was something that I had to, you know, learn to adjust. Anxiety for me, I've learned is a feeling that now has a word, you know? And I feel like for generations,

human beings have felt it and not really even been able to put, you know, their finger on what it is. But we overcome it, you know? And certain things in life can change your perspective on them things. And I think for me, like, since I've had my daughter and since she was born, like, the main thing in my mind

is like trying to be a good example to her, like in terms of, you know, I can do things and I can achieve things and I can overcome things and you can do this too. And to let things like, you know, a feeling stop you from doing that after having a child feels like a really small thing. Like I feel like I've had to step up as a man

or just as a person and be this example to her that doesn't succumb to these feelings. That's why I'm even doing this interview. I used to get a lot of anxiety around like having a conversation like this, just in this kind of environment. And I want her to be able to look at me and be like, yo, my dad's doing this.

You know, he's the man, he's cool. Yeah, he's a cool guy. Yeah, so that's helped me a lot for sure. That is so fucking cool to, obviously, my mom's a psychologist. So I grew up and I think mental health was not a conversation for most families. And hopefully it will be. But like, I've watched so my mom talked to so many people and talk them through how to get over a panic attack, how to get over anxiety, how to not get over it,

but like manage it, live with it, be okay to go about your everyday life. I think sometimes if you don't have anxiety, people look at people with anxiety, like just get the fuck over it. And I think it shows up in everyone's lives in such different ways. And you say-

And I don't think that's the way you can look at it. I think everybody's situation is individual. I think it takes an individual experience then to happen for somebody to overcome that too. Totally. If you think about the first time you can recall in your life experiencing anxiety, did you experience anxiety prior to fame?

For sure. Take me to a moment in your life where you remember being like, wow, I didn't know that was anxiety, but now I do. I enjoyed it. That was the thing. Yeah, like I enjoyed being in that feeling. And then it got to a certain point,

I think where it just became too much. Like I just was weighing on me, that feeling of like anticipation and then getting the adrenaline and then the after feeling of that, you know? As a young kid, I loved it. Like I loved being on stage and I loved performing. It was like a free space for me to go and be a character

because it was, you know, I was playing a role in some little school performance. It was nothing serious. When it became a thing that had a lot of weight behind it in terms of, you know, people watching and stuff, then you're going to have natural feelings of anxiety. Yeah, people staring at you, judging you, writing about you, following you, taking pictures of you. That's a lot. Can you share with us, like, in the heyday of paparazzi and insanity, like, what would be something that would

of paparazzi and insanity, like what would be something that would really trigger your anxiety in those days? Just the idea of like, like not being able to just do normal things, like to just go outside and like walk out onto the street, you know, like, cause where we lived, it was kind of a bit crazy. And there's just people always there,

like waiting to take a photo and stuff. And obviously thinking about having a child and like raising her in that environment it was just very claustrophobic for me. I didn't want her to have to be like exposed to that because she didn't choose it, you know? Like it was a choice that I made. So I was like, we need to get out of here

so that she can have some chance of like a normal childhood you know, where there's not cameras flashing in her face constantly. Let's talk about you being a father because it's really cool to see you talk about anxiety, which again, I have so much respect for even you being able to talk about it because I know it's like you're not that public about your life and that's something that you live with every day. And to say like having a child has helped you overcome something that is like in your day to day. That's like pretty debilitating in moments. Yeah,

but you being famous and having a child like deciding to move here, I can imagine you're trying to shield her from this life that you also are still trying to figure out. Is it a lot? I feel like there's a healthy way to do it. I'm not necessarily trying to shield her from it because she's gonna know. If she's gonna get to a certain point, she's gonna have a certain level of awareness, she's gonna know you know if she's gonna get to a certain point. She's gonna have a certain level of awareness

She didn't know what's going on I'm just trying to give her an option You know so it's like a choice for her like if she she wants to be away from it She can be out here like because I am a famous person and I get sanctuary here You know I'm saying so I feel like she Is gonna have a lot of options and whatever she wants to do in her life, obviously I'll support her for sure.

Yeah. So good. Okay, how has becoming a dad shifted your priorities in life? The crazy thing is obviously I have a 50% of the time. So that time I have with her is so important because I feel like she's growing up so fast. So when I'm with her, I don't work at all. I just spend a full day with her

doing things that she wants to do, like painting, play dough, this, that, go to the park, go to the theme park, go to the zoo. We just have fun. I feel like I've rekindled my own childhood through her. You know what I'm saying? I feel like we get to a certain point in adult life where everything's kind of vague and gray and boring.

And she's brought that color back for me, for sure. What is a dad quality that you've proudly taken on that makes you laugh a little when you think about it of like, oh my gosh, I can't believe I'm doing this. I keep being told I'm telling dad jokes and I'm leaning into it. I'm just like, it's okay. It's cool. Like I'm using like Christmas cracker jokes and stuff. And it's really funny. Like people just look at

me like I'm a weirdo and I'm like yeah I'm a dad and I'm allowed to tell these jokes you have to give me a pass. Wow Zayn I didn't expect that I'm not gonna lie. Yeah I love a dad joke. You're like full dad vibe. That's it yeah I'm going full dad. I love it you're like I'm fully leaning in there is no stopping me. Okay well you haven't cracked one here so if you you want to, you can always give us your best,

but you know, when it feels like that. We'll say that for another time. Okay, okay. What is your favorite thing to do with your daughter? My favorite thing to do with her is, she shows a lot of signs of like musical intelligence already, so I just love like playing instruments with her and singing with her.

Like I'll sing and she sings along and she can do good harmonies and stuff already and she's only two and a half. And she harmonizes with me well and finishes notes and she can hold them for a long time. I'm like, I think you might have a bit of ability, you. I'm picturing the two of you playing with Plato and you start singing and then your daughter starts singing. She can hit these high notes, like falsetto. Like, yeah, it's crazy. I'm like, yo.

You're like, whoa, you're good. You wanna be on my next album? I couldn't do this. I didn't speak to those three. How the fuck do you sing? Yeah, it's mad. Wow. And she remembers like full lyrics to songs as well,

like every word, it's mad. Wow, we she remembers like full lyrics to songs as well, like every word, it's mad. Wow. We got a superstar in our hands. Okay, okay. It's interesting to hear you say like you're singing to her, which like, I would have loved if my dad could have sang. He can't. What are you singing to her?

And like, what are her favorite songs that you sing? She loves Disney movies. So we sing a lot of Disney songs together. And sing like, you've got a friend in me and stuff She thinks it really cute. Honestly, that's really cute thinking about you guys singing that um What qualities of yourself aside from like having that musical aspect more like personality like what qualities do you see? from yourself and your daughter I Think she's she's she's funny like she's she's a bit of a cheeky

one yeah she likes having a bit of a joke and stuff and like laugh a lot um she's she's chilled though but she loves reading as well um which is something I think she definitely took from me like she just has a affinity for words like she remembers everything. Has becoming a parent changed your relationship with your parents? Definitely, yeah. In a, like, respect way, you know? Like, you just have so much respect for the things that they've put aside for you, you know?

Like, when you realize all the sacrifices that you make as a parent, like, just to be there and be present with your child, like you can't have nothing but respect for that for sure. I know you said like, obviously you have for 50% of the time you wanna make the most of these moments. Like what's something that you guys have done together recently that made you so happy

and you had like such a great time? We went to Nickelodeon in New Jersey. Oh my God, it's so fun. It was just really good, I enjoyed it. I know it's like super childish, but like I had a lot of fun. Yeah, I think I had more fun than her was just really good. I enjoyed it. I know it's like super childish, but like I had a lot of fun. Yeah, I think I had more fun than her. It was good.

That is so good. How is co-parenting going? Co-parenting is good, yeah. We have a really good relationship for Kai. She's the, you know, the main importance. Yeah. So yeah, it's going well. Yeah, importance. Yeah. So yeah, it's going well. Yeah, yeah.

OK. I think. Zane's like, from me. From me, yeah. OK, so I want to ask you, if I can ask one question just about, as delicately as I can go about it, I feel like I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't ask about the 2021 incident.

I know you can't really speak on it. I think obviously as a man, there was a lot out there said about you and you basically took the high road and didn't say anything. And you kind of put out that blanket statement of just like, I wanna respect my daughter and not say anything. Exactly, yeah.

And I can imagine how difficult it is, kind of like almost a culmination of everything we're talking about today, of like, how do you balance when something is out there about you, about your character, that people are reading and speculating and saying things about you and how do you decide when to speak up and when to like be silent and like chill on

it and not really go there. Yeah so for me like we were talking about earlier I don't tend to get involved when people say things online whether it's got something to do with me or whether it doesn't uh... because for me my most valuable thing that i have in life is time that takes so much time in in in a toxic environment to like explain yourself to people and justify this and so i just kinda

to myself i knew what the situation was. I knew what happened. And the people involved knew what happened too. And that's all I really cared about. If anybody of a sane mind would look at the situation, I believe that you could respect that. Like I just didn't want to bring attention to anything you know I just wasn't trying to get into a negative back and forth with her any sort of narrative online where my daughter was gonna look back and read that and be able to read into it and it would just be something that was there was no point. I believe I dealt with it in in the best way like in an

amicable respectful respectful way. And that's all that needs to be said, you know? Yeah, I just, I feel like it's a lot of negativity, you know? I can only imagine, like, first of all, no fucking family is perfect. And so to be on the stage that you guys are on, I- And like you said, your family issues, you know?

Like if something happens in the family, like I'd rather keep that between the family, you know, we don't need a whole audience of people and opinions because it's hard enough to manage between two. I more so just also wanted to give you the chance because I think you obviously handled it so amicably. I also think in doing my job, like this is a podcast where I'm trying to support women, right? And like reading headlines, like I wanted to hear from you obviously, because hearing you even today, I don't know if like, I'm just gonna say what it is.

Like you have said you have 50% custody. And so anything that has, we've all read online, like, well, if that was true, then that would have affected that. So I think it's important to just say like, me doing my job, I just wanted to clarify like, it's not like, unless you can correct me, like you don't have to have people with you

while you're with your daughter and like visitation rights. Like you have custody of your child. So I think it's just important to say, cause people are reading this shit being like, oh my god. You know what I mean? Yeah, for sure. Yeah. And I'm super full on.

Yeah. Like hands on with my child. Every chance I can be, if I could get 60%, I would have it. Okay, let's talk about your music. You're coming back, we're getting a song, tell me what inspired the song, what can we expect? Give it to us.

Yeah, so I'm working, well, I've been working on my record for a minute, and I have a single for the summer coming out called Love Like This, that's like a standalone song, just a summer jam. It's a good vibe, like, yeah, it just feels like summer. That's what I think we need. We do need a good summer tune. We just need a bop, like someone asked me recently,

like, oh, like what's the song of summer? And I actually said, you know what, like I'm interviewing someone and I know they have a single coming out and I have a feeling that could's the song of summer? And I actually said, you know what? Like, I'm interviewing someone and I know they have a single coming out. I have a feeling that could be the song of summer. Are you nervous to go on stage alone? I was, yeah. Like when I first started performing by myself, I was I was nervous.

And I'm still nervous now because it's been a few years that I've been on stage. But I have this energy too. I feel like I have something to give and I want to get on stage and be there again and feel that. That's one thing I can say. My fan base has always been supportive in that manner. They're always just like, we're here, we've got you. When you're ready, we've got you.

We're going to come and listen to your tunes. So yeah, now I've got to be you know, like come, we're gonna come and listen to your tunes. So yeah, no, I gotta be super thankful for that. And I'm super grateful. And I feel that love for sure. So I'm ready to prove these people right, you know? Can we expect any music inspired by your daughter on your records? Yeah, definitely.

Yeah, I'm doing a record that I don't think people are really gonna expect. Like it's a different sound for me and it's got some like more narrative going on, like real life experiences and stuff. So yeah, my daughter's mentioned in there a couple of times. Wow. I think that's gonna be so fucking dope

to actually hear from you in long form essentially because an album is in long form. Like we're gonna get to know you more, which is exciting again because Mr. Mysterious over there we're still trying to understand Zayn. Okay, what is something that you want your fans to take away from this interview? I'd like my fans to feel like they've got to know me a bit, because you keep saying I'm Mr. Mysterious. You've been open, I do appreciate it.

Yeah, no, so I'm hoping they got to know me a little bit and they feel like they've seen me and caught up with me a bit and they're going to see me a lot more. And I want them to know that across the board, I've kind of had a full mental re-haul and in the best way, thanks to my child and being able to see things in a different light. And I'm gonna be a lot more present and hopefully people are gonna see me a lot more.

I love it. Zayn, thank you so much for coming on Call Her Daddy. This was truly a pleasure. Thank you for having me.