Renowned for his soul-stirring vocals and genre-blending style, multiplatinum-selling artist ZAYN is back with a soulful groove in his latest single, “What I Am”. Far from his time on The X Factor and as part of the worldwide group One Direction, ZAYN showcases the talented artist he is with this release. This track marks the first glimpse into his forthcoming fourth studio album, “ROOM UNDER THE STAIRS”, scheduled for release on May 17, 2024, via Mercury Records. This acts as the follow-up to his feature on Karachi-based pop band AUR’s “Tu hai kahan”.
Written and co-produced by Zayn Malik, himself, with multi-GRAMMY Award-winning Dave Cobb acting as Co-Producer, “What I Am” sees ZAYN give an emotive delivery, taking centre stage, weaving a narrative that reflects his journey of healing, introspection, and personal growth. The song introduces a fresh sonic landscape characterised by live instrumentation and poignant lyricism.
Complimented by a strumming guitar rhythm, ZAYN impresses with the soulful tones of his voice as he delivers personal storytelling lyrics that are clearly coming straight from his heart. His lyricism is off the chart, not only does he transport the listener right into his story, but his poetic language sends chills to the listener as the raw intensity of what he’s singing hits right on home to us. A grower of a song that not only deserves to be heard on a variety of playlists but one that also deserves to be played on the radio, repeatedly. This is the track that is set to define our Spring 2024 and hopefully yours too.
Speaking about the album, this multiplatinum artist shares, “This is my favorite album that I’ve made to date, mainly because it comes from a place of sheer honesty and vulnerability. I wanted each song to feel as if it was just me sitting beside you telling you how I feel, singing directly to you. It’s raw and stripped back and the type of music I always hoped to make.”
Vulnerability and honesty are certainly words we would use to describe this single, “What I Am”, and it effortlessly entices us for his forthcoming album, especially if the rest of the tracks have the same addictive quality as this one. Alongside the release of the single, ZAYN also dropped a lyric video which has an old home-made cinema video quality to it as we watch various scenes such as landscapes, countryside, and the sky, as the lyrics are written out in what looks like crayon while crayon drawings appear from butterflies and dragonflies to outlining and emphasis.
Talking about his co-producer, ZAYN went on to say, “Working with Dave Cobb has been an amazing experience. The way he’s elevated the music is second to none, and he has done an incredible job helping me create this record. I hope we can take listeners on some whimsical, magical journey, and that they enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed making it.
“I think just being where I was at that time, staying away from things and living with my own thoughts inspired me to want to write something from that place. I’ve got to put this out as a whole body of work, it’s something for myself, not even just for the world,” ZAYN adds.
As excitement mounts, fans can indulge in exclusive offerings tied to the album pre-order. Special vinyl editions, including a signed ‘Studio Edition’ with unique cover art and a limited-edition colour vinyl, are available for purchase from his official store. Furthermore, two CD versions, one signed, both featuring special booklets with lyrics, cater to collectors and fans alike.
ZAYN’s artistic journey extends beyond music, with the artist championing causes close to his heart. Recently, he penned a public letter advocating for the expansion of free school lunch programs for underprivileged children in the UK. Additionally, ZAYN’s foray into film includes an upcoming role in the animation movie “10 Lives”, where he will serve as both a star and executive music producer alongside Simone Ashley, slated for release in 2024.
With his fourth studio album on the horizon, ZAYN continues to captivate audiences with his unparalleled talent and unwavering commitment to authenticity. “ROOM UNDER THE STAIRS” is set to be a compelling chapter in his illustrious career.
“What I Am”, by ZAYN, is available to download and stream, right now, across all platforms, via Drop Zed Music under an exclusive license to Mercury Records / Republic Records, a division of UMG Recordings.
