ZAYN OPENS UP….

13th June 2016

Over the weekend Zayn Malik cancelled a performance because of anxiety. I respect Zayn so much for being so honest and sharing something so incredibly personal and I’m sure uncomfortable with the world.

He has always been the mystery even when he was a part of One Direction. I always found him sweet but shy and a little guarded in interviews and during red carpet appearances, but not rude or arrogant just kinda withdrawn. I think he does have a playful side but almost has to feel so comfortable to show it.

I remember interviewing Zayn with Harry on the red carpet at the premiere of their movie ‘This Is Us’. He looked like such a star but was so very reserved and let Harry do most of the talking. Instead he had an eye on his mum, sisters and girl-friend at the time Perrie. As soon as he spotted them, he walked over all protective, leaving the rest of the boys doing interviews with press, it made me realise how important his family and real life was to him, he didn’t want to parade it in front of the worlds media instead protect it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RAiXbknXTU

Having anxiety and being super famous must be the hardest thing ever. Imagine you love making music but sometimes you freak out at having to stand up in front of 80,000 people and share your talent. You have to remember some of us in the music/entertainment industry didn’t sign up for fame but instead had a passion in something that made you feel alive and so incredibly happy that you had to do it. I know being a presenter I just wanted to do fun, interesting, entertaining stuff that some of you I hope could enjoy… but do I crave being on the DailyMail on a red carpet ? No? Do I want the world to know all about my dating life? No? But how do you do one without the other? That’s the secret, in the long run it can take longer but keeping your sanity and happiness at the forefront is far more important.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hf_NokkpbvY

Ellie Goulding, Olly from Years and Years and now Zayn being brave enough to talk about anxiety, depression and stress I think is a wonderful thing. It makes me feel a little better knowing I’m not the only person that deals with stuff like anxiety and panic attacks. I’m talking about it now because of Zayn and can admit to having difficult times in my life that are sometimes so overwhelming that I want to hide away and be left alone. Strange thing is the thing that comes so natural to you sometimes becomes so very difficult.

It’s funny but when Zayn did the red carpet at the Met Gala with his girl-friend Gigi I did find myself thinking bet that was hard for him, but guess he was trying to confront the things he fears.

I know for me cutting out negative situations and people has helped a lot. It’s tough as you become so close with some people and miss them, but being the best you can be at what you love to do and believing in yourself  you need good energy and surroundings around you.

I know I sound like some hippy… but peace and love couldn’t be more important right now for all of us, Zayn, you, me, Ellie, Olly.

He has just done a shoot and interview with Dazed magazine and I have picked out some bits that I found interesting.

On going out?

“I don’t tend to go out much, I stick to my own bubble, as it is. Creatively and socially, I think, as I’m getting older, that’s just the way I am.

“I’m just staying the way that I am. I think that’s the best way to keep your sanity. “You’ve got to hold on to what you are and not let things get to your head, because if you do, that’s when everything comes crashing down terribly.”

Does he ask industry friends their opinion on his music?

“I don’t get much feedback from my peers. I spoke a bit to Taylor at Gigi’s house we briefly spoke and she told me she really enjoyed the album. It was nice to get some feedback. She said she thought I was cool and I kind of blushed a bit and didn’t know how to take it.”

On attending the Met Gala Ball and wearing his specially designed outfit?

“I wasn’t really sure what to expect, I know it’s a big deal in the fashion industry. Anna Wintour obviously runs the whole thing so it was an honour to even get to go. I was asked to design my own costume by Donatella Versace!

“It was cool. I had seen a few people hitting me online, saying negative things about it. But I enjoyed it because they were saying I looked like a dude from Mortal Kombat, and it was actually based on a character (from the video game series), called Jax. He had metal arms, and the theme was technology, so I just took it from him… It’s a bit easy to just dress up in a suit. I like to do things that are a bit outside of that.”

Who is his style icon?

“I’m conscious in the back of my head, of how he was sort of bold and fearless in the way he decided to dress. He created another world with the clothes he wore, and it gave him an otherworldly feel, which is all part of his legend, I guess. I was really upset with the fact that he passed away. But it’s nice that we can use things now to portray what inspired us about him. That was kind of what I was doing at the Met Ball… being fearless. But I was just having fun.”

On his background?

“My mum is half Irish and English and my dad is Pakistani but born in the UK. So, yeah, that’s my heritage, and that’s what makes me, me”

On leaving One D?

“I knew I wanted to do something different and start expressing the way I felt about certain things. I have always liked RCA the label, just because they signed fucking Elvis and a lot of people I look up to. I went and met with Pete (Edge, CEO) and we had a couple conversations and I really liked his vibe. They seemed to treat me as though I was an artist for the first time, which felt really cool. And they respected the music. I had written a lot of it before I went with RCA and they liked where I was going and wanted to give me freedom so I was like, ‘Cool.

“I know that musicians are seen as one-sided people a lot of the time, but we do have other elements to us as well. I didn’t feel good. Do you know what I mean? And if you don’t feel good…You need to be able to express what it is that you are, I’m free at last.”