Zayn Nobody Is Listening

Even among the pantheon of former boy band members, Zayn Malik’s position is unenviable.

Since leaving One Direction in 2015 and releasing a promising debut solo album, his path has been one of sluggish descent.

When he departed the X Factor-formed group, he made it clear he was not doing a Robbie Williams, or a Justin Timberlake for that matter, and setting out his stall as a blockbuster solo artist.

Instead, he was hoping for some peace and quiet, and a chance to pursue music that was less poppy, more soulful.

Six years down the line, Malik, now 28, remains an enigma — he has failed to establish a strong artistic identity (especially in contrast to former bandmate Harry Styles) and remains best known for his romance with supermodel Gigi Hadid, now the mother of his child.

On the ironically titled Nobody Is Listening, he strains painfully towards maturity with navel-gazing lyrics about fame and sex — lots of sex.

On quality alone, this record seems unlikely to right the ship. It’s all a bit lightweight and leaves him in the last chance saloon. If nobody is listening, it’s because he has nothing to say. 4/10 Review by Alex Green