Ben: ‘Zayn’s anxiety can be beaten’

THE Shires singer Ben Earle has advised Zayn Malik to get hypnotherapy to beat his crippling stage fright.

In an exclusive interview with Wired the country cross-over artist revealed his own battle with performance anxiety.

Former One Direction star Zayn has not been able to perform live since leaving the boyband because of severe stage fright and panic attacks. Giving the Pillowtalk singer advice Ben, who makes up half of The Shires along with Crissie Rhodes, said: “I’ve never really talked about this but I’ve always had anxiety.

“It’s actually so common because we are all a bit messed up, especially artists.

“Look at Adele, she’s had loads of panic attacks before going on stage. “I feel for Zayn. So many people suffer from different forms of mental health issues. It’s easy for it to become a big problem.

“I’ve never let it stop me performing but I’ve played some amazing shows and just wanted to get off stage the whole way through due to anxiety.”

Ben’s problems became so bad he ended up seeing a hypnotist.

He added: “I ended up having hypnotherapy for it and I didn’t think it would actually work but it has. “It’s only been the last six months or so that I’ve actually loved being on stage.”

The Shires’ new single Beats To Your Rhythm is out now and their second album, My Universe, is out on October 7.