The song “PILLOWTALK” – all caps only please – is Zayn Malik’s first solo foray into music. Expectations are high. He’s gambled a lot, leaving the most successful boyband of its generation, to well, simply put, do a little bit of R&B instead of following his pop purist bandmates. Obviously we’re obsessed, because it’s Zayn, duh, he could have made anything and we’d love it. As soon as 5 o’clock hits and the G&Ts get passed around the office we’ll be singing this in unison. But while it’s still daylight and we’re drinking coffee instead, we’ll readily admit we were expecting more.
Recently quoted by The Times, Zayn said that the new track was all about sex (is there even one song in the charts that isn’t a little about sex, though?) as if it was a radical concept. He stated, “Everybody has sex, and it’s something people want to hear about. It’s part of everybody’s life, a very big part of life! And you don’t want to sweep it under the carpet. It has to be talked about.” We were holding out for funk enriched, seductive beats and a nice breakdown to get low to. Ok, so the alternative we actually got isn’t so bad. Zayn’s voice is a dream and the backing is R&B lite, highly produced, super refined gloss. All dramatic slow drums and echoed vocals, we’ll be clutching our chests and fist-pumping to this later no doubt, we just wish we could dance to it instead.
The video release makes it a double treat though. Starring Zayn’s rumoured girlfriend and fashion’s favourite girl, Gigi Hadid, it’s exactly what you’d expect from this kinda track, warped visuals, motifs aplenty, but then a girl opens her legs to reveal a flower. If that’s the extent of Zayn’s poignancy when examining sex, we’re a little disappointed.
But we don’t have to wait for long for more and we’re still confident we’ll get something we’re going to adore rather than just enjoy. Mind of Mine, Zayn’s debut album is due for release on the 25th of March. With ANTI having just dropped, The Life of Pablo by Kanye set to arrive on the 11th February and then Zayn surely dominating March, spring is looking to be a stellar season for chart toppers.