Zayn Malik sings One Direction song… seven years after leaving the boy band due to ‘stress’

Zayn Malik shared a beautiful acapella version of himself singing Night Changes, off One Direction’s fourth studio album, to his Instagram account on Monday evening.

Seven years after parting ways with his one of the best-selling boy bands of all time due to have ‘some private time out of the spotlight’ in 2015, the singer, 29, sent fans into a frenzy as he shared a video of himself singing the coming-of-age song ballad. 

In a black and white video clip, the ex-boyfriend of supermodel Gigi Hadid can be seen soulfully singing while rocking a bandana and overalls.

While showing off his rich vocals, the father-one displayed his almost-sleeve tattoo, including a yin-yang sign inked to his left wrist, checkered flag and a lotus flower.

Directioners were quick to flood his comment section with supportive messages, with many gushing their ears were ‘blessed’ after listening to the rendition. 

‘Zayn singing 1d songs in 2022 is literally the best thing could ever happen,’ another raved as others pointed out he recently uploaded footage of himself singing One Direction’s 2013 hit You & I.

Throwback: Seven years after parting ways with his one of the best-selling boy bands of all time due to have ‘some private time out of the spotlight’ in 2015, the singer, 29, sent fans into a frenzy as he shared a video of himself singing the coming-of-age song ballad

Blast from the past: In a black and white video clip, the ex-boyfriend of supermodel Gigi Hadid can be seen soulfully singing while rocking a bandana and overalls

Another follower joked: ‘If i had a nickel for every time Zayn sang a one direction song in 2022, I’d have two nickels. which isn’t a lot but it’s weird that it happened twice.’

In his first book, an autobiography titled Zayn, released back in 2016, he reflected on his decision to leave One Direction.

‘I had been in a bad place for a while and I didn’t see myself getting out of it unless I made a change,’ he writes. ‘My relationship with my [ex] fiancee Perrie [Edwards]  was breaking down. To make matters worse, there were so many crazy stories flying around in the newspapers about us.’ 

Tatted: While showing off his rich vocals, the father-one displayed his almost-sleeve tattoo, including a yin-yang sign inked to his left wrist, checkered flag and a lotus flower

Delighting followers: Directioners were quick to flood his comment section with supportive messages, with many gushing their ears were ‘blessed’ after listening to the rendition

Due to the pressure he felt with the increasing media scrutiny of his past relationship, he said he ‘just wanted to disappear for a while.’ 

The singer adds that it was during a One Direction concert in Hong Kong that he finally made the decision to leave.

‘I wasn’t going to spend another minute doing something which made me ill and which I no longer believed in,’ he explained.

Complicated: In his first book, an autobiography titled Zayn, released back in 2016, he reflected on his decision to leave One Direction ahead of breaking his engagement with Perrie Edwards; seen in 2014

‘I couldn’t see that there was anything left for me to give or to gain from staying,’ he recalled. ‘It wasn’t worth it.

He continued: ‘The memory of that night is kind of a blur. I was in f******g bits, but I finally came to the realization something I already knew deep down, and had known for a long time. I was leaving the band and going home.’

Zayn left One Direction in March 2015 in a move which stunned the legion of adoring admirers the group had garnered since shooting to fame on X Factor in 2010.

At the time, he released his shock statement reading: ‘I have to do what feels right in my heart. I am leaving because I want to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight.’

‘I had been in a bad place for a while and I didn’t see myself getting out of it unless I made a change,’ he writes. ‘My relationship with my [ex] fiancee Perrie [Edwards] was breaking down. To make matters worse, there were so many crazy stories flying around in the newspapers about us’ (seen in 2013)

The Bradford-born singer, who has since enjoyed huge solo success, shed light on some of the troubles which led to his departure – most shockingly his eating disorder.

He penned in the book: ‘When I look back at images of myself from around November 2014, I can see how ill I was. Something I’ve never talked about in public before, but which I have come to terms with since leaving the band, is that I was suffering from an eating disorder.

It wasn’t as though I had any concerns about my weight or anything like that, I’d just go for days – sometimes two or three days straight – without eating anything at all. It got quite serious, although at the time I didn’t recognize it for what it was.’

Zayn has been somewhat embattled since leaving the band as he also suffers from an anxiety disorder, which has hindered his solo work, and caused him to cancel gigs over the years.

Shocking: Zayn left One Direction in March 2015 in a move which stunned the legion of adoring admirers the group had garnered since shooting to fame on X Factor in 2010 (pictured in 2014)