Showbiz /
Mind Of Mine Review: Zayn Malik Reclaims His Soul & R&B Roots Outside Of 1D
After five years of gritting through One Direction's music and its constraints on his soul, Zayn Malik reveals his moody and soulful side on Mind of Mine.
From his epic Twitter beefs to his contentious interviews disparaging his former life in 1D, Zayn has dealt with that transition period in the same messy way that we all do when we try to find our voice — but in a more elevated and scrutinized way.
Mind of Mine suggests that Zayn has used that downtime to reclaim his personhood away from Simon Cowell and his boys. It's a brooding and sexy record that aims to transcend the trappings of a newly solo singer.
The Tha Carter–Inspired Cover
Photo Credit: www.Itunes.com
Photo Credit: www.Itunes.com
Working with producer James "Malay" Ho, whose efforts are apparent in Frank Ocean's work, Mind of Mine has the sleek production values of a Weeknd record.
Zayn had the strongest voices in 1D but used that high falsetto in short bursts throughout his tenure. But on tracks like "iTs YoU," he lets that out with great swooning effect. On that track and throughout the album, Zayn slips moments of raga into his vibrato, and these nuanced touches are a gem.
"INTERMISSION: fLoWer" is a lovely interlude where Zayn sings in Urdu and reminds his South Asian fans that he hasn't forgotten his roots. It's a dreamy track that feels like you're listening to an A.R. Rahman song with its acoustic guitar and floating vocals.
If things don't work out, Zayn could always give Arijit Singh a run for his money because his diction is perfect and oozes with that besotted wonder.
These small snatches of hybridity acknowledge that, in mixing his influences, there's a real treasure of a song that works for both his audiences.
He delivers jams like "lUcOzAdE" and "wRonG" that borrow the druggy, hazy sound that The Weeknd has lorded over. Zayn manages to make it his own even if the lyrics feel a bit overwritten.
Zayn in His Latest Profile in Complex
Photo Credit: Complex Mag
In going the fuzzed-out R&B route, he's treading the same path as Nick Jonas and Justin Timberlake, who dropped sexual lyrics to signify their aging out of boyband days, but the approach feels different in Zayn's case.
The album showcases Zayn's confidence in his voice because he goes from unburdened swagger in "TiO" to the swooning high notes of ballads like "fOoL fOr YoU."
Lyrically, he's a bit rusty, but on songs like "PILLOWTALK," you can tell he's relishing the swearing and using that melisma like he used to in 1D.
Despite the raw lyrics, he goes beyond the bedroom singer crooning to distinguish his voice without ever coming off as screechy.
Mind of Mine is a real masterpiece because it'll appeal to his dedicated fan base but also has enough verve and substance to attract a new crowd. Keep this one on repeat!
Main Image Photo Credit: www.complex.com
Rumnique Nannar
Author
Rumnique Nannar is a new journalist with a passion for all things pop culture, film, and art. Rumnique was born in London, with a predilection for devouring English chocolate with her Vogue, ANOKHI, and Glamour magazines in tow. She is currently in her Journalism Masters at UBC. Connect ...
COMMENTS
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
-
Review: 'Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story' Is For The Ones Who Love Love!
-
Pamela Mala Sinha's Latest Play "NEW" Breathes Fresh Life Into Our Parents' Immigrant Story
-
Dilpreet Bhattal Proved Her Mettle On CBC's "Canada's Ultimate Challenge"
-
Here's Why You Can't Miss The 12th South Asian Film Festival Of Montréal
-
The First Ever South Asian House At SXSW Made All Sorts Of History
-
Hot April 2023 Films From Bollywood And Beyond
-
'Canada's Got Talent' Judge Lilly Singh Wants Us To Get Ready To Be Amazed
-
Don't Miss Out On The 10th Annual Mosaic International South Asian Film Festival
-
Oscars 2023 Highlights: How Our South Asian Stars Took Over Tinseltown
-
Hot March 2023 Films From Bollywood And Beyond
-
Ali Hassan Shares Comedic Life Lessons In His Memoir “Is There Bacon In Heaven?”
-
Nisha Pahuja Follows A Father's Search For Justice In Her Latest Doc "To Kill A Tiger"
-
From South India to LA, R&B Star Malavika Is Set Sizzle In 2023!
-
CBC's "Bollywed" Spotlights Chandan Fashion's Iconic Family Bridal Business
-
Hot February 2023 Films From Bollywood And Beyond
-
Is Mindy Kaling A Self-Hating South Asian?
-
The Harry & Meghan Drama: What Would Happen If They Were Desi?
-
Star Rakhee Morzaria Dishes On Season 2 Of CBC Sitcom “Run The Burbs”
-
Hot January 2023 Films From Bollywood And Beyond
-
Nandita Das Delivers A Riveting Gig-Economy Drama In ‘Zwigato’
-
Hot December 2022 Films From Bollywood And Beyond
-
"Four Samosas" Director Ravi Kapoor And Star Venk Potula Dish On This Heist Comedy
-
South Asian-Authored Books That Make The Best Gifts
-
Highlights From The Vancouver International South Asian Film Festival (VISAFF)
-
Hamza Haq Dishes On His Out-Of-This-World TIFF Drama “Viking”
-
Hot November 2022 Films From Bollywood And Beyond
-
Al Mukadam Is Magnificent In The Romantic-Thriller "Nightalk"
-
Why Humayun Saeed In "The Crown" Is A Stand-Out Moment For Pakistani Representation
-
From Kamala Harris To Manish Malhotra: Celeb Diwali Parties Are Such a Vibe This Year!
-
Documentarian Vinay Shukla Tells The Sobering Story Of Modern-Day Journalism in "While We Watched"
-
Hot October 2022 Films From Bollywood And Beyond
-
Director Shubham Yogi Discusses His Uplifting Cricket Dramedy "Kacchey Limbu" Starring Radhika Madan
-
TIFF 2022 Review: "Viking" A Profound Film That Shines Among The Stars
-
Masala Coffee: The Coolest Fusion Band You Need To Know
-
TIFF 2022: Our Preview Of The Top South Asian Films And Stars At This Year's Fest
-
Check Out These September 2022 Films From Bollywood & Beyond
-
Our Fave Moments From The International Film Festival Of South Asia (IFFSA)
-
Actor, Producer, Writer Dana Abraham Shares Why He Couldn't Pass Up "Neon Lights"
-
5 Best Beach Reads By South Asian Authors
-
Check Out These August 2022 Films From Bollywood & Beyond
-
America’s Music Man: This World Record Holder Learned To Play 107 Instruments All By Himself
-
Check Out These July 2022 Movies From Bollywood And Beyond
-
Praneet Akilla From Latest CBC Drama “Sky Med” Talks About Why This Medical Drama Is Next Level
-
This Prism Prize Nominee "Closer" Is Probably The Most Powerful Anti-Shadism Message You'll Ever See
-
"Mr. Malcolm's List" Shows Us A Different Side Of Freida Pinto
-
How Puja Mohindra Created Her Own Opportunity To Get The Hit Netflix Drama 'The Lincoln Lawyer'
-
"The Rise" Music Release Celebrate 25 years of South Asian Hip Hop
-
'Ms. Marvel' Is Breaking Down Stereotypes & Here's What You Need To Know
-
Check Out These June 2022 Movies From Bollywood And Beyond!
-
Check Out Why Karan Johar's 50th Birthday Bash Turned Into An Iconic 90s Bollywood Reunion
-
We Tell You Why You Need To Check Out The Dallas/Fort Worth South Asian Film Festival (DFWSAFF)
-
Check Out These May 2022 Movies From Bollywood And Beyond!
