Zayn Malik's 1D truth bomb: 'I never really wanted to be there'

Former One Direction member, Zayn Malik, talked to Beats 1's Zane Lowe. Photo / Apple

Zayn Malik "always wanted" to leave One Direction.

The band, Malik, Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson, were formed on The X Factor in 2010 and remained a five piece until Malik announced his departure from the group in March 2015.

In a new interview ahead of the release of his debut solo single Pillowtalk, Malik admits he quickly realised he and the group had different' ideas for the future.

He said: "I just gave it a go because it was there at the time. I think I kinda always wanted to go. From the first year, I never really wanted to be there in the band."

"When I realised the direction that we were going in, mind the pun, with the music, I instantly realised it wasn't for me. How do you write a song from five people's perspective?"

Malik also said that his bandmates were more than aware that he was unhappy in the group.

He added during a chat with Zane Lowe on Apple Music's Beats 1radio: "I think the boys knew that in terms of the music, that wasn't my cup of tea.

"When I was leaving the band, they didn't want me to leave. But I'd already made up my mind at that point."

Malik also revealed the title of his first solo album during the Beats 1 interview.

When asked if there was a name for the record, Malik replied: "There is...it's Mind of Mine."

Malik said he has written a staggering "46 or 47" tracks for the album, but added he only expects around "15 to 18" of them to make it onto the final version.

The interview comes after it was revealed that Malik had pulled out of a scheduled appearance on The Graham Norton Show.

His representative told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "Unfortunately there was a scheduling conflict as Malik is currently in the studio completing his album."

• Listen to the full Zayn Malik interview here.

- Bang! Showbiz