Zain Javadd “Zayn” Malik is an English/Pakistani singer and songwriter, and a former member of the boy band One Direction.

In 2010, Malik auditioned for the British television series The X Factor. After being eliminated as a solo performer, Malik was brought back into the competition, along with four other contestants, to form the group that would later be known as One Direction. During Zayn’s time in the band, they released four commercially successful albums, performed on a worldwide tour, and won several awards.

In March 2015, Malik’s representative announced the singer’s departure from the band, and Malik signed a solo recording contract with RCA Records. On November 17th, 2015, through an interview for The Fader, Malik teased the release of a new song, “Befour”, from his debut album Mind Of Mine. Lead single “PILLOWTALK” debuted at #1 on the Hot 100, becoming Zayn’s first number-one single. By reaching #1 in the US, it achieved something that One Direction never did—their best ranking was #2 with “Best Song Ever.”