Zayn Malik, also known as ZAYN, has made his return to music after a two-year break. The 30-year-old singer has signed with a new label, developed a new sound, and seems to have a renewed outlook on life, as showcased in his latest track, “Love Like This.” In the accompanying music video, released on July 21st at midnight, Zayn is seen romancing a stylish blonde model who bears a striking resemblance to his ex-girlfriend, Gigi Hadid.
The sensual and captivating lyrics of “Love Like This” include lines like, “How you hit ’em with the clothes and the stare / And the hips and the hair like that / Got me all up in the zone, in the zone, in the zone, in the zone,” expressing Zayn’s admiration for the model. The energetic beat of the song is surprisingly romantic, with lyrics like, “I don’t wanna waste no time / You are the crown, you are the crown / Everything is on the line / But I would rather be dead if it’s gonna mean a life that is lived without you, baby.”
Leading up to the release of the song, Zayn teased his fans with snippets and hints. On June 29th, he shared a video of himself looking contemplative on top of an apartment complex while a portion of the music played. A week later, he revealed the song’s title by posting a video of himself graffitiing a wall. He also posted a photo of himself embracing a woman, sparking speculation that it was Selena Gomez. However, it was later revealed that it wasn’t Selena, disappointing some fans.
The snippets of the song showcased a sparse production reminiscent of the drum and bass/UK garage/jungle sound of the 1990s. Sources close to Zayn revealed that this song marks a departure from the sound of his previous eras and hits such as “Pillowtalk” and “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever.” The release of this new music coincides with Zayn’s career shift as he signs with Mercury Records. Previously, his albums were released under RCA, but Zayn saw potential in working with Mercury Records, a part of Universal Music Group.
President of Mercury Records, Tyler Arnold, expressed his excitement over Zayn joining the label, stating, “As soon as ZAYN and I met, I knew we had to work together. I was blown away by the new music but just as impressed by his vision, drive, and spirit. We’re honored he and his team have joined us at Mercury Records. We’ve got an incredible opportunity to tell the next chapter of his story together.”
After the success of Zayn’s debut solo album, “Mind of Mine,” and his hit single “Pillowtalk,” which reached No. 1 in several countries, his subsequent releases haven’t achieved the same level of success. His latest album, “Nobody Is Listening,” failed to gain significant traction, and his singles “Better” and “Vibez” did not make a lasting impact. Zayn attempted to surprise fans by sharing three unreleased tracks under a new project called “Yellow Tape,” where he showcased his rapping abilities for the first time. However, these songs were quickly removed from circulation.
In recent years, Zayn has received more attention for his personal life than his music. In 2021, he pleaded “No Contest” to charges of harassment against Yolanda Hadid, Gigi Hadid’s mother. Zayn later clarified that the altercation arose from an argument with a family member of his partner while she was away, and he agreed to not contest the claims to protect their daughter. Zayn received probation, was ordered to attend anger management classes, and complete a domestic violence program. Following this incident, Zayn and Gigi ended their relationship. Rumors of a romance between Zayn and Selena Gomez circulated, but Selena unfollowed Zayn on social media in June, suggesting that they are no longer connected romantically.
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