'It's a therapy session': Zayn Malik reveals songwriting helps 'alleviate what's on his mind' as gets candid in rare live radio interview
He has cancelled several solo performances due to his struggles with anxiety.
But Zayn Malik got candid during a rare live radio interview in America on Tuesday.
The former One Direction star, 23, spoke about his upbringing, his musical influences and how songwriting eases his negative thoughts during a candid chat with New York DJ Elvis Duran.
Scroll down for video
Candid: Zayn Malik got candid during a rare live radio interview in America on Tuesday
Talking about his experience when creating new music, the singer reveals that the process helps him clear his mind.
He said: 'It normally comes to me in lyrics, and I'll develop a melody afterwards.
'There is not one writer in particular (that I'm influenced by), but I am into a lot of older music. A lot of my dads old 90s R&B.
'I feel like writing anything down is a little bit of a therapy process. It's alleviating what's on your mind.'
Opening up: The former One Direction star, 23, spoke about his upbringing, his musical influences and how songwriting eases his negative thoughts during a candid chat with New York DJ Elvis Duran
System: Talking about his experience when creating new music, the singer reveals that the process helps him clear his mind
Influences: The star also revealed that he first fell in love with music while listening to his dad's 1990s R&B
Roots: Zayn also revealed how his humble upbringing in Bradford, England has helped him keep his feet on the ground
Making an effort: It was a rare live interview for the singer, who has had a well documented battle with anxiety issues, dropping out of Capital Summertime Ball at the last minute in June
The singer has had a well documented battle with anxiety issues, dropping out of Capital Summertime Ball at the last minute in June.
Zayn also revealed how his humble upbringing in Bradford, England has helped him keep his feet on the ground.
He added: I'm really grateful for my parents.
'I feel like where I'm from people are very easily ready to pull you down to the earth when you get big headed.'
As for being solo instead of having four bandmates to support him onstage, he continued: 'I'm enjoying what I'm doing at the minute,there were times when I was in the band that I needed time away to get my thoughts.
'I feel myself growing every day as a person, growing older and wiser.'
Not such a group effort: As for being solo instead of having four bandmates to support him onstage, he said that he 'needed to get away from his thoughts' while in One Direction
Most watched News videos
- Valley Stream Best Buy associates gift a teen with a Wii U
- Watch woman get dragged off jet by police in Detroit
- Syria: Footage emerges of Russian special forces 'fighting ISIS'
- Trash is dumped on woman's door step after she fails to pay
- Horrifying moment woman is kicked down the stairs by stranger
- Documentary director attacked by gang of immigrants in Stockholm
- 'I'm going to wing walk!' Schofield talks to Duke about wing walk
- 'Scumbag unions': Chants outside Brighton rail station
- Hunters forced to shoot a wild bear dead as it charges towards them
- Lads post the rudest mannequin challenge from "Scottish party"
- Impressive fireball lights up Spain's Costa del Sol night sky
- 'We talked about life': Trump and Kanye discuss surprise meet
- 'It's too soon': Boyfriend of mother, 24, who was missing...
- Terminally-ill boy, five, dies in Santa Claus' arms after...
- 'He's right beside me': Terrified woman posts live updates...
- 'I've been taken by a man... please hurry': British...
- Duterte's back-street butchers: Bodies pile up as crackdown...
- '2.5 hours to get nowhere today, can't wait for tomorrow's...
- What a load of rubbish: Cheeky waste disposal company tips a...
- Police arrest 'thug who booted a woman down stairs in a...
- Six are arrested after police smash ISIS cell planning Xmas...
- Prince Harry and girlfriend Meghan Markle are 'spotted...
- Cheating banker burned his wife alive after she discovered...
- EXCLUSIVE: 'His eyes were wide like a serial killer's':...