Zayn Malik: "Jisoo's boyfriend" is at the top of global searches, making social media 'explode'

Zayn Malik – from the "golden piece" of One Direction to the global shock when collaborating with Jisoo ( BLACKPINK ) in the duet " Eyes Closed ", opened a new turning point for both artists.

Biography and career beginnings

Zayn Malik, full name Zain Javadd Malik , was born on January 12, 1993 in Bradford, England, into a family of Pakistani-British blood. Since childhood, Zayn has shown a love for music and performing. When he was just 17 years old, the boy with that deep vision tried his hand at The X Factor UK (2010) contest – a turning point that opened the journey to become a global star.

There, despite being eliminated in the preliminary round, Zayn was quickly noticed by Simon Cowell and joined the group One Direction with Harry Styles , Niall Horan , Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne. The year 2010 was also the beginning of a global music phenomenon.

Golden Age with One Direction (2011–2015)

From 2011 to 2015, One Direction became a storm that swept the music world. With 4 hit albums – Up All Night (2011), Take Me Home (2012), Midnight Memories (2013), Four (2014) – the group continuously broke sales records, topped the Billboard charts and brought home countless international music awards.

In the group, Zayn Malik is considered the "soul of R&B" with a deep voice, high technique, and a romantic style with a hint of rebellion. Hits such as Story of My Life, "Little Things," or "You & I" all bear the imprint of his vocals.

However, behind the glory are internal struggles. In March 2015, Zayn announced that he was leaving the group to "find himself again". That decision was shocking, but it also opened up an era of his solo full of personality.

Affirming Personal Identity – Solo Journey (2016–2020)

In 2016, Zayn Malik reappeared with her debut solo album "Mind of Mine", in which the title track Pillowtalk immediately climbed to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 – a rare achievement for a British solo artist. The album is a blend of pop, R&B, and soul, showcasing Zayn's thirst for artistic freedom after years of being framed as a "boy band prince".

From here, Zayn is no longer "a piece of the One Direction puzzle", but ZAYN – an independent R&B artist. He collaborated with Taylor Swift on I Don't want to Live Forever (Fifty Shades Darker soundtrack), creating one of the most successful duets of 2017.

In 2018, Zayn released the album "Icarus Falls" – a personal musical journey, revolving around the love, faith and loneliness of a celebrity. Although it did not achieve explosive sales, the album was highly appreciated by experts because of his emotional depth and creativity.

Reincarnation in Music – Zayn's Maturity (2021–2024)

Entering the 2021–2024 period, Zayn Malik has become quieter. He spends a lot of time with his family and takes care of his daughter Khai – the result of his love affair with supermodel Gigi Hadid. Although no longer densely appearing, every time Zayn releases a new product, fans consider it an "art event".

The album "Nobody Is Listening" (2021) showcases a mature and deep Zayn, with a minimalist, emotional sound. The songs Vibez and Better are like the narrative of a man who is learning to balance the spotlight and his personal life.

In 2023, Zayn returned to impress with the album "Room Under the Stairs", a product that marks a remarkable maturity in musical thinking. He participates in the production, lyrics and harmonies, bringing listeners into an inner world that is reflective but still romantic. This is a time when the public sees Zayn not just as a pop star but as a true artist – who uses music to tell his own story.

A new turning point – 2025 and a duet with Jisoo (BLACKPINK)

The year 2025 marks a brilliant milestone in Zayn Malik's musical journey. In the midst of the international music industry witnessing an increasingly strong wave of East-West collaboration, Zayn made global fans "explode" when she suddenly combined with Jisoo – BLACKPINK's older sister in the song "Eyes Closed".

The song, released on October 10, 2025, was released by Blissoo and Warner Records, and immediately caused a global sensation. Eyes Closed is Jisoo's first English-language duet, and marks Zayn's spectacular comeback after a period of focusing on songwriting.

With a dreamy R&B pop melody, Eyes Closed feels like a gentle dream. The song is about two souls who were hurt, now learning to love again – "falling in love with our eyes closed" – love with emotions, not with fear. Zayn's captivating hoarse voice blends with Jisoo's pure tone to create a love song that is both gentle and deep, making listeners feel lost in their emotional world.

The MV of Eyes Closed was filmed in the UK, with warm pastel tones, interspersed with blurry frames that evoke a sense of nostalgia. After only 24 hours of release, the video reached more than 20 million views on YouTube, reaching the top trending globally. International fans hailed it as "the perfect meeting between two artist souls" – where East and West intersect in the same music.

This combination not only excites the BLINKs community (BLACKPINK's fandom), but also brings Zayn Malik's name back to the top of the global pop music scene. Eyes Closed is considered a "delicate gift for music lovers", and at the same time proves Zayn's flexible and sophisticated adaptability in the international music market.

The journey is constantly changing

Looking back on her journey of more than a decade, Zayn Malik has gone through all sorts of emotions: from a sought-after teen idol, to an artist who dares to step outside the mold to find her own voice. He didn't choose the easy path, but it was that risk that made him "an irreplaceable Zayn".

Now, at the age of 32, Zayn is no longer following trends. He chose music as a way of life – slowly, sincerely, and full of emotion. Every melody he writes, every lyric he sings, reflects a soul he has experienced but still retains in him a pure dreaminess.

In 2025, with Eyes Closed, Zayn Malik not only marks the return of an international artist, but also affirms one thing: music has no borders – only emotions are forever.

Jisoo stirs up the global teaser "Eyes Closed", in collaboration with male god Zayn Malik An chi21:39:12 09/10/2025Jisoo (BLACKPINK) caused a global fever when she released the Eyes Closed teaser in combination with male god Zayn Malik. The project marked an international turning point, opening a new solo journey after leaving YG Entertainment.