With his long-awaited album “Nobody Is Listening,” singer-songwriter Zayn Malik delivered a selection of emotional and distinctly love-driven songs. Dedicated to his long-time partner Gigi Hadid, the album has a deeply personal touch that few artists are able to achieve. The release date coincides with Malik’s 28th birthday, as if the album were his birthday gift to his fans.
“Nobody is Listening” is Malik’s third solo album since his decision to separate from the critically-acclaimed boy band One Direction in March of 2015. This is the singer-songwriter’s second big announcement of the year, following the birth of his daughter in September of 2020.
In his usual style, Malik teased the album a few months before its drop, releasing the lead single “Better” on September 25 of last year. He kept his fans in suspense by releasing yet another single, “Vibez,” just days before the release of the full record. In the days leading up to the release, Malik even created a hotline that fans could dial to hear excerpts of the new songs.
Unlike his first two solo projects, “Mind of Mine” and “Icarus Falls,” “Nobody Is Listening” is quite short with only 11 tracks and a run time of about 30 minutes. Of those tracks, Malik has two collaborations — one with American hip-hop singer-songwriter Syd, who is featured on the fifth track “When Love’s Around,” and the other with English rapper Devlin on the ninth track “Windowsill.” These features continue a trend of high-profile celebrity musician collaborations for Malik, who has previously worked with artists like Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Timbaland, Sia, and Kehlani.
Throughout the album, Malik maintains a fresh electro-pop sound — his first track, “Calamity,” even incorporates some melodic rap. Malik also plays a line of folksy electric guitar in the last track “River Road,” giving the song a polished and high-end feel. Every beat and choice of instrumental accompaniment is perfectly crafted to give the album a well-rounded electro-pop sound.
So far, Malik has released two music videos, “Better” and “Vibez.” In “Better,” we see Malik getting ready for what appears to be a black-tie affair. He sings, “Why wait to hate? Can we save love?” Some fans have speculated that Malik is expressing his intent to marry his girlfriend, Hadid, who appears to wear an engagement ring in a video she posted to Instagram. Neither Malik nor Hadid has spoken publicly about an engagement.
Album art courtesy of RCA Records
“Vibez” opens with Malik in a bedroom, but as the video progresses, he drives a car, treks through a dark forest, and rows a wooden boat across an ocean. The video ends with a shot of him sitting on a couch. Some fans have suggested that each setting — the car, the forest, and the ocean — represents a challenge that Malik endured during his time with One Direction. Malik has spoken out about the stress and anxiety that he experienced as a member of the band.
“Nobody Is Listening” fits perfectly with the emotional vulnerability and creativity of Malik’s current discography. Expect to see “Nobody Is Listening” soon topping the charts.
