In a new interview with Zane Lowe on Beats 1, Zayn claims that he "always" wanted to quit the group before eventually leaving in March of last year, after five years with the group.
“I think I kind of always wanted to go. I never really wanted to be there in the band. I just gave it a go because it was there at the time,” he says in the interview, which is set to air on Thursday (28 January).
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Zayn Malik
He goes on to reveal that it was when the group’s music began to take a turn that he wasn’t comfortable with that he finally felt comfortable walking away.
Zayn continues: “When I realised the direction - mind the pun [amazing] - we were going in with the music, I instantly realised it wasn't for me.
"I realised I couldn't put any input in. I couldn't give my opinion on this or that because it didn't fit the grain of what we were as a band, or what we represented. So, that's when it became frustrating for me.
"That's when I had to start thinking about something for myself.”
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One Direction in 2011
To his bandmates’ credit, Zayn adds that the other members of the group were aware of his discomfort, and tried to give him more freedom when it came to contributing to their songs.
He reveals: “The boys knew that in terms of the music, it wasn't my cup of tea. They were aware of that – always. They were trying to facilitate certain things for me, like certain R&B adlibs here and there.
“When I was leaving the band, they obviously didn't want me to leave. They couldn't talk me out of it at that point. I'd already made up my mind, so I just left.”