Zayn: For the First Time in 6 Years [VIDEO]

What is up Daddy Gang? It is your founding father, Alex Cooper, with Call her Daddy.

Hey.

I'm so happy that you're here. We have to preface this with my fans are watching this like, Where the fuck are you guys? We are in my childhood home, daddy gang. Okay, Zane and I are in my living room that I grew up in.

There was no embarrassing photos. That's for the record.

What did you say?

I didn't see any embarrassing photos, I think you hid them all.

Actually, there's a couple you'll see them on your way out and then you'll never look at me the same. I have never done a podcast in my childhood home, so this feels like a little sentimental.

I don't.

When is the last time you did something like this?

I think I did an interview like six years ago was the last time I did one.

So we're kind of like popping the cherry back off.

I think, so, yeah, something like that.

So you're living in Pennsylvania, and I obviously grew up here. I loved it growing up. It's very family-oriented, very suburban, but I'm curious to know of all the trendy spots that you could have picked. Why Pennsylvania?

Yeah, it's interesting. A lot of people ask me that they always think it's super random that I live out here. I ended up coming out here with my ex a bit and I fell in love with it. It was just super calm and chill, like you said, suburban.

You give trendy vibes, but I think I totally relate to that.

I'll take that I give trendy vibes.

You give trendy vibes, look at your outfit, it's pretty swaggy, but then you're also hanging with the Amish folk, so it's a good little juxtaposition. Zane. But what I find interesting is, I love that. You said you would be in New York City and I'm assuming you would be going out and there's paparazzi everywhere taking photos of you.

Yeah, that's a great thing.

Are they finding you or no?

No, no, there's none out here. I think there's like laws and stuff. They're not allowed to even take photos in certain places.

Oh, that's amazing. Okay, the most important question Have you gone to Wawa yet?

I have Wawa's a nighttime lifesaver out here.

I was like, how am I going to get along with Zane if he hasn't had a love for Wawa yet?

Late night studio sessions, there's nothing else open, you have to go to Wawa to get the meatball sub.

It is so fucking superior. I remember growing up and my excuse whenever I would want to go meet up with boys would be like, Mom, I just want to go get a wawa sub.

She's in wawa as your cover up.

Okay, so I feel like, again, you're kind of this mysterious guy, Zane. We don't really know too much about you. You're kind of under the radar. So can you take me through a typical day in the life of Zane? In Pennsylvania? What are we doing?

A typical day for me is it kind of varies, it depends on what kind of mood I wake up in. I take it pretty easy.

Then you go to Wawa.

Then I go to Wawa, yeah, and stop off for a sandwich.

Are you someone that likes to be alone?

I like my own space, I like to collect my thoughts in a more quiet environment. I feel like when there's a lot of people around, it just gets a bit hectic for me. I like to chill by myself from time to time, but I don't mind hanging out with people now on occasion.

I feel like that's also growing up. I was recently talking to some of my audience, I was meeting them in person and we're like, it's kind of weird. When you just start to grow up, you just get more specific with who you want to spend your time with. I think that's a healthy thing.

Yeah, I've always thought it would be a pretty normal reaction to feel that way around so many people. I think anybody who is overwhelmed in that manner would feel a certain type of way about it. But I'm definitely learning to manage it a lot better as I'm getting older. It's more of a choice rather than a hindrance. It's not like, I can't do that.

You obviously love music, but can you share with us what are some of your other hobbies? What are you passionate about? what's other than music?

My main passion, I think, outside of music, is art. I love to paint and I love to draw. I do a bit of cooking.

Okay, tell me one of your dishes, come on, I can't cook for shit.

I can cook a lot of different things, but I like to cook meat specifically, I have a smoker outside and I like to smoke lamb.

Is this new or were you always good at cooking?

I wasn't always good at cooking, unfortunately for me, my mom kind of spoiled me as a kid when I was living by myself at 17. There were some botched jobs done for some meals, it wasn't great, some disgusting stuff was going down, for sure.

That's kind of nice to be able to know. You can cook, you're over there painting, you can sing. Okay, no big deal. Don't keep bragging over there. Wow, making us all look bad.

I do, yeah, I've got a lot of animals, I have three cats, three dogs.

Do they get along?

They're kind of in different places. I have some dogs at one part of my house and the cats in the other.

Did the chickens die?

Yeah, I took my chicken to the vet to get a scan because something was wrong with her, and the vet laughed at me and said, people don't bring chickens here.

What are you saying? I'm like, not laughing because it's funny.

It is kind of funny, but not because the chicken died, but it's just funny seeing me take a chicken to the vet.

And when you say you're holding your chicken, are you holding your chicken like this?

Yeah, fully on my lap. yeah, she died on my lap.

So you weren't crazy for going to the vet?

Yeah, she had something wrong with her. We tried to rescue them, They were going to be slaughtered, I think.

Okay, and what are the names of the cats?

Salem, Dobby and Vito.

Dobby Is that from Harry Potter?

It's from Harry Potter, he's a sphinx, he's a pink sphinx, so he looks a little bit like Dobby, Dobby, Harry.

That's so good you're a Harry Potter fan.

I'm a big Harry Potter fan.

Zane, I didn't know that about you. I wouldn't have pegged you as a Harry Potter guy. This is really good vibes.

It was my thing as a kid, yeah.

That's really good, okay? And what are the dogs names?

Zion Zeus and Thumper.

Thumper.

With an f, yeah.

Thumper.

Thumper like thumper, but with an f.

How did you come up with that?

Bambi thumper the rabbit.

But you wanted an f.

Yeah, Thumper thought it sounded better, yeah.

Yeah, it does sound pretty good, something I love to do on call. Her daddy is like. The reason we all are the way that we are is because of our childhood, where we came from, who we were raised by, our environment growing up. Obviously, you living in Pennsylvania right now is so different from where you grew up in the UK, in Bradford, like you described.

Where do you want me to start?

Just wherever it feels right, go ahead.

Yeah, Bradford's not obviously like Pennsylvania in terms of, you know, like the wealth and the way that it's like, you know, looked after, taken care of. It's an impoverished community. You know, there's people below working class there that have, you know, a hard environment that they're growing up in. You know, everyone's kind of got some issues going on at home or something's happening, you know?

When you talk about like people would question your identity. I know your family is not from the UK, your family is Pakistani, and I'm curious, is that what you're saying?

My father is my mum's English.

Okay, so are you saying, like, is that how that was influenced?

No, not necessarily, just in every sense of the word. Like, even like your fashion, the clothes you want to wear, there's always something was questioned. You know, if you weren't doing the norm, that was like that everybody was doing, or everyone was following. You know, everyone would wear a certain type of pant or a certain type of shoe.

You've got to be able to, like, hold your own.

Exactly, yeah.

Is the pressure coming at you? Is it more like peer dynamics of, or is it more like authoritative figures?

Yeah, there's a mix, sorry, of everything, it depends. You know, there's the peer pressure in schools and stuff, but then it's on the street if you go out there and stuff. If you're just trying to have a good time, you know, like it's not as friendly, fun, you know, it's a bit more like irate.

Talk to me about where you grew up, like, are you in an apartment? are you in a condo? are you in a home?

Oh, no, I grew up in a terraced house, in a rented property. We never owned our own house. So yeah, it was a small house. It was like three bedrooms, kitchen, living room. But the streets, like, are all like, every house is like, stuck next to the one next to it.

So you have three sisters? mm-hmm, okay, and so you are the one boy and three sisters.

I do have three sisters, yeah.

What was it like growing up with all, mostly women around you, like, how do you think that shaped you?

I feel like I learned a lot of things like early on. My sisters are very opinionated, you know, they're very strong characters, and yeah, I love them. They're great, they're a lot of fun, yeah.

I love, I really love when I meet a guy and you can just tell that he has sisters, because you can just tell the way they move around. Women, you guys learned what a fucking tampon is earlier.

I had to go to the store and buy them.

Yeah, yeah, terrified, but supportive for sure. Yeah, okay. Were you reluctant to go to the store and buy anything?

Definitely not. It was just kind of weird. When the shop people would ask me why I was buying them, and I'm like, obviously, I'm not buying them for myself, you know? Like, do you have to ask me that, like, just let me buy this?

You wouldn't stick a couple extra snacks around it. You're just like tampons.

No, yeah, we didn't have money for extra snacks, it was just needs to remain, yeah.

Zane's like, I'll take the supers, these bitches are on it.

But yeah, exactly, it was always an awkward conversation, but yeah, I didn't mind it.

I respect it, I really do.

You've got to do that for your sisters.

Okay, to people, obviously, that weren't there in your childhood. how would you describe your personality as a kid?

My personality as a kid, I think I was a bit of a cheeky, cheeky chappy. Yeah, I used to mischievous, used to get into all kinds of just childish stuff, you know, like climbing in places I shouldn't have been, and falling out of trees and smashing windows and stupid things, yeah.

Oh.

With a football accidentally, of course, you know.

Right, right, right, for sure, for sure. So you were getting in trouble a little bit.

Yeah, just like childish stuff, nothing too serious.

Yeah, like climbing trees.

Exactly, yeah, exciting shit.

Okay, so you were kind of just like doing your thing as a kid. But I also think the way that you're describing the environment that you grew up. Was there a way that you could have gone down the wrong path easily? Because of that environment, it was easy to get wrapped up in the wrong crowd.

Oh, definitely, yeah. I think there was always an opportunity to go and do something that, you know, would have got you in, like, serious trouble. I was really lucky in the sense that, like my mother and father, like, were super protective of that environment. My dad was always aware of, you know, the things that were out there from a young age and kind of kept me away from that. If I'm being honest. And that's where, like, I developed into being a person that likes to be by myself and like, in my room. Like singing, recording, writing. I got into, you know, poetry and things like that. Because I was in my room a lot like, and I didn't like to be in them kind of environments.

Did you get along with kids in school? were you like the cool kid? were you bullied? like, what was the vibe?

Yeah, I think I got on with pretty much everyone, but I wasn't like. I was the type of person who only had like two, three close friends, so I didn't have like a big group. Like, I knew people, people knew of me, I don't think I was the cool kid, but I wasn't bullied either. Yeah, like if people knew me, they were friendly with me, yeah.

I feel like a lot of kids we always have that like memory, maybe it's financial, maybe it's something with the parents or the siblings or extended family. Like of, like, a childhood memory that you remember your family. Kind of just being like, stressed or going through something difficult, kind of like, if you could remember, kind of a childhood memory that you remember just being like, stressed about something in your life.

Like, looking back at like childhood stresses. Like, I feel like a lot of them were so like, Finicky, that it was just probably just some teenage shit. You know what? I mean, it wasn't anything important. So I don't really look back at things like that in my personality, the way I am. Like, I've never really, like, looked back and been like, Oh yeah, this is one thing that, like, kind of was, you know, a stressful thing. I think life is interesting like that.

It's so interesting. I have a lot of respect even for you answering it like that, because I know that you've been open about, like, at one point, your family being on food stamps. And I feel like a lot of people would sit here and that may have been the answer, right? That would have been like, Well, fuck, like I couldn't.

Yeah, no, and obviously there was some serious things like that, for sure, too, but I don't look back at it in terms of a negative light, you know? It all helped to, like, shape and mold who I am and make me grateful for the things that I have now, you know?

Yeah, so we are here because you can sing. When did you first realize you were passionate about singing and you could sing?

I think I was about 11 12.

I love that the story started with, you know, there were these three triplets, and it just felt right to join choir.

I was like, eight as well, by the way.

So swaggy, you're like, I got to get in that class.

I need to just, yeah, spend this time here.

Right, so, like your natural, just like boy interest ended up, you realized something that you had a true talent. From the Triplets to X Factor, you made it. So it's so funny, too, because you say you wouldn't be where you are without your mom. Because you didn't want to get out of bed for the X Factor audition, and your mom made you go, why did you also not want to go initially?

I think it was just nerves.

Oh my God, and so did you like practice, you were practicing for it.

Yeah, but I had no idea, no clue, like they told us, like we had to have like a backing track, like a karaoke version. And like, I was so, like, inexperienced at that time that I didn't even know what that was so like. I was just planning on singing a cappella, so I was just going to do it like without anything. And it was so weird for me to adjust to singing on a backing track.

So that probably made you stand out, though.

I don't know it could have worked either way, maybe it made me sound really bad too. Well, obviously not.

Look where you're fucking sitting.

Yeah, true.

Do you remember what you sang?

Yeah, I do, Mario, let me love you. And the reason I said that is because I've seen that performance back a few times and cringed every time I watched it.

But clearly there was something in there, Zayn.

There's some talent, yeah, there's some potential.

A cappella, and he just nails it. When you look back at that moment, obviously, is it surreal. If you even had to watch it back, does it even feel like a lifetime ago?

Yeah, it does. It feels so much longer than it actually was because so much stuff's happened in that time.

It's so good, it's so good. So obviously then X Factor, everyone, Simon, everyone came to you guys and they had this idea to invent one direction. And then I think people don't even know, did you even meet anyone before they put you guys together?

Yeah, we knew each other just from around because we were a similar age and stuff, so naturally you speak to people who are a similar age to you around. There. We were at boot camp together. I met Harry on my audition day because we both auditioned in Manchester and we were literally sat next to each other in the audition.

Oh so, it was fucking meant to be.

He was sat right next to me. We spoke and I went in and did a producing audition round, and then he went in straight after me and we spoke a little bit there.

So you weren't complete strangers?

That's good to know.

Because I didn't know if they just threw you all together and then you were like, Hey, what's up?

It's edited very well, obviously you don't see all the behind the scenes and stuff, but yeah, you spend a lot of time with the contestants.

Okay, got it. Once you started, obviously one direction and you joined one direction. How quickly did your actual life change? was it overnight, immediate, or was it a little bit gradual?

It was kind of strange.

Were you even able to comprehend it?

I don't think I comprehended it at all. I think it's just a rush. It was just fun and then repetitive fun over and over again, eventually is going to take its toll. So then you look at it a certain way when you're in that and it feels overbearing.

Because it is so interesting. I think people forget you were 17 at the time.

Yeah, 17, yeah.

My brother lived in this house at 17 and was picking his nose and going to Wawa and trying to fucking get girls to pay attention to him. And you are all of a sudden, overnight, become one of the biggest stars in the world. Can you help us, Commoners over here? Zane Commoners, Commoners, can you help us understand what skyrocketing to that level of fame can do to you as an individual? When you're by yourself at night, laying in bed, trying to understand what is happening to you in your life.

Yeah, you can definitely get into deep places of thought if you really reflect on it in that kind of manner. To be honest with you, I don't think I was even intellectually capable to do that at that age. I think it's took time for me to process them things. I think I've had to process it with an older mind. And look at it backwards and be like, Yo. This was why this happened, and this is what happened. And we took off at this point and this interview made this happen, and then this song made this happen. And just decipher it as facts, rather than in an emotional manner, because emotion just seems to just blur things. So I try not to think about them things on that kind of level, like, Oh, I'm super famous.

Yeah, a little bit, just a little bit. No, I almost get what you're saying. You kind of have to black it out and just be present, because if you stop to think about all of it, then it's all going to come washing over you.

Exactly, yeah, that's how I deal with it. I don't black it out so much, but I just don't overthink.

Yeah, you just almost have to stay present because it's like, what else are you going to do?

In the moment, yeah, just enjoy it and then in 10 years time, you can look back and be like, this is what happened.

Now you can look at it in hindsight and be like.

If you have 10 years time.

Yeah, but you've had time, probably now, to be like, Whoa in your quiet moments now in life, where you can actually sit and dissect things. That at 17, 18 years old again, like you said, I was just having fun, I was just going with it. And also it's not like you were just on this solo tour. You were a part of something so that also probably affected of, like, be a good team player.

I've probably said this a lot of times, but honestly, it was one of the craziest and most bizarre moments ever. I remember coming out of a studio once in Sweden when we were recording What makes You Beautiful? And this is before even we dropped our first single. I rolled like, maybe five, six bins, like trash cans, like outside of the studio, and I came out. And like, every single one of the trash cans opens, and there's like three people inside of each trash can.

And tried to grab you. It's like a fucking video game, like swallow you into the fucking....

Into the trash can.

Oh, wow, do you think that in any way?...?

That's dedication, though, right to get into a trash can.

ZAYN They were willing to get in the trash bucket for you.

They are.

Do you think that those kind of moments, though, not that we don't love the fans? We're obsessed, but like people being so obsessed with you, like, is there any lingering paranoia from people constantly staring at you and following you?

No, not really. I don't have paranoia in that sense, no.

That's good you sleep well.

Yeah, I do. I sleep in Pennsylvania, you know what I mean? Look, it's raining, I can hear the crickets, it's amazing.

No one crazy in Pennsylvania, that's debatable. You're performing in front of massive crowds.

I think there was, but I don't think we had time for it, like there was no. Like you have time to have anxiety or be nervous, you're just kind of going to go.

I think it's interesting, too, because when you look at bands, or even just like any brand that has, like, multiple people attached to it. Like, everyone loves to put archetypes with people like the Spice girls, for example. Perfect example you have to label everyone. And so for a boy band, it would be like the boy next door, like the bad boy, like the brooding one, or the funny one. Like, What persona do you think you played?

There's a makeup that I was like, the brooding, serious one, yeah, but that wasn't necessarily my personality type. I think it's just a marketing scheme, you know, you've got the teletubbies, you've got spice girls, you've got whatever, like, it's just a marketing scheme, you know?

Yeah, it's interesting. I love the teletubbie reference. you're like the teletubbies, the Spice girls one direction. I'm like the fucking teletubbies.

Yeah, I think Simon was behind the teletubbies, too. Wait, no stop, yeah, and the Power Rangers, yeah.

It's so fucking crazy, it's all coming full circle.

He's got a marketing plan.

Fuck, no, but it's interesting because I was going to ask, I agree. You kind of had this brooding, mysterious personality, and that's why I'm excited to sit down with you today. Because again, those stereotypes that were put onto people, I'm curious if, first of all, who comes up with that marketing people? I guess, yeah, it's not like the fans.

Well, yeah, and maybe some of the fans kind of like, naturally, say this too, you know what I mean from pictures and things like that.

So you didn't agree with it, but do you think you leaned into it more?

I think I just had one face to pull, I was doing the Zoolander, that was it. You know what I mean? I was only a young kid, I didn't know what else to do.

I get it, if anything, maybe it made it easier because you're like, this is just my lane, this is me.

Just stick with this, don't ask me too many questions.

Do you think you're mysterious?

Not really. I just like to just chill, I like to be in the back a little bit, I'm a bit more relaxed. I'm not trying to be in your face.

You're not trying to jump in front.

Yeah, exactly.

Okay, well, now you're solo, so you got to jump in front, Zayn.

Okay, we're going to get there, take the reins.

I love how you kind of mentioned you got out at the right time and I think that you leaving the band obviously shook the fucking world and everyone was like, Zayn, No, keep it together. But I think what again we forget is you're a human being and you clearly had to take care of your mental health and do what was best for you. I know you've lightly talked about this, but just so we get a full circle moment. Can you just take us back to that moment of actually sitting with yourself and knowing it was time to leave?

Yeah, I think I'd known for a minute. There was a lot of look. I don't want to go into too much detail, but there was a lot of politics going on. Certain people were doing certain things, certain people didn't want to sign contracts, so I knew something was happening.

I love that you're saying that, too.

For sure, yeah, it's an idea, isn't it? When you watch Friends, you don't want Joey cussing off Chandler, you want these people to be best friends.

Yeah, you want them to stay together forever, but I also think it's so healthy. Because imagine if you hadn't ended it, then you really would have fucking hate each other. And being able to go on your own way. Also, someone always has to be the first one to leave, and maybe it's the best thing for it, but in the time, I can imagine there's hurt feelings.

I don't think I was afraid, no.

I think that's so smart because I think social media, even if you're not famous, everyone is feeding themselves and their worth by what other people are saying about them. And it's like, you good with your family, and I don't mean family by blood.

Just, yeah, people that you have around you, your circle, yeah, and as long as they're good, then that's all that matters to me.

Wait, but did you not tell your mom you were doing it?

Did I not tell my mom I was leaving? Yeah, it was kind of spur of the moment. I'd not told her beforehand how I'm thinking of leaving. I just called her on that day that I was leaving and said, I'm coming home. Is it okay?

She's like, can't come back.

My dad wasn't so cool about it. He was like, Nah, nah, you've got to stay with Simon, Simon's going to stay. You're right, don't come home, stay there. But my mom was like, Yeah, you can come home.

That's actually really cute. That the first person is like, Mom, do you have a bed for me? She's like, let's go. Because didn't you also buy your mom? One of the first things you did with your success is you bought her a home? I did, yeah, how cool is that to be able to buy your mom something after everything she's done?

It's a great feeling.

WilD Okay, so you leave the band and take me to? When you're laying in your mom's home, you're in bed. What were those next couple weeks like for you, like, mentally and emotionally?

It was interesting, I was just trying to get stuff together, like I wanted to get, like a plan of action, you know what I mean? So I was like, on a bit of a mission, I wasn't there too long.

That must have been so stressful, too, because I feel like, I guess we see it in various different forms. But like, if you make a jump, even if someone like quits their job, right? They're like, I need to prove to myself and other people that, like, I now can do it. And so did you put pressure on yourself when obviously you came out being solo, like, were you fucking nervous?

Yeah, for sure. It's a very different experience standing on stage by yourself, too. Like it's a whole different workload as well, singing three and a half minutes of a song completely by yourself.

You're like taking a nap in the back, you're just like, Dang, it's your part.

Yeah, oh yeah, nice one. But yeah, I just kind of had to, like, make an adjustment. I started practicing a lot more, singing a lot more, and just like making sure I could sing for three minutes.

Right, you had to be like, I need to get back to my Let Me Love You days where I'm, like, back on X Factor, it's just me. I'm curious and I don't know because I know you were saying, and I totally respect it. Of like you were kind of just in this phase of going, going, going to stop. But when you did go solo and you left, did you have to take any moment? To be like, who the fuck am I independent of now? Not being a part of something that I was identified as in media?

Yeah, definitely, I think that's why I've took the time I have to, like, not even necessarily do interviews and do too much like press exposure. Because I feel like we were so overexposed in the band that, like, it takes a bit of time for you, naturally, to progress as a human. And give something else that is interesting. That you have to say. You don't want to be sat there just saying the same shit on repeat, you know what I mean, day in, day out, like, I think there should be a good, healthy break in between, and that was my approach to it, for sure.

I love that, too, because I feel like people, especially creators. There's such a stress about taking a break, and it doesn't mean you're actually taking a break.

You could be working your ass off.

But like popping out of the scene.

Not doing it in the spotlight.

And were you able to just not have anxiety about it? Because you're like, I know I'm coming back? But it's like, I got to just be good on my own shit and not be fulfilling the tabloids and everyone else like, how am i on my own right now?

Exactly, yeah, that was the whole thought behind it, for sure.

So you started doing your own solo music, and I remember when you came out Pillow Talk, all the good stuff you popped off. And it's like, really dope to see you coming out with your own sound and creative. And it's you, and that's exciting to know, like you are producing this, and it's not obviously no shade to one direction. But like, you're one of five, so you can't really have a full say in Shit now, this is you.

Creatively, I just wanted to talk about things that were a bit more real, like an authentic to situations I was going through in my life. Obviously, certain things that we would talk about in the band was always very clean cut, just glazing over the top. Not really any depth or any stories to what's going on. And that was always a big thing for me, obviously, I understand. Again, from a marketing scheme. That the audience and the fan base we were appealing to. At that point was that kind of vibe, so it was never going to work for that kind of audience.

Yeah, I get that, because even earlier you said you like to write poetry, and I'm like, I can only imagine how much the writing process is therapeutic. And you get to infuse parts of yourself and your identity, whereas that just wasn't in the past, which it shouldn't have been. It was a band, it was great, whatever, but now you can actually artistically exercise that part of yourself, which must be really fun.

I think it's difficult for people to write songs, even from one perspective. There was five of us in the room when we used to write sometimes. And it was so hard to get us all to have the same viewpoint and want to talk about the same thing. So in that sense, from a creative point, it is a lot more freeing for me. I can fully get to grips with every part of it. The melody, the story, the production, the emotion, the feeling that I'm trying to convey in each song. So in that sense, it's super liberating.

Cool, because I think we're getting to know you a little bit better now that you are doing solo music. But do you think that the world even slightly knows Zayn yet?

I don't know.

See.

They get to see my thought patterns.

Still a little mysterious, Zayn.

I'm trying, I'm trying, I'm trying to be an open book.

Okay, how about this? Describe yourself in three words.

Describe myself in three words.

All the girls watching this are like, So nice, that's so nice. What's your favorite thing about yourself?

I don't know. I think I like the fact that I'm pretty witty, like I'm pretty smart, and I enjoy that about myself, I think.

You're in good company with yourself.

Yeah, yeah, I enjoy that, I'm pretty smart, I have a little laugh to myself, you know about that?

What's your least favorite thing about yourself?

I'm a bit sensitive sometimes. Yeah, not in a bad way. Yeah, that's a good thing. I can take things the wrong way sometimes.

Give me an example.

I just tend to like, if somebody says something to me, I'll take it the wrong way. If I really care about their opinion or what they're saying to me.

Got it, then you'll get upset.

Yeah.

I think that's good, though. That means you care, right?

Yeah, like I said, with the people that are close to me.

Right, do you think you at times can be too caring in moments that you need to learn to like?

I'm learning to be a bit more tame with it. Yeah, for sure.

Little boundaries.

Yeah, no, not boundaries. Just like I'm just learning not to, like, get in my head about certain things, you know across the board. Like, I exercise that well in terms of, like, dealing with the media and things like that. But I don't necessarily do that too well in my personal life.

That's good, though. Again, it does mean you care, but then you're like, Yeah, but then I'm over here, like dying inside. I got to, like, muster up the courage to be like.

Then I go write a song.

Yeah, yeah, put that into a song, okay, give us one that's like, really sad, so we can like, cry.

Oh, I've got a few, I've got a few. oh, really, a few really sad ones. Yeah, mm-hmm.

See, this is what we need. Okay, we need some criers.

We've got some cry moments.

What do you think is the biggest misunderstanding about you?

That I'm like, super serious, like that, I like, just I'm like super stern and serious. Yeah, all the time, and I'm not like, I'm just chill. I know that, like a lot of people, have like high-energy personalities, and it's just not the way I am.

It's actually nice to be in person with you.

I'm just relaxed.

You're cozy in your sweater, there's thunder, there's rain.

We're just relaxed, we're in Pennsylvania, didn't even have to drive too far. Came to your mom's house?

Let's talk about anxiety. I know that you have lightly talked about it in times, and I just want to talk to you about like, how anxiety affects your life. What has it done in terms of playing a part in your personal life, in your career? Like, just talk to me about what you're comfortable with?

Yeah, so I think we kind of touched on it a bit earlier. Like when we're talking about, you know, like the nature of our job, you know. Like what we were doing in the band and the situation being on stage in front of thousands of people, I think it's a really normal place to experience anxiety. You know, like you're going to go and perform in front of. You know a lot of different people that you don't know who they are.

That is so fucking cool to.

And I don't think that's the way you can look at it, you know? I think everybody's situation is individual. I think it takes an individual experience then to happen for somebody to overcome that too, you know?

If you think about the first time you can recall in your life experiencing anxiety, did you experience anxiety prior to fame?

For sure, yeah.

Like, take me to like a moment in your life where you remember being like. I used to have anxiety, but now I do.

I enjoyed it, that was the thing, yeah, like I enjoyed being in that feeling. And then it got to a certain point, I think, where it just became too much like. It just was weighing on me. That feeling of like anticipation and then getting the adrenaline, and then the after feeling of that, you know?

Yeah, people staring at you, judging you, writing about you, following you, taking pictures of you. that's a lot. Can you share with us? Like in the heyday of paparazzi and insanity?

Just the idea of, like, not being able to just do normal things, like to just go outside and like, walk out onto the street, you know. Like, because where we lived, it was kind of a bit crazy and there was just people always there. Like waiting to take a photo and stuff. And obviously thinking about having a child and like raising her in that environment. It was just very claustrophobic for me. I didn't want her to have to be like, exposed to that because she didn't choose it. You know, the choice that I made.

Let's talk about you being a father.

Um.

O.K. how has becoming a dad shifted your priorities in life?

The crazy thing is, obviously I have her 50 of the time, so that time I have with her is so important. Because I feel like she's growing up so fast. So when I'm with her, I don't work at all, I just spend a full day with her doing the things that she wants to do, like painting. Play-doh this that go to the park, go to the theme park, go to the zoo, we just have fun. I feel like I've rekindled my own childhood through her, you know what I'm saying?

What is a dad quality that you've proudly taken on? That makes you laugh a little? When you think about it? Of like, Oh my gosh, I can't believe I'm doing this.

I keep being told I'm telling dad jokes and I'm leaning into it. I'm just like, It's OK, it's cool, I'm using Christmas cracker jokes and stuff, and it's really funny. People just look at me like, I'm a weirdo and I'm like, Yeah, I'm a dad and I'm allowed to tell these jokes. So you have to give me a pass.

Wow, Zane, I didn't expect that, I'm not going to lie.

Yeah, I love a dad joke.

You're like full dad vibe.

That's it. Yeah, I'm going full, dad.

I love how you're like, I'm fully leaning in, there is no stopping me. OK, Well, you haven't cracked one here. So if you want to, you can always give us your best. But when it feels right.

My favorite thing to do with her is she shows a lot of signs of musical intelligence already. So I just love playing instruments with her and singing with her. I'll sing and she sings along and she can do good harmonies and stuff already. And she's only two and a half, and she harmonizes with me well and finishes notes.

I'm picturing the two of you playing with Play-doh, and you start singing, and then your daughter starts singing.

She can hit these high notes like falsetto, Yeah, it's crazy, I'm like yo.

You're like, Whoa, you're good.

You want to be on my next album? I couldn't do this, I didn't speak until I was three. How the fuck do you sing? Yeah, it's mad.

Wow.

And she remembers, like, full lyrics to songs as well, like every word.

It's mad. Wow, we got a superstar in our hands.

Okay, okay.

It's interesting to hear you say you're singing to her, which I would have loved if my dad could have sang he can't. What are you singing to her? and what are her favorite songs that you sing?

She loves Disney movies, so we sing a lot of Disney songs together. And I sing like, You've got a friend in me and stuff. Yeah, she sings it really cute.

Honestly, that's really cute thinking about you guys singing that. What qualities of yourself aside from having that musical aspect more like personality?

I think she's funny, like she's a bit of a cheeky one. Yeah, she likes to have a bit of a joke and stuff like, laugh a lot.

Has becoming a parent changed your relationship with your parents?

Definitely, yeah, in a like respect way, you know, like you just have so much respect for the things that they've put aside for you, you know? Like when you realize all the sacrifices that you make as a parent, like just to be there and be present with your child. Like, you can't have nothing but respect for that, for sure.

I know you said, like, obviously you have her 50 of the time. You want to make the most of these moments, like, what's something that you guys have done together recently?

We went to Nickelodeon in New Jersey. Oh my god, so fun. It was really good. I enjoyed it. I know it's like super childish, but like, I had a lot of fun.

That is so good. How is co-parenting going?

Co-parenting is good, yeah.

Yeah.

So yeah, it's going well.

Okay.

I think Zane's like, Uh, from me, from me, yeah.

Okay, so I want to ask you if I can ask one question just about like, as delicately as I can go about it. I feel like I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't ask about the 2021 incident. Okay, I know you can't really speak on it. I think, obviously, as a man, you like, there was a lot out there said about you, and you basically took the high road and didn't say anything. And you kind of put out that like blanket statement of, just like, I want to respect my daughter and not say anything.

Exactly, yeah.

And I can imagine how difficult it is. Kind of like, almost a culmination of everything we're talking about today of like, how do you balance when something is out there about you, about your character?

Yeah, so for me, like we were talking about earlier, I don't tend to get involved when people say things online. Whether it's got something to do with me or whether it doesn't. Because for me, my most valuable thing that I have in life is time. And that takes so much time in a toxic environment to, like, explain yourself to people and justify this. And so I just kind of keep to myself. I knew what the situation was, I knew what happened and the people involved knew what happened too, and that's all I really cared about. If anybody you know of a sane mind would look at the situation, I would respect that. Like, I just didn't want to bring attention to anything, you know, I just wasn't trying to get into a negative back and forth with her. Any sort of narrative online, where my daughter was going to look back and read that and be able to read into it. And it would just be something that was, there was no point.

I can only imagine like, first of all, no fucking family is perfect and so to be on the stage that you guys are on, I.

And like you said, your family issues, you know, like if something happens in the family, like, I'd rather keep that between the family, you know, totally. We don't need a whole audience of people and opinions because it's hard enough to manage between two.

I more so, just also wanted to give you the chance because I think you obviously handled it so amicably.

Yeah, yeah.

So I think it's just important to say, because people are reading this shit, being like.

You know what I mean? Yeah, no, for sure. Yeah, I'm super full on, yeah, like hands on with my child. Every chance I can be. If I could get 60, I would have it, yeah.

Okay, let's talk about your music. You're coming back, We're getting a song. Tell me what inspired the song. What can we expect?

Give it to us.

Like, someone asked me recently, like, Oh, like, what's the song of summer? and I actually said, You know what? Like, I'm interviewing someone and I know they have a single coming out, so I'm going to play the song of Summer. Are you nervous to go on stage like alone?

Um, I was, yeah, like when I first started, like, performing by myself, I was nervous and I'm still nervous now. Because it's been a few years that I've been on stage. But I have this like energy too. Like, I feel like I have something to give and I want to get on stage and be there again and feel that. That's one thing I can say, you know, like, my fan base has always been supportive and always just like we're here, we've got you, like when you're ready, we've got you, you know?

Can we expect any music inspired by your daughter on your records?

Uh, yeah, definitely, yeah, I'm doing a record I don't think people are really going to expect. It's a different sound for me and it's got some, like, more narrative going on, like real life experiences and stuff. So yeah, my daughter's mentioned in there a couple of times.

I think that's going to be so fucking dope to actually hear from you in long form, essentially because an album is in long form. Like, we're going to get to know you more, which is exciting again. Because Mr. Mysterious over there, we're still trying to understand things, okay?

I'd like my fans to feel like they got to know me a bit because you keep saying, I'm Mr. mysterious. A little bit open. I do appreciate it. Yeah, no, so I'm hoping they got to know me a little bit. And they feel like they've seen me and caught up with me a bit. And you know, they're going to see me a lot more and I want them to know that, like across the board. Like, I've kind of had a full like mental rehaul. And in the best way, thanks to my childhood. And, you know, being able to see things in a different light.

I love it. Yeah, Zayn. Thank you so much for coming on call her daddy. This was truly a pleasure.

Thank you for having me.

I love you.