Following his departure from boyband One Direction, 22 year old singer Zayn Malik has announced via Twitter that he signed to RCA to kick off his solo career.
I guess I never explained why I left , it was for this moment to be given the opportunity to show you who i really am! #realmusic #RCA !!
— zaynmalik (@zaynmalik) July 29, 2015
The update follows news that Malik changed management companies. Having been signed to Modest! during his time with One Direction, the star has switched allegiance to Sarah Stennett, CEO of Turn First Artists, the company that manages the likes of Ellie Goulding and Iggy Azalea.
When Malik first left One Direction in March he claimed the move was designed to give him the opportunity to be ‘a normal 22-year-old’. However, less than 1 week after leaving the band, a demo of a song titled ‘I Won’t Mind’ was leaked by producer Naughty Boy (real name Shahid Khan) whom Malik had been working with. The singer’s first solo album has been rumoured be released in February 2016 although it remains unclear whether Naughty Boy, who has generated hit tracks with Emeli Sande, Sam Smith and Ella Eyre, will be working on Malik’s album.
Simon Cowell was quick to offer his approval of Malik’s move, Tweeting the singer and offering his congratulations. Malik was previously signed to Cowell’s label SyCo with One Direction.
We have been working on this for a while and I am pleased to say congratulations to @Zaynmalik on signing with @RCARecords — Simon Cowell (@SimonCowell) July 29, 2015
I believe they are the perfect label for @ZaynMalik’s solo career and I am sure whatever they release together will be special.
— Simon Cowell (@SimonCowell) July 29, 2015
