Identity. Something artists strive for – to be known and recognized for their individual talent and work. For a certain Zayn Malik, that might be one of the reasons he spun his music to ‘another’ direction.
Supposedly an R&B artist, his album is a myriad of mixed genres that include pop, folk, funk, electronic and soul; a daring direction to take for a debut album. ‘Mind of Mine’ is an 18-track compilation of songs focus on themes of desire and love, with Zayn playing the wild romantic card consistently through songs that express these underlying messages.
The album starts with ‘MiNd Of MiNdd’, an intro that takes the listener into the mind of Malik and then transitions into the soulful lead single, ‘PILLOWTALK’, which has become a qualified pop hit.
Then there’s ‘iT’s YoU’ which dials the mood to an easy listening experience and segues into the laid back ‘BeFoUr’. ‘sHe’ follows with a good balance of eclectic rhythm and melody that transitions smoothly to ‘dRuNk.’
‘fLoWer’ takes Malik back to his ethnic roots with a smattering of Urdu lyrics against a folk-style guitar background. ‘rEaR vieW’ provides us with stacked synthetic beats, while ‘wRoNg’ (which features rising star Kehlani) places us in the good old days of R&B. The mood is sustained through ‘fOOl fOr YoU’, a soul track that could potentially be one of the gems of this album.
The compilation takes a plunge with ‘BoRdErZ’ and then ‘tRuTh’ a relaxed and repetitive tune with lounge hit potential. ‘lUcOzAdE’ is the most unique track on the album because off its complicated arrangements while in ‘TiO’ we see an aggressive lyrics. ‘BLUE’ delivers classic Zayn signature vocals while ‘BRIGHT’ entertains with a feel-good tune that is followed by the upbeat, discotheque-y single ‘LIKE I WOULD’. Then there is ‘SHE DON’T LOVE ME’ which speaks of excessive passion and closes the album.
To launch a debut album, an artist must understand their unique brand identity, and breaking solo from a well-loved boy band is a tricky situation to say the least. Looking at it from the standpoint of someone like Malik, the album in its entirety makes sense. The album is consistent yet unpredictable: consistent in its general messaging of love and desire; unpredictable in its music styles. With this album, Zayn Malik’s identity as a solo artist has been firmly established.
