There was no creative freedom in One Direction: Zayn Malik

Singer Zayn Malik has revealed he wanted to leave One Direction for quite a while. The former member, 22, said there was an inability to contribute creatively to the music, reported E!Online.

"There was never any room for me to experiment creatively in the band. If I would sing a hook or a verse slightly R&B, or slightly myself, it would always be recorded 50 times until there was a straight version that was pop, so they could use that version," he said.

"Whenever I would suggest something, it was like it didn't fit us. There was just a general conception that the management already had of what they want for the band, and I just wasn't convinced with what we were selling. I wasn't 100% behind the music. It wasn't me. It was music that was already given to us, and we were told this is what is going to sell to these people. As much as we were the biggest, most famous boy band in the world, it felt weird. We were told to be happy about something that we weren't happy about." 

Related read: One Direction's Liam Payne opens up about Zayn Malik's departure from the band