Former Couple Zayn Malik and Perrie Edwards Drop New Tracks Simultaneously

Zayn Malik and his ex-fiancée, Perrie Edwards, both released new singles on the same day. Malik, 31, dropped “Alienated” while Edwards, 30, released “Forget About Us” on Friday, April 12. Malik mentioned he’s ready to get drunk and “think away the pain,” while Edwards seems to be holding on to the memories of their failed romance. "Alienated" is the second single from Malik’s upcoming fourth studio album, Room Under the Stairs, following the release of the lead single, “What I Am,” last month.

Malik shared a video on Instagram on April 8, where he talked about how "Alienated" was the first song he wrote for his album. He mentioned that this song played a key role in shaping the sound of the entire record.

Describing the genre of the song, Malik hesitated to label it as country. Instead, he referred to it as his personal take on blues music.

On the track, Malik expresses regret for trying to separate his body from his soul while drinking with someone. He sings about feeling abandoned and disconnected from the world, with lyrics like "You let me be intoxicated on my own" and "And I’ve been feeling alienated." The song, titled "Spaceship," conveys a sense of loneliness and isolation as he reflects on leaving the past behind and realizing that the other person was always right.

Although Malik has been creating music on his own since 2016, “Forget About Us” is Edwards’ first solo single. She gained fame as part of the girl group Little Mix, who are currently taking a break since 2022.

Malik is trying to move on from his past with a sense of humor, while Edwards’ first solo single focuses on cherishing the memories of a past love. In the song, she expresses, “I heard you found someone new / I found someone too / I’m happy for you, but I don’t want to listen to those songs anymore.”

In another part of the emotional pop ballad, Edwards reflects on the imperfect nature of their past relationship, saying, “We were never perfect, but I still think about the life we could have had. We have both found new love and are moving forward. Let’s leave the past in the past, but I hope you never forget about us.”

Edwards initially didn’t want to write her own music when she first started to think about a solo career.

She told NME on April 5 that she felt very insecure. At the beginning, she expressed to her label that she didn't want to write songs, but only wanted to sing them. However, they suggested trying writing sessions with friends and familiar faces to help her feel more at ease.

As she participated in more cowriting sessions, Edwards found herself growing more confident.

She mentioned that she began taking more control, and things escalated from that point.

The song "Forget About Us" originally came to Edwards as a demo from Ed Sheeran, but she quickly added her own touch to it.

Ed sent me the song with lyrics and a concept that were very straightforward. I called him and asked, 'Can I make some small changes?' He was really supportive and encouraged me to take full ownership. He said, 'If there's anything you're not comfortable with, feel free to change it.'

The song reflects on a past relationship where Edwards reminisces about an ex who is no longer in her life.

"I want you to always remember our time together. It wasn't perfect, but I still think about the life we could have had," she sings in the chorus. "We've both moved on to new loves now, so let's leave our past behind us."

Malik and Edwards are releasing their singles around nine years after they ended their engagement in August 2015. They first started dating in 2011 after meeting on The X Factor UK. In Little Mix's book, Our World, Edwards mentioned that their relationship ended through a text message, without directly naming Malik.

"It was a terrible experience, the lowest point in my life. A four-year relationship and a two-year engagement came to an end with just a simple text message," she expressed.

In a 2015 interview with Fader, Malik had denied that he ended things with Edwards through a text message.

I have a lot of respect for Perrie, so I would never end our relationship over a text message. My love for her is deep, and it always will be. This is something she knows, I know, and the public should also be aware of.

After their split, Malik dated Gigi Hadid on and off from 2015 to 2021. They have a daughter named Khai, who is 3 years old. Perrie, on the other hand, found love with professional footballer Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The couple, parents to son Axel, 2, revealed their engagement in June 2022.

Editor's P/S:

The simultaneous release of Zayn Malik and Perrie Edwards' new singles on April 12, 2023, has sparked a nostalgic buzz among fans who recall their past romance. Malik's "Alienated" conveys a sense of regret and emotional isolation, while Edwards' "Forget About Us" reflects on the bittersweet memories of a love that was. Both songs offer a glimpse into the artists' current emotional states and their respective journeys since their split in 2015.

Despite the passage of time, their music continues to resonate with fans who have followed their careers since their early days on "The X Factor UK." The release of these singles serves as a reminder of their enduring impact on the music industry and the enduring fascination with their personal lives. Moreover, it highlights the resilience and creative growth of both artists as they navigate the complexities of love, loss, and moving forward.