Harry Styles is disappointed Zayn Malik fell out of love with One Direction’s music.
After quitting the band in March 2015, Zayn, 24, revealed he had long been unhappy with the boyband’s musical direction and said he wouldn’t listen to his former group’s music.
Harry, who is now following Zayn in embarking upon a solo career, wishes his friend had felt differently, but hopes for the best for his solo career.
“I think it’s a shame he felt that way,” the 23-year-old tells Rolling Stone magazine.”But I never wish anything but luck to anyone doing what they love. If you’re not enjoying something and need to do something else, you absolutely should do that. I’m glad he’s doing what he likes, and good luck to him.”
Months after his shock departure from the group, Zayn revealed his misgivings about One Direction’s music to Fader magazine.
“There was never any room for me to experiment creatively in the band,” he said. “(It was) generic as f**k. That’s not music that I would listen to. Would you listen to One Direction, sat at a party with your girl? I wouldn’t.”
Zayn’s decision to depart the band to go off in his own musical direction appears to have been vindicated, as his debut solo single Pillowtalk has far outsold his bandmates’ first lone forays as artists.
Pillowtalk topped the charts in both the U.K. and the U.S., a feat even Harry failed to achieve with his debut Sign of the Times.
