Zayn shares his first glimpse at new album with emotional single 'What I Am'

Along with announcing that he’s gearing up to drop his brand new album, Room Under The Stairs , Zayn Malik released the project’s lead single, “What I Am.” What did we do to deserve this?

Listen to Zayn Radio and more on the free Audacy app

After teasing the new single on social media, and during a short and sweet appearance on The Tonight Show earlier this week, Zayn ’s emotional anthem is officially here.

At a definitive new chapter in his life, “What I Am” is Zayn’s lyrical admission that he’s accepted himself for the way he is and wants that same acceptance from another, sprinkled in with some toxic relationship tropes to keep things spicy.

“I’ve been drinking absinthe / I just did that math, it ain’t adding up / I’ve had enough, running round this board game/ You can know you’re own name, I won’t give it up,” Zayn starts off the song.

“Am I crazy? Am I foolish? / Am I stupid for playin' these games with you?,” he continues to croon. Before continuing on to the chorus, “If I told you I loved you / Would you say that it's f***ed up?/ If I told you their flying/ Would you say that you looked up?/ Don't take me for what I'm sayin' / Just take me for what I am / 'Cause this is where I'm staying / My two feet are in the sand.”

Insuring us this is the “first release of a special project I’ve been working on for years,” despite dropping the boppy one-off single “Love Like This” back in July 2023. The rest of the  former One Directioner’s fourth studio album is set to arrive on May 17.

“This is my favorite album that I’ve made to date, mainly because it comes from a place of sheer honesty and vulnerability,” Zayn expressed in an official statement. “I wanted each song to feel as if it was just me sitting beside you telling you how I feel, singing directly to you.” Ummm, Yes, please!

“It’s raw and stripped back and the type of music I always hoped to make,” Zayn continued. “Working with Dave Cobb has been an amazing experience. The way he’s elevated the music is second to none, and he has done an incredible job helping me create this record. I hope we can take listeners on some whimsical, magical journey, and that they enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed making it.”

Written over the course of several years at Malik’s home in rural Pennsylvania. Zayn noted, “I think just being where I was at that time, staying away from things and living with my own thoughts inspired me to want to write something from that place. I’ve got to put this out as a whole body of work, it’s something for myself, not even just for the world.”

Check out Zayn's brand new track "What I Am" above.