Read An Exclusive New Extract From Zayn Malik’s Autobiography Zayn

The singer explains how Mind of Mine was influenced by ’60s psychedelia.

October 24, 2016
Read An Exclusive New Extract From Zayn Malik’s Autobiography <i>Zayn</i> PR

On November 1, Zayn Malik will release his first autobiography, simply titled Zayn. Arriving via Penguin Random House, the book will shed light on Zayn's process as a solo artist, including exclusive photographs (like the one above, unveiled today on The FADER) and drawings.

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In previously shared extracts, the singer has revealed details of his working relationship with producer Malay and how his father inspired the song "Flower." Today, in an excerpt exclusive to The FADER, the former One Direction star discusses his eclectic influences as a songwriter. Read it below.

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“When I’d finally finished recording Mind of Mine, I realized I had put down forty-eight songs. I couldn’t believe we had so many. It was a nightmare choosing the final list, especially because all the songs meant a lot to me, and I procrastinated as much as I could before making my decision. In the end, it all came together; the songs chosen for the album spoke for themselves.

“I’d been listening to a lot of tracks by the Beatles when I was working on it. I had really got into some of their more psychedelic stuff, like ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’ from the 1967 album Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. The piano chords at the start of ‘Fool for You,’ and the guitars, were inspired by the Beatles’ sound…I like to draw on the influence of all sorts of music and artists.”

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Read An Exclusive New Extract From Zayn Malik’s Autobiography Zayn