How Zayn Drew Inspiration From Chris Stapleton and Embraced Honesty on New Single Alienated

Zayn could have easily wrapped his reallife experiences around convoluted metaphors and hidden messages on his latest single, Alienated. And he might have on previous records, but as the musician explained on the latest episode of Rolling Stones The Breakdown: he isnt trying to trick you. I feel like the whole intention behind this record is Ive sang a lot of stuff in there thats real straightforward. Theres not too many mind games going on. So Im hoping people will understand the concept themselves and get with it, Zayn said. Its a special song, in that sense, because it really solidified that I could do something in this space for myself. Alienated marked a significant starting point for his upcoming album Room Under the Stairs (out May 17), which Zayn wrote and produced with a technician before bringing on Dave Cobb as coproducer. It puts aside the glossy R B of his earlier releases in favor of a more rustic and soulful sound inspired by the likes of Chris Stapleton and Willie Nelson.