Zayn Malik's Next Album to Be More Mature & Optimistic

In a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, RCA Records CEO Peter Edge spilled about Zayn Malik's sophomore album, due out later this year. He described the former One Direction star's debut album as a challenge, adding that the forthcoming effort will have "a more optimistic tone" and "shows a lot of growth."

Referring to the first single off Malik's next LP, "Still Got Time (feat. PARTYNEXTDOOR)," Edge said its lyrics are "talking about how it's great to be young and knowing you've still got time to do everything you want to do in life." The entire new project will mirror this personal approach to pop songwriting, as well, which Malik's become known for in his solo career.

"I think he definitely wants a lot of himself in there, and I think that's what the last record had," Edge said of Malik's bad boy, R&B brand. "It maybe even gave people more insight than they thought they were going to get."

His former bandmates have also done firm rebrands since One Direction split: Harry Styles is now the free-spirited rock God, Liam Payne is now the tattooed muscle hunk packing as much sex appeal into his songs as possible and Niall Horan is the country-pop hitmaker with his breakout single, "Slow Hands."

Take a listen to Malik's "Still Got Time," below, as you prep for your next big dose of our favorite 1D crooner: