Zayn Malik opens up about real story behind his collaboration with BLACKPINK’s Jisoo for EYES CLOSED

Zayn Malik and Jisoo of BLACKPINK generated excitement earlier this year with their collaboration single EYES CLOSED. This partnership represented his initial entry into K-pop and Jisoo's first global collaboration. The cross-cultural track ignited excitement online, as the song premiered at No. 72 on the Billboard Hot 100, bringing together two huge fanbases in jubilation. Zayn has revealed how the collaboration came about and the unexpected family impact influencing his choice.

In an interview with BBC Radio 1, the ex-One Direction vocalist disclosed that it was Jisoo who initiated the collaboration. Zayn mentioned that she contacted him after selecting a song he had previously worked on. She showed enthusiasm for expanding it, and after she sent her version, he revised his sections to match her tone and energy.

Discussing Jisoo's meteoric rise, Zayn Malik said, "She's obviously killing at the minute. BLACKPINK are all over the place."

But the collaboration had a personal motivator for Zayn, his daughter. In a candid admission, he shared just how much her admiration for Jisoo influenced his decision. "My daughter's a massive fan. So when she asked to do the feature, I was like, yeah. My daughter's gonna think I'm cool again. So I'll definitely do that. I'm not out of the game yet," he said.

For Zayn, working on EYES CLOSED also marked a meaningful return to mainstream pop. He reflected on the creative journey, saying, "To come back to it with people who are basically owning that genre at the minute was an honour. If I can say thanks to Jisoo for giving me that opportunity, I would like to say that."

As for Jisoo, EYES CLOSED adds to her streak of musical successes. Alongside BLACKPINK's continuing Deadline World Tour, she is reportedly gearing up for her second solo album next year.