In conversation with this week’s Big Issue, out today (Monday 08 April), global pop megastar Zayn speaks exclusively about how his roots have shaped his life and influenced his new music.
Having grown up in the Yorkshire city of Bradford, Zayn Malik shares with the Big Issue how he’s found pride in Northern identity. “I always initially knew how much Bradford had influenced me, even when I came to London.
“I was instantly introduced to many different characters that I had not come across before and quickly realised that my personality and the way I am is very Northern.
“Now as a 31-year-old man, after living in America for ten years, I’ve definitely come to terms with the fact that I’m a very Northern man, which heavily influences my personality and decision-making on a daily basis.”
The interview arrives as Zayn becomes an ambassador for Bradford City of Culture 2025.
Reflecting on his hometown, Zayn shares: “I do remember being really young, probably seven or eight years old, and deciding that I wouldn’t spend my entire life in my hometown. I wanted to do something unique and worthwhile.