Though there had been a lot of speculations about it before, former One Direction member Zayn Malik, 22, has finally decided to speak up for himself as to why he decided to take a different direction in a recent in-depth interview with The Fader magazine.

Calling the band “generic”, Malik says that there was little to no room for him to experiment creatively in a band. Whenever he would try to sing a hook or a verse with an R&B twang to it, he would have to record it over and over again so until there is a pop version that they could use.

Malik is obviously isn’t about that life, and according to his ex-band mates; he might be distancing himself a little bit. Louis Tomlinson, who admits to be the closest to Malik when they were in the band together, mentions on the Jonathan Ross show that the boys; himself, Harry Styles, Liam Payne and Niall Horan, very rarely speaks to him anymore following his departure on March this year.

Tomlinson also admitted that it was always evident that Malik wasn’t enjoying the experience as much as the other band members were, and he acknowledged that he thinks it got a little bit too much for him, since the job can get pretty intense.

Earlier this year, Tomlinson, Malik and his now ex-manager Naughty Boy had a few harsh exchanges of words on Twitter. But after NB decided to leak his song without his permission, Malik didn’t hesitate, once more, to walk away from something that doesn’t make him feel comfortable anymore.

Malik also addressed the homosexuality rumors about the boys, in which he said that they were “traumatized” and didn’t want to be seen being playful and touching in public anymore, in fear that more false gossip would circulate.