Zayn Malik has revealed why he left One Direction within the singer's first interview in six years. 

Speaking to Alex Cooper on her podcast Call Her Daddy, the 30-year-old mentioned he took time away from interviews due to how "overexposed" the band had been.

Malik was the primary member to leave One Direction in 2015, citing "stress" and saying he wished to be a "normal 22-year-old".

But on the podcast he revealed there was extra behind his choice.

His bandmates had refused to signal new contracts so he determined to "jump the gun".

"I was like, 'I'm just going to get out of here, I think this is done'," he mentioned.

"I completely selfishly wanted to be the first person to go and make my own record."

He added: "There was obviously underlying issues within our friendships, too.

"We'd bought sick of one another if I'm being fully trustworthy."

Malik additionally opened up about fatherhood. He has a two-year-old daughter along with his ex-girlfriend, supermodel Gigi Hadid.

He mentioned she was the explanation for him doing the interview: "Since I've had my daughter, the main thing in my mind is trying to be a good example to her.

"I used to get numerous nervousness round having a dialog like this. And I need her to have the ability to take a look at me and be like, 'Yo, my dad's doing this'."

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Malik and Hadid have been co-parenting since their daughter was one.

Their break up got here amid allegations Malik had shoved Hadid's mother in an altercation. He denied the allegations however filed a "no contest" plea to four counts of harassment, saying he had finished so to guard his daughter's privateness.

On the podcast, he did not need to "get into a negative back and forth" with Hadid's mom that his daughter would later learn on-line.

"I believe I dealt with it in the best way, an amicable, respectful way, and that's all that needs to be said," he mentioned.