Zayn Malik shares the reason for quitting One Direction

London: Singer Zayn Malik says he left One Direction because being in the band did not feel good.

The "Pillow Talk" singer left the band last March, reported Digital Spy.

"I just knew it was my time. I knew I wanted to do something different and start expressing the way I felt about certain things.

"I know that musicians are seen as one-sided people a lot of the time. But we do have other elements to us as well. I didn't feel good. Do you know what I mean? And if you don't feel good... You need to be able to express what it is that you are. I'm free at last," Zayn said.

The 23-year-old singer, however, is doing well in his solo career and is in a good space in personal life as well with girlfriend Gigi Hadid being by his side always.