If your social media looks anything like mine, it’s probably full of Zayn. It’s for good reason though (not because you spent your teenage years on Wattpad) — the British singer-songwriter released his fourth studio album Room Under The Stairs on May 17 to critical and public acclaim.
The project tells an incredibly personal and personable story dealing with love, loss and growth. Room Under The Stairs truly makes you think; it’s artful and honest without pretension or hypocrisy. Zayn wrote and recorded the album at his home in rural Pennsylvania, which gives each song a very homeward-bound and emotional feeling.
The first track, “Dreaming,” has an incredibly laid-back, blues sound that sets the tone for the rest of the project. The song tells the story of misfortune and ambition; Zayn sings of letting go of something that wasn’t working out, despite his aspirations and best intentions.
He continues with this personal, stripped-down sound. “How It Feels,” the sixth track on the album, is a heartfelt ballad. He captures it best in the chorus: “Till I let go of this moment/Something holdin’ me to this place.”
While many are likely familiar with Zayn’s pop sound, this project feels much more intimate than his previous work. Many of the songs highlight the lyrics, focusing more on the story Zayn tells rather than instrumental theatrics. His voice and intonation compliment this type of album quite well, particularly on tracks “False Start” and “Something In The Water.”
Zayn closes the album with the eerily nostalgic “Fuschia Sea.” He seems to be moving on from a deeply consuming and emotional relationship, singing of his search for peace and “motion” after this period of his life. Complete with jazz undertones and a melancholy chorus, Zayn closes out Room Under The Stairs on a sorrowfully optimistic note.
Artists often search for an overarching theme or motif when producing a longer project; it’s significantly more difficult to focus on detailing a full narrative rather than a simple ideology to carry an album. Zayn, on the other hand, successfully tells a story throughout this 15-track project. He allows audiences to get a glimpse into his healing journey. It’s no easy feat, especially for a musician who has worked in the industry — both as a solo artist and as a member of a group — for more than a decade.
Zayn’s fourth album Room Under The Stairs truly makes you examine life from an emotional lens rather than a pracitcal one. While he sings of a time in the past, his music can’t help but encourage you to heal in the present.
Featured Photo Credit: Charlie Chich