Zayn Malik is turning to music once again to confront personal struggles, this time addressing the racism he faced during his rise to fame — including his time in One Direction.

The 32-year-old singer recently gave fans a preview of a new rap track titled Fuchsia Sea via Instagram. In the snippet, Zayn delivers pointed lyrics that appear to reflect on his experience as a British Asian artist in a predominantly white industry.

With lines like, “I worked hard in a White band, and they still laughed at the Asian,” Zayn hints at the discrimination he endured while part of one of the biggest boy bands of the 2010s. Other lyrics — “Got my back against the wall so much they think I got a brick fascination” — suggest a sense of constant pressure and stereotype-based scrutiny.

The short video was accompanied by lyrics shared on Zayn’s Instagram Stories, along with a teaser that the full song will be “coming soon.”

This isn’t the first time the Bradford-born musician has touched on racial identity in his art. In a previously unreleased track titled Yellow Metal (Cathartic), Zayn offered a raw account of growing up as a South Asian in the UK. He referenced childhood bullying and racial slurs, rapping: “Said I had a problem with hittin’ the kids that would call me P**i… Got me thinking I’m the problem ’cause they never dealt with these issues.”

The same track goes on to examine generational experiences of racism: “Twenty years later, I’m still in the same boat. Tryna treat me like my grandpa, say I came up off the boat.”

Zayn’s decision to share these personal reflections comes just months after a rare live performance in March, marking a decade since his departure from One Direction in 2015. The group, which originally formed on The X Factor UK in 2010, continued as a four-member act following his exit.

At the time, Zayn cited a desire for privacy and normalcy in his departure statement: “I want to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight.” Despite stepping away from the band, he expressed lasting respect for his former bandmates — Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and the late Liam Payne.

Since going solo, Zayn has carved out a distinct musical identity, blending R&B and pop influences. While he’s often kept a low public profile, his latest work suggests a growing willingness to use his platform to speak candidly about the personal and cultural challenges he’s faced.

As anticipation builds for the full release of Fuchsia Sea, fans are already praising Zayn’s vulnerability and the courage it takes to call out deeply rooted issues through his music.