Zayn Malik brought fans to tears as he performed his first ever solo gig in London on Friday night, nine years after leaving One Direction.

The singer, 31, took to the stage at Shepherd’s Bush Empire, just hours after he released his highly-anticipated fourth album Room Under The Stairs.

Fans dubbed his new album a ‘masterpiece’ and confessed they could cry with how proud they were after watching the singer at his sold-out performance.

Zayn sang live on his own for the first time at Shepherd’s Bush Empire – nine years after he quit the famous boy band.

In awe of the singer’s set, fans flocked to X to heap praise on the Pillowtalk hitmaker.

Zayn Malik brought fans to tears as he performed his first ever solo gig in London on Friday night, nine years after leaving one direction

The singer, 31, took to the stage at Shepherd’s Bush Empire, just hours after he released his highly-anticipated fourth album Room Under The Stairs

Zayn found fame on the X Factor in 2010 alongside band mates (L-R) Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Zayn, Niall Horan (pictured 2012) before quitting in March 2015

One penned: ‘Zayn really smashed it tonight!!!!! The vocals! the visuals! the atmosphere!’, while others wrote: ‘It was definitely the best night of my life. Thank you Zayn. Thank you for always growing and showing us that if we can dream about it we can have it. So so proud you smashed it ‘

‘I’m so happy, I cannot put into words how proud I am of Zayn. he literally deserves it all. the show was amazing, it felt so short because we just wanted to stay there with him. the ambiance was amazing, love zquad so much! y’all are the best out there’

‘big thanks to AVA for this beautiful thought. I’ve watched your concert in London through my phone and I felt everything as if I was there. You were beyond amazing. You killed it. You’re back. Don’t ever doubt yourself. Sing your heart out. We will listen.’

‘I need every single person who is meeting Zayn tomorrow to tell him how proud they are and that he did absolutely amazing today. Please?’

‘I have to listen to this Zayn album again. While nothing is ever touching his magnum opus Icarus Falls, this is certainly my least favorite project of his. Fuchsia Sea is amazing though. Instantly replayed that’

He sang live on his own for the first time at Shepherd’s Bush Empire – nine years after he quit the famous boy band

Fans dubbed his new album a ‘masterpiece’ and confessed they could cry with how proud they are of the singer’s sold-out solo performance

In support of his adoring fans, Zayn was spotted throwing posters out of the window of his dressing room to the queue of people below

Luckily for him, security took it in good measure and found the act funny

In awe of the singer’s set, fans flocked to X to share how ‘proud’ they are as a fan

Zayn performed a selection of songs from the new record after the world premiere of the Road Back To The Mic documentary

The collection was his first since 2021’s Nobody Is Listening, and he has suggested it will be his most personal to date

‘I’m so proud of Zayn. I could cry I’m honestly in loss of words but my heart is so deeply happy for him this is all just so amazing and he deserves this! I hope this era keeps treating him this well’

‘You did amazing Zayn’

In support of his adoring fans, Zayn was spotted throwing posters out of the window of his dressing room to the queue of people below for his first ever solo performance.

The singer’s mother Trisha was also pictured with a smile on her face heading to the gig.

Zayn performed a selection of songs from the new record after the world premiere of the Road Back To The Mic documentary.

The collection was his first since 2021’s Nobody Is Listening, and he has suggested it will be his most personal to date.

The singer’s mother Trisha was also pictured with a smile on her face heading to the gig

Trisha gave her son a wave from his dressing room

Zayn co-produced his new album with Dave Cobb – known for his work with the likes of Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell and Chris Stapleton – and he’s delighted with the results of their collaboration

He said: ‘This is my favourite album that I’ve made to date, mainly because it comes from a place of sheer honesty and vulnerability

He said: ‘This is my favourite album that I’ve made to date, mainly because it comes from a place of sheer honesty and vulnerability.

‘I wanted each song to feel as if it was just me sitting beside you telling you how I feel, singing directly to you.

‘It’s raw and stripped back and the type of music I always hoped to make.’

He admitted being more introspective at the time helped inspire the direction his music has taken, and it was important for it to be released as an entire album rather than just individual tracks.

He explained: ‘I think just being where I was at that time, staying away from things and living with my own thoughts inspired me to want to write something from that place.

‘I’ve got to put this out as a whole body of work, it’s something for myself, not even just for the world.’

Zayn co-produced the album with Dave Cobb – known for his work with the likes of Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell and Chris Stapleton – and he’s delighted with the results of their collaboration.

He added: ‘Working with Dave Cobb has been an amazing experience. The way he’s elevated the music is second to none, and he has done an incredible job helping me create this record.’

For the past six years, Zayn has been writing and crafting his new album and it said to be his most personal release to date.

It reflected where he is in life, while exploring the complexities of healing, stillness, and growth.

It also saw the genre-bending artist explore a new sound, leaning into his soulful vocals, live instrumentation, and poetic lyricism as a songwriter.

The release is accompanied by the official video for ‘Stardust’, directed by Frank and Ivanna Borin. The visual brings the lyrics to life as we follow the singer on an exploration of memory and mystery guided by falling stars.

Through the metaphor of a celestial being stranded on Earth, his journey reflects themes of identity, vulnerability, and the quest for home, ultimately ascending to join the stars.