What’s the Meaning Behind Zayn Malik’s ‘Fuchsia Sea’? A Reflection on Racism in His One Direction Days
Lyrics suggest that the distance between him and his former bandmates wasn’t just professional
Zayn Malik has a new project on the horizon, though it’s still unclear whether it’s a single or a full album. What’s certain is that he’s shared a snippet of a new track titled Fuchsia Sea, which touches on a deeply personal subject: the racism he experienced while in One Direction. It was during his latest tour that he revived the last song he released with the band, performing it again a decade later. But when it comes to his solo work, Zayn seems increasingly focused on personal, introspective lyrics—and he’s no longer holding anything back.
As the son of a Pakistani Muslim father and an English mother of Irish descent, his background was different from that of his British bandmates. He was aware that he was the only Asian member of the group, and that this had an impact on how the public received him. He was the first to leave the band—clearly, he didn’t feel comfortable.
After listening to the first lines of this new song, it’s clear that those were not easy times for him, as he faced a certain level of discrimination within the group due to his background.
Fuchsia Sea Lyrics
«Rise and fall, fighting intimidation, lack of imagination in a whole nation. I’m against the wall, so much they think I’ve got a thing for bricks. Do you remember every conversation? Because I caught every connotation. And while they focus on elevation, I’ve got a round trip to the constellation,» he raps in this new track, confirming his pivot toward hip hop and away from the soft rock sound of his previous work.
Lyrics like these suggest that the distance between him and his former bandmates wasn’t just professional—there may have been deeper tensions the public never saw. But it looks like he’s now ready to bring them to light through his music.
«I become the concert, I do it for inflation. ‘Cause I worked hard in a white band, and they still laugh at the Asian. Left a blue mark on a white flag, then used blood for the painting,» he adds, making it clear he felt discriminated against within the group.
«If my granddad could make it back, man, there’s a chance for a setback. Now just a young man with his kid and his wife. In a new land. I know he dreamed hard because I dream hard, holding tight with these two hands. Like a flame can become another, never felt shame like Mufasa, my brother,» he continues, referencing his grandfather’s dreams as part of his own journey.
And there’s yet another line that reflects his emotional state: «If it’s all just a game or a class, then I shiver, hope the plain’s in view from the fields I suffer. If we need to scream, maybe that’s why I stutter flying so high, then melt like butter. I still feel and don’t mutter: I can sing like a bird, but my wings never fluttered,» the lyrics continue.
His feed quickly filled with comments, and Zayn jumped in to respond to a few. At one point, he laughed along with fans calling him “the new Slim Shady of Bradford.” And to those already dubbing him Lil Z for his turn toward hip hop, he clarified that he actually feels more like a sea anemone. One thing’s for sure—whatever he’s working on isn’t going to leave anyone indifferent.
There’s no release date yet, but he’s definitely managed to generate some serious hype.