Zayn returns to the stage with a special London show Heavy on New Material

On Tuesday night (November 26), as fans arrived at London's Hammersmith Apollo to see Zayn Malik perform, the foyer of the 5,000-capacity venue became a flurry of nerves and pent-up anticipation. At every corner, friends ran up to each other and hugged, shared handmade bracelets, or fell into selfie formation. The merchandise booth was decked out with mini bags and paint-by-number kits, a nod to a well-documented hobby of the Bradford-born singer. Meanwhile, overseas, small groups of people could be spotted endlessly refreshing resale sites on their smartphones – the pent-up demand for tickets was palpable.

For the lucky thousands who made it inside, emotions ran high. For nearly the entirety of Malik's solo career, the 31-year-old has remained absent from the live circuit, citing bouts of stage fright. In the eight years since his Billboard 200 debut LP was released Mind Of Mine – which was reduced by 12 months the day after he left One Direction – Malik has continued to release records while maintaining a low profile, a commitment that has extended to an often elusive social media presence.

“I just couldn't get through it,” Malik he wrote in his self-titled memoir in 2016, explaining his decision to cancel a scheduled appearance earlier that year at Capital FM's Summertime Ball. “Mentally, the stress had won. Physically, I knew I couldn't function. I should retire.”

In the book, he explained how being in One Direction allowed him to overcome his anxiety about not being the only center of attention, although performing solo was just too much for him. “I don't want to say I'm sick. I want to tell people what's going on and I'm not going to be ashamed of what's going on,” he added.

Last night's show also came less than a week after Malik attended One Direction's Liam Payne's funeral, where he was joined by fellow former bandmates Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan. He kicked off his tour in Leeds three days later, paying tribute to Payne – who died last month (October 16) after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina – with a message projected on a big screen at the end of implementation. “Liam Payne 1993-2024 Love You bro,” it read, while Malik's track “Stardust” played over the speakers.

At the Hammersmith Apollo, Malik chose not to directly address the emotional upheaval that marked his journey on stage and instead let the music do most of the talking. Leading a live band, on a stage lined with tree decorations and an illustrated backdrop resembling his farm in rural Pennsylvania, Malik's setlist was dominated by tracks from his recent album Room under the stairswhich landed at his No.3 Official UK Chart album in May.

Kicking off the show with 'My Woman', Malik looked overwhelmed by the response from the crowd, who saw decibel-crushing for newer tracks like 'In The Bag' and 'Lied To'. Wearing a trilby hat as he held a red microphone stand, the singer chose to avoid performing any One Direction material, as well as some of his biggest singles (from radio hit “Like I Would” to Sia's “Dusk Till Dawn').

Malik opened slowly throughout the evening, mimicking a guitar solo during “Dreamin'” and laughing in disbelief at the room's excitement for his newest material. “It's amazing to be here,” he said, introducing “Birds On A Cloud.” He continued: “It took a while, but we're going to have fun – have a drink, laugh and sing as loud as you can.”

As Mailk walked by Room under the stairs highlights, plus the occasional track from the 2018 LP Icarus Falls or monitoring Nobody is listeningthe scream refused to let up. “Vas happenin'!” the singer exclaimed at one point, referring to a favorite line from his One Direction days. He later hailed his “amazing” fans for being “so patient” with his return before stopping proceedings several times to check on the welfare of those in the crowd.

From a supremely confident cover of Paolo Nutini's 'Last Request' to a measured version of chart-topping 'Pillowtalk', the show was a stark contrast to the more intimate show Malik played at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire in May. This six-song set was accompanied by his premiere The Road To The Mica documentary charting his rehearsal process. It was only Malik's second public appearance in five years. in January, a lack of crowd control at his appearance at Paris Fashion Week led to his leg being hit by a passing car.

While Malik continues to work his way back into the limelight, he is set to tour the UK until December 9, with shows in Wolverhampton, Manchester, Newcastle and Edinburgh, as well as additional dates in London and Leeds. It will then move to the US in early 2025 for a series of shows that were initially postponed after Payne's death, hitting major cities including New York and Los Angeles.

“Thank you for putting up with me and always believing in me,” concluded Malik just before the lights went up at the Hammersmith Apollo. As 'Gates Of Hell' began to simmer, he nodded in gratitude, signing off with a giddy 'f-k yeah' cry.