Zayn Malik Announces ‘Eyes Closed’ Collaboration with BLACKPINK’s Jisoo

In a music industry moment that has sent fans into a frenzy, former One Direction star Zayn Malik has officially confirmed his collaboration with BLACKPINK’s Jisoo on a surprise ballad duet titled “Eyes Closed.” The announcement, made on October 8, 2025, marks a historic crossover between Western pop and K-pop, uniting two of the world’s most influential artists from different musical universes. Set to release on October 10 at midnight local time, this unexpected partnership promises to be one of 2025’s most significant musical events.

From Mystery to Confirmation: The Teaser Campaign

The journey to this announcement began with Jisoo teasing fans through a cryptic social media campaign that kept the music world guessing. On October 6, 2025, the BLACKPINK member shared her first teaser image on Instagram, featuring a shadowy silhouette of a male figure in the background. The caption simply read: “A duet is near,” sparking immediate speculation across fan communities worldwide.

The mystery deepened with a second post on October 7, which brought the shadowed figure closer to the forefront with the poetic caption: “two voices, one orbit. coming soon.” While Jisoo deliberately kept her collaborator’s identity hidden, eagle-eyed fans quickly began piecing together clues that pointed toward Zayn Malik as the mystery partner.

The breakthrough came when Jisoo dropped a third teaser showing the male figure’s back, revealing distinctive tattoos that fans immediately recognized as belonging to Zayn Malik. The tattoo on the back of the mystery singer’s head looked unmistakably similar to one that the former One Direction member sports, effectively confirming what industry sources had already been reporting.

The Connection: A Concert That Sparked Collaboration

The seeds of this collaboration were planted months before the announcement. In July 2025, Zayn Malik was spotted attending BLACKPINK’s concert at New York’s MetLife Stadium with his daughter Khai in tow. The sighting raised eyebrows, as the notoriously private singer rarely makes public appearances, let alone at K-pop concerts.

Following the show, Zayn Malik took to Instagram to share a heartfelt post showing himself in the crowd with Khai, both raising their hands in appreciation. His caption read: “@BLACKPINKOFFICIAL THANK YOU 🙂 ME & KHAI LOVED IT.” What seemed like a simple fan moment at the time now appears to have been the beginning of a professional relationship that would culminate in this groundbreaking duet.

According to industry sources who spoke to The Korea Herald, the collaboration had been in the works for several months. “Jisoo is releasing a new ballad duet with Zayn, sometime in this month,” the source revealed before the official announcement, adding that Zayn Malik may have been invited to the New York concert specifically to discuss the potential partnership.

Zayn Malik: From Boy Band Heartthrob to Solo Innovator

Born Zain Javadd Malik on January 12, 1993, in Bradford, England, Zayn Malik’s journey to global stardom began when he auditioned for The X Factor in 2010 at just 17 years old. Initially eliminated as a solo contestant, he was brought back to form One Direction alongside Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, and Louis Tomlinson—a decision that would change music history.

One Direction quickly became one of the best-selling boy bands of all time, releasing five studio albums and completing four world tours in just five years. However, in March 2015, Zayn Malik made the shocking decision to leave the group, citing his desire for a normal life away from the spotlight and expressing that he no longer felt like himself.

His solo career launch in 2016 proved he made the right decision. Zayn Malik’s debut single “Pillowtalk” and album “Mind of Mine” both debuted at number one in the UK and US, making him the first British male artist to achieve this feat with both his debut single and album. The album showcased his pivot toward alternative R&B, a significant departure from One Direction’s pop sound.

Since then, Zayn Malik has released four solo albums, collaborated with major artists including Taylor Swift and Sia, and consistently pushed musical boundaries. His recent work has incorporated South Asian musical influences, honoring his Pakistani heritage. During a 2025 livestream, he revealed: “I have been working on some cool s*** in South Asian music and bringing those influences into my music as well. It is like pop, R&B, and a lot of Indian influences.”

Jisoo: BLACKPINK’s Eldest Member Steps Into the Spotlight

Kim Ji-soo, professionally known as Jisoo, was born on January 3, 1995, and debuted as a member of BLACKPINK in August 2016. As the eldest member and lead vocalist of the group, Jisoo quickly became known for her powerful vocals, elegant visuals, and warm personality. BLACKPINK’s meteoric rise made them one of the most successful K-pop groups globally, breaking numerous records and becoming the first K-pop girl group to perform at Coachella.

While her fellow BLACKPINK members—Jennie, Lisa, and Rosé—each launched solo music careers earlier, Jisoo initially focused on acting, starring in the K-drama “Snowdrop” in 2021. Her first solo music release didn’t come until March 2023 with the single album “ME,” featuring the title track “Flower,” which became an instant hit and surpassed one billion streams.

In 2023, all four BLACKPINK members made a significant career move: while renewing their exclusive contracts for group activities with YG Entertainment, they chose to pursue solo endeavors under different management. Jisoo established her own independent agency, Blissoo Ltd., in February 2024, giving her complete creative control over her solo career.

This autonomy paid off when Jisoo signed a global solo deal with Warner Records in January 2025, shortly before releasing her debut EP “Amortage” on Valentine’s Day. The four-track EP, whose title combines “amor” (love in Latin and Spanish) with “montage,” explored various stages of love through tracks like “Earthquake,” “Your Love,” “Tears,” and “Hugs & Kisses.” The EP debuted at number one on the Circle Album Chart and sold over 523,000 copies in its first week, breaking records for the highest sales debut by a Korean soloist in 2025.

“Eyes Closed”: A Ballad Bridging Two Worlds

The official announcement of “Eyes Closed” came on October 8, 2025, when both Jisoo and Zayn Malik posted simultaneously across their social media platforms. The collaborative post declared: “Jisoo x Zayn. Digital single, Eyes Closed.” The announcement immediately trended globally, with fans from both the K-pop and Western pop communities expressing excitement over this unprecedented collaboration.

Industry sources characterize “Eyes Closed” as a ballad duet, a genre that allows both artists to showcase their vocal abilities in their most pure form. The song reportedly explores themes of vulnerability in love, with lyrics that include: “We should fall in love with our eyes closed, better if we keep it where we don’t know. The nights we’ve been in, the names and the faces of who we were with.”

This thematic choice seems particularly appropriate given both artists’ public personas. Zayn Malik has built his solo career on emotionally vulnerable R&B ballads, while Jisoo has consistently demonstrated her ability to convey deep emotion through her vocals, particularly in tracks like “Tears” from her “Amortage” EP.

The collaboration represents more than just two artists working together—it symbolizes the increasingly blurred lines between Western pop and K-pop. As K-pop continues its global expansion and Western artists show growing interest in Asian markets, partnerships like this one between Zayn Malik and Jisoo may become more common, creating a truly global pop landscape.

The Music Video Teaser: Cinematic Storytelling

On October 9, 2025, Jisoo and Zayn Malik released the official music video teaser for “Eyes Closed,” giving fans their first glimpse of the visual storytelling that will accompany the song. The teaser showcases both artists in elegant, moody settings, with Jisoo wearing striking all-black attire and Zayn Malik appearing in sophisticated formal wear that complements the ballad’s emotional tone.

The production values appear cinematic, with dramatic lighting and intimate close-ups that emphasize the vulnerability both artists bring to the project. The teaser’s aesthetic suggests a mature, artistic approach that differs from typical pop music videos, leaning instead into the ballad genre’s tradition of focusing on raw emotion and vocal performance.

Fan Reactions: Worlds Colliding

The announcement has triggered an unprecedented convergence of fan communities. BLINKs (BLACKPINK’s fandom) and Zayn Malik’s devoted followers have flooded social media with excitement, with many noting that this collaboration represents their dream crossover.

“This is history in the making,” one fan tweeted. “Zayn’s voice with Jisoo’s vocals? We’re not ready.” Another wrote: “Two of the most beautiful voices in music coming together for a ballad. October 10 can’t come soon enough.”

The excitement extends beyond individual fan bases to the broader music industry, where observers see this collaboration as a significant moment in the ongoing globalization of pop music. By bringing together a former member of One Direction—one of the Western world’s most successful boy bands—with a member of BLACKPINK—arguably the biggest girl group in the world—”Eyes Closed” represents a meeting of pop royalty from different continents.

Strategic Timing and Career Implications

The timing of this release is strategically significant for both artists. For Jisoo, “Eyes Closed” represents her first musical release since “Amortage” in February 2025, maintaining momentum in her solo career while BLACKPINK prepares for their “Deadline” world tour. She’s currently on a brief break following the London shows in August and is scheduled to resume touring in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on October 18.

For Zayn Malik, this collaboration comes after the release of his fourth studio album “Room Under the Stairs” in May 2024 and his first-ever solo tour “Stairway to the Sky” later that year. He recently announced a seven-date Las Vegas residency at Dolby Live for January 2026, making this collaboration perfectly timed to keep him in the public consciousness while building anticipation for his residency.

The partnership also demonstrates both artists’ willingness to step outside their comfort zones and collaborate across cultural boundaries. Zayn Malik has previously worked with major Western artists like Taylor Swift and Sia, but this marks his first collaboration with a K-pop artist. For Jisoo, working with a Western pop star of Zayn Malik’s caliber signals her ambition to expand beyond the K-pop market and establish herself as a truly global artist.

The Broader Impact: East Meets West in Music

“Eyes Closed” represents more than just a single song—it’s a cultural moment that reflects the evolving landscape of global pop music. K-pop’s explosion in the West over the past decade, led primarily by BTS and BLACKPINK, has created new opportunities for cross-cultural collaborations that would have been unthinkable a generation ago.

The collaboration between Zayn Malik and Jisoo joins a growing list of East-West musical partnerships, including Lady Gaga’s work with BLACKPINK on “Sour Candy,” Selena Gomez’s collaboration with BLACKPINK on “Ice Cream,” and various other projects that bridge the gap between Korean and Western pop music.

However, this partnership feels particularly significant because it pairs two artists who have achieved massive success within their respective markets and are now choosing to combine their talents. Neither needs the other for credibility or commercial success—this collaboration appears to be driven purely by artistic interest and mutual respect.

Looking Ahead: Release Day and Beyond

As fans countdown to October 10, 2025, anticipation continues to build. The midnight release of “Eyes Closed” will be followed closely by millions of fans across multiple time zones, with many expecting the song to immediately top streaming charts worldwide.

The success of this collaboration could pave the way for future partnerships between Zayn Malik and K-pop artists, or inspire other Western artists to explore similar collaborations. It may also encourage more K-pop artists to work with Western musicians as equals rather than simply featuring on remixes or special versions of existing songs.

For Jisoo, this collaboration solidifies her position as a serious solo artist capable of holding her own alongside established Western pop stars. For Zayn Malik, it demonstrates his continuing relevance and willingness to evolve as an artist nearly a decade after leaving One Direction.

As both artists continue their respective journeys—Jisoo with BLACKPINK’s tour and her solo career, Zayn Malik with his upcoming Las Vegas residency—”Eyes Closed” stands as a testament to music’s power to transcend cultural boundaries and bring together artists and fans from around the world in appreciation of pure vocal talent and emotional storytelling.

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