When Zayn Malik left One Direction last year, millions of fans were distraught with his departure. But after the release of Zayn’s first album “Mind of Mine” on March 25, many fans have been completely slayed by his vocals, rhythm and musical beauty. Thank you Zayn, for leaving 1D.

The song titles on the album have odd capitalizations, like “dRuNk” or “TiO.” In an interview with Beats One Radio, Zayn said “he liked the way it looked” and “just went for it.”

Featuring 20 songs on the “Target Exclusive” version, “Mind of Mine” takes the listener through the ups and downs in Zayn’s head. In his first track “MiNd Of MiNdd (INTRO),” he invites listeners to “open up and see what’s inside of his head.”

And indeed, the journey begins into Zayn’s amygdala with the second track on the album, “PILLOWTALK.” “PILLOWTALK” sets the tone for the rest of the album with its repeated references to sex and “reckless behavior,” a  theme that is present throughout the album, especially with one of its best songs, “TiO,” which stands for “take it off.”

Zayn softens up his sexually suggestive lyrics with “iT’s YoU,” which sounds Lana Del Rey-esque. With its calmer and gentler atmosphere, this song adds balance to the album, contrasting with his other songs. More than that, it takes listeners through Zayn’s emotional state, making references to his past relationship with singer Perrie Edwards, which was devastating for the couple’s fans.

In a small track named “fLoWeR,” Zayn pays tribute to his roots, singing in Urdu, the language of his country of origin, Pakistan. The mellow, relaxing sounds along with the strums of an acoustic guitar are perfect for taking a deep breath — it’s beautiful to listen to.

With the song “wRoNg,” all the album’s messages about sex and love come together as one, with “You’re looking in the wrong place for my love” and “I like when she’s undressing.” This is also the only track where Zayn collaborates with another artist – Bay Area native Kehlani, whose beautiful, smooth voice gives a feminine touch to the album.

Overall, Zayn kicked off his solo career on the right foot. “Mind of Mine” introduced directioners and other music fans to the real, mature Zayn. Zayn poured everything into this album, singing R&B, something he could have never done with One Direction.

Rating: 4.7 out of 5.