Zain Javadd "Zayn" Malik, born 12 January 1993 in St. Luke's Hospital, is from Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. Born to British Pakistani father Yaser and an English mother, Tricia Malik (née Brannan), he has one older sister Doniya, and two younger sisters Waliyha and Safaa.
On auditioning for The X Factor, Malik said "I was looking for an experience". He cites urban music as his main musical influence, growing up, he was into R&B and rap. For his X Factor audition, he performed the Mario R&B song, "Let Me Love You". He as well as other members of One Direction further notes artists such as Bruno Mars, as a "dream collaborator.