Zayn Malik ‘obsessed with America’

Singer Zayn Malik is said to be so "obsessed with America", he is looking to remain in the country permanently.

The 22-year-old star, who hails from West Yorkshire, England originally, suddenly split from his band One Direction in March (15) and in the past few months he has been actively working on a solo album.

It's claimed he is aiming to use his first LP as an individual artist to help him firm up roots in the United States.

"Zayn is obsessed with America," a source told British newspaper The Sun. "He is looking to stay permanently so he wants to be a success there.

"His plans for launching his new music include visiting several major US cities, playing just one song in each, to showcase his work."

Zayn is said to be releasing his new album in 2016, which will feature him rapping, singing, playing guitar and piano.

He is reportedly amassing a very powerful team of professionals to help him write songs for the record. Malay, the main creative engineer behind Frank Ocean's critically acclaimed LP Channel Orange, which won a Grammy for Best Urban Contemporary Album, is thought to be on board.

And Zayn is very committed to proving himself as an artist, especially since he is leaving his boy band past behind.

"He hasn't hung around with making his first solo music and he's really happy with the results," the insider noted.

"The set-up may be basic but it sounds like a mix between The Weeknd and Frank Ocean. He's really excited about releasing it and has said how he can't wait to take on his former bandmates in the charts.

"His biggest qualm in One Direction was always the fact that no one took his music seriously, so he wants to prove that he's more than just a former boy band singer."