Just as the clamor for ex-One Directioner Zayn Malik’s solo album, Mind of Mine, reaches a fever pitch, the details of the project begin to trickle out. The album’s first single, “Pillowtalk,” hit airwaves on Jan. 29 and has debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Fans can and should certainly expect a complete departure from the One Direction sound on Mine. In an interview with Beats 1, Malik made sure to emphasize the value and importance that having creative freedom means to him.

“I never really wanted to be there in the band. I just gave it a go because it was there at the time and then when I realized the direction we were going in with the music, I instantly realized it wasn’t for me because I realized I couldn’t put any input in,” Malik explained.

Noting that he wrote about 46 songs in construction of the album, it should certainly be interesting to hear the cream of that crop, as his first foray into the world of solo artistry continues to unfold. Mind of Mine will be released on March 25 on RCA Records.