Concert Travel Diaries: Zayn Edition
The Show: Zayn Edition This was a show I never truly thought would happen. Like many “mature” fans who discovered Zayn Malik through TikTok and quarantine, I quickly grew to appreciate the depth and individuality of all five former One Direction members. Zayn, in particular, has often chosen a quieter life away from the spotlight, so the idea of a full tour once felt unlikely. When he announced a tour for Room Under the Stairs , it became a can’t-miss moment. Hearing his vocals live is an exercise in restraint and control — precise, emotional, and effortless. The setlist spanned his solo catalog, and while there were no One Direction songs, the focus stayed exactly where it should: on the music he’s making now. Paired with the intimacy of the venue and understated lighting and staging, it was the perfect setting to experience this show, and one I’m genuinely grateful to have witnessed live. Zayn concluded the night with a tribute to his former bandmate, the late Liam Payne, performing...