Zayn Malik speaks up about One Direction, Perrie Edwards! See the real deal here

While former One Direction band member Zayn Malik is busy trying to launch a solo career by releasing new music next year, 1D takes a break. The 22-year-old graces the cover of The Fader with a glass of orange juice, and in the new issue, he talks about why he left the biggest band on the planet today and crushed rumors that he broke up with former fiance, Little Mix singer Perrie Edwards via text, Billboard reports.

Seventeen reports that according to Malik, "I have more respect for Perrie than to end anything over text message. I love her a lot, and I always will, and I would never end our relationship over four years like that."

"She knows that, I know that, and the public should know that as well," he spoke out for the first time about their failed engagement. "I don't want to explain why or what I did, I just want the public to know I didn't do that."

Meanwhile, Malik says that the real reason why he left the five-piece back in March was not because he wanted to live a "normal 22-year-old" life, which he claimed at the time, but because he no longer felt creative freedom within the manufactured pop band, Billboard reports.

"There was never any room for me to experiment creatively in the band," the singer told The Fader. "If I would sing a hook or a verse slightly R&B, or slightly myself, it would always be recorded 50 times until there was a straight version that was pop, generic as f---, so they could use that version. Whenever I would suggest something, it was like it didn't fit us."

To his credit, One Direction was formed in 2010, back when he and his bandmates Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinson were in their teens. Malik said that "There was just a general conception that the management already had of what they want for the band", and while they all matured, it seemed that they were still churning out the same music over the years.

"It was music that was already given to us and we were told this is what is going to sell to these people," he said. "It felt weird. We were told to be happy about something that we weren't happy about."

Malik maintains that he is aware that while he may not have as many supporters as One Direction has, he wants to reach his supporters through his music.

"I want to reach them in the right way and I want them to believe what I'm saying," he admitted. "I just want to make music now. If people want to listen to that, then I'm happy...I don't need you to buy it on a mass scale for me to feel satisfied."

While Malik's statements may make it seem like he's talking negatively about his roots in One Direction, he says that he is in good terms with them and recently spoke with Payne, with whom he plans to make music with in the future. Malik is currently signed to major record label RCA.