Zayn Malik launched his Las Vegas residency with an intimate performance at Dolby Live, focusing on unreleased tracks and rarely played songs from his early solo career. The show catered to his devoted fans, skipping One Direction nods and most hits except for the closer 'Pillowtalk.' Despite a sinus infection, Malik delivered strong vocals and announced an upcoming fifth album.
Zayn Malik opened his Las Vegas residency at Dolby Live on Tuesday, prioritizing a setlist for his most dedicated fans over mainstream expectations. He began with an unreleased song, whose title he did not confirm, evoking the R&B style of his 2016 debut album Mind of Mine. This was followed by 'She,' a track from that album never performed live before, surprising the 6,500-person crowd.
Malik, dressed in light-washed jeans, a white tee, and a cropped gold-accented jacket, performed with a full band and three backing singers. A massive screen provided mood lighting and occasional lyrics, keeping the focus on his music. Battling a dry throat and sinus infection—for which he apologized three times—he showcased pristine vocals and a stronger stage presence than his 2024 'Room Under the Stars' tour.
Early in the show, Malik teased his fifth studio album, saying, “I’ve been in the studio a little bit... I got a new record coming for you guys pretty soon. I’m really excited about that… I’ll be playing some songs tonight for the first time. For you guys.” He debuted five tracks from the upcoming release, which lean more catchy and gritty than his recent folky work. Among them: 'Used to the Blues' with an alternative melody reminiscent of One Direction; 'Fatal,' an EDM-tinged pop-R&B song featuring Urdu in the chorus; and the lead single 'Die for Me,' a yearning track akin to The Weeknd's style.
The set also revived Mind of Mine favorites like 'Borderz,' 'It’s You,' and 'Drunk,' giving the album its due after years of fan longing. The 90-minute performance closed with 'Pillowtalk' but omitted hits like 'Like I Would' and 'Trampoline.' The residency, which runs through the end of the month, marks Malik's confident return to live shows following anxiety that sidelined him post-One Direction. As he reflected after his last tour's Los Angeles stop, “I forgot how much I love doing this.”
Setlist:
- NUSRAT unreleased
- BIRDS ON A CLOUD
- WHAT I AM
- DREAMIN
- GATES OF HELL
- BORDERZ
- iT’s YoU
- LIED TO
- SCRIPTED
- CONCRETE KISSES
- USED TO THE BLUES unreleased
- dRuNk
- SWEAT
- FATAL unreleased
- TAKE TURNS unreleased
- ALIENATED
- DIE FOR ME unreleased
- PILLOWTALK
