• Entertainment

One Direction Opens Up About Zayn Malik’s Departure

2 minute read

Zayn Malik broke millions of hearts when he announced he was leaving British boy band One Direction, and now, in their first official interview since his departure, the group’s remaining four crooners are speaking out.

In an exclusive interview with U.K. paper The Sun, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Niall Horan opened up about Malik’s emotional decision, and how it will affect the group.

“It’s been a tough few weeks, probably the toughest since the band was formed five years ago,” Payne, 21, told the newspaper. “We’re gutted that Zayn chose to leave, but now after a few performances as a four piece, we’re feeling confident and are determined to carry on stronger than ever.”

Malik, 22, who announced he was quitting the group on the One Direction Facebook page on March 25, is already working on solo music with producer Naughty Boy. The producer teased a possible song by Malik on his Sound Cloud page just days after the singer’s announced departure. (The track has since been removed.)

Despite the loss of their bandmate, the guys are staying positive about what’s to come and continuing their On the Road Again tour.

See One Direction Throughout the Years

BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards - Show
Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Zain Malik of One Direction perform at the BBC Teen Awards at Wembley arena in London, England in 2011.Dave Hogan—Getty Images
BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards - Show
One Direction perform at the BBC Teen Awards at Wembley arena in London, England in 2011.Dave Hogan—Getty Images
BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards - Show
One Direction perform at the BBC Teen Awards at Wembley arena in London, United Kingdom in 2011.Dave Hogan—Getty Images
BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards - Show
One Direction perform at the BBC Teen Awards at Wembley arena in London, United Kingdom in 2011.Dave Hogan—Getty Images
Nickelodeon's 25th Annual Kids' Choice Awards - Roaming Audience
Zayn Malik of One Direction performs at Nickelodeon's 25th Annual Kids' Choice Awards held at Galen Center in Los Angeles, Calif. in 2012.Christopher Polk—KCA2012/Getty Images
One Direction Perform in London
Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Liam Payne and Zayn Malik of One Direction perform at HMV Hammersmith Apollo in London, England in 2012.Joseph Okpako—FilmMagic/Getty Images
One Direction Portrait Session In Sydney
Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Liam Payne and Harry Styles of One Direction pose during a portrait shoot at Fox Studios in Sydney, Australia in 2012.Sam Ruttyn—Newspix/Getty Images
One Direction Performs On NBC's "Today"
Zayn Malik of One Direction performs on NBC's Today at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City in 2012.Slaven Vlasic—Getty Images
Z100's Jingle Ball 2012 Presented By Aeropostale - Show
One Direction performs onstage during Z100's Jingle Ball 2012 at Madison Square Garden on in New York City in 2012.Kevin Kane—Getty Images for Jingle Ball 201
2013 MTV Video Music Awards - Show
One Direction speaks onstage during the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn in 2013.Theo Wargo—WireImage/Getty Images
2013 American Music Awards - Roaming Show
One Direction performs onstage during the 2013 American Music Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles, Calif. in 2013.Christopher Polk—AMA2013/Getty Images
One Direction in Buenos Aires
One Direction performs at the stage during their presentation as part of the tour "Where We Are Tour" at Velez Sarsfield Stadium on May 03, 2014 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.Cesar Quiroga—LatinContent/Getty Images
One Direction "Where We Are" Tour - New Jersey
Guitarist Dan Richards and Niall Horan of One Direction perform onstage during the "Where We Are" tour at Met Life Stadium on Aug. 4, 2014 in New York City.Kevin Mazur—OneD/Getty Images
One Direction "Where We Are" Tour - New Jersey
Zayn Malik of One Direction performs onstage during the "Where We Are" tour at Met Life Stadium on Aug. 4, 2014 in New York City. Kevin Mazur—OneD/Getty Images
One Direction: The TV Special - Season 2014
Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Niall Horan and Harry Styles on the One Direction TV special in 2014.Jeff Daly—NBC/Getty Images
2014 iHeartRadio Music Festival - Night 2 - Show
Niall Horan of One Direction performs onstage during the 2014 iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sept. 20, 2014 in Las Vegas, NV.Denise Truscello—WireImage/Getty Images
2014 iHeartRadio Music Festival - Night 2 - Show
Niall Horan of One Direction performs onstage during the 2014 iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sept. 20, 2014 in Las Vegas, NV.Christopher Polk—Getty Images
2014 iHeartRadio Music Festival - Night 2 - Show
Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan of One Direction perform onstage during the 2014 iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sept. 20, 2014 in Las Vegas, NV.Kevin Mazur—WireImage/Getty Images
One Direction Celebrate The Release Of Album "Four" On NBC Today Show
Niall Horan of One Direction appears on NBC's Today Show to release their new album "Four" at Universal City Walk At Universal Orlando on Nov. 17, 2014 in Orlando, Fla.John Parra—WireImage/Getty Images
Saturday Night Live - Season 40
Amy Adams and One Direction members Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan appear on Saturday Night Live on Dec. 18, 2014.Dana Edelson—NBC/Getty Images
Saturday Night Live - Season 40
Harry Styles performs on Saturday Night Live on Dec. 18, 2014.Dana Edelson—NBC/Getty Images
Saturday Night Live - Season 40
Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan of One Direction perform on Saturday Night Live on Dec. 18, 2014.Dana Edelson—NBC/Getty Images

“We’re looking forward to seeing all our fans on the tour this year,” said Horan, 21, in the interview, which was published on Friday. “All we want to do is make them proud and return their faith in us with a brilliant tour and an amazing new album.”

The group reportedly began working on a new record in February, and despite the shake up, will continue to make new music. Styles confirmed the rumors, telling The Sun “It’s very exciting to be working on our fifth album.”

“All four of us are 100 percent committed to staying in One Direction and we want to thank the fans for being so incredible during this time,” Tomlinson, 23, assured fans.

Malik also spoke to the newspaper last week, and insisted there was no rift between the group and he was doing “what felt right.”

This article originally appeared on People.com.

More Must-Reads From TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com