Since Monday (6th October), BLACKPINK’s Jisoo (김지수) has been teasing fans with hints about her new duet single, “Eyes Closed”. However, she kept her collaborator’s identity under wraps, leading many to speculate that it might be former One Direction member Zayn Malik, especially after she released the second teaser.
Today (Wednesday, 8th October), the idol finally put the rumours to rest, officially confirming that her duet partner is indeed Zayn Malik. Here’s what we know so far about the upcoming single:
1. Jisoo teased the release date in her “Earthquake” MV
Jisoo has once again blown fans’ minds with her clever planning for her solo projects. According to her duet partner, Zayn Malik, “Eyes Closed” is set to be released on 10th October. Interestingly, the date was actually hinted at in the K-pop star’s “Earthquake” music video. After rewatching the clip, fans noticed that in the scene where she was texting her lover, the time displayed on her phone read 10:10 — leading many to believe that this collaboration has been in the works since the recording of her “Amortage” album.
2. Jisoo co-wrote the song
As she was heavily involved in the writing process for her debut album, it comes as no surprise that Jisoo also co-wrote this upcoming track. When the teaser was released, Genius shared the lyrics to the chorus, revealing in the credits that the idol is listed as one of the songwriters.
3. “Eyes Closed” is her first collaboration as a soloist
Fans have long wondered whether Jisoo would collaborate with another artist for her solo projects, especially since her bandmates Jennie, Rosé and Lisa have released tracks with some of today’s top performers. However, few would have guessed that her first collaboration as a solo artist would be with the former One Direction member. Given that both are celebrated for their vocals, it wouldn’t be surprising if this song attracts even more attention than it already has.
4. The song’s snippet is available on Instagram
Both Jisoo and Zayn shared the exciting announcement on their respective Instagram Stories, accompanied by a short snippet of Eyes Closed. From what has been revealed so far, the track appears to be a slow-tempo R&B number, with the two artists’ voices blending perfectly together.
5. “Eyes Closed” may be featured in Zayn Malik’s upcoming album
While it remains unclear whether the duet is intended as a standalone single for Jisoo or will feature on her next album, Zayn Malik recently mentioned that he is currently working on a new record, which he aims to release next year — so it’s possible that “Eyes Closed” could appear on his upcoming tracklist instead.
“The next album is soon. I have been working on some cool s**t in South Asian music and bringing those influences into my music as well. I’ve got some new music coming out soon with another cool collaborator. That is coming out first,” he said during a livestream. The collaborator turned out to be Jisoo.
Are you excited for the upcoming duet?
