K-pop meets British pop royalty? Fans are buzzing over speculation that BLACKPINK’s Jisoo and former One Direction member Zayn Malik may be teaming up for a surprise duet — and the clues are adding up fast.
The rumor mill kicked into high gear after Jisoo dropped a cryptic teaser on Instagram hinting at an upcoming single. The moody black-and-white images feature the singer in the foreground while a mysterious male figure stands behind her with his back turned. The caption reads, “Two voices, one orbit. Coming soon,” and the teaser seemingly reveals the track’s title: “Eyes Closed.”
While the collaborator’s identity wasn’t explicitly confirmed, fans quickly noticed a familiar tattoo on the back of the mystery figure’s head — one that looks a lot like Malik’s. Adding fuel to the fire, The Korea Herald reported that the duo are indeed working together.
“Jisoo is releasing a new ballad duet with Zayn, sometime in this month,” a source told the outlet.
If true, the collaboration would mark a major crossover moment between two global music icons. Jisoo, 30, is currently on a brief break from BLACKPINK’s massive Deadline world tour, which began in Seoul in July. After wrapping two sold-out nights at London’s O2 Arena in mid-August, the group is scheduled to resume touring in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on October 18.
The timing couldn’t be more perfect. Zayn, 32, was spotted back in July at BLACKPINK’s MetLife Stadium concert in New York with his daughter, Khai. The former boybander later shared a photo from the show on Instagram, captioning it: “@BLACKPINKOFFICIAL THANK YOU 🙂 ME & KHAI LOVED IT.” Fans now believe that wasn’t just a dad-daughter night out — it may have been the beginning of a musical collaboration.
For Jisoo, this single would be her first new release since February’s “Amortage” EP, which featured four tracks: “Earthquake,” “Your Love,” “Tears,” and “Hugs & Kisses.” The project cemented her solo star power, highlighting her emotive vocals outside of BLACKPINK’s signature sound.
Meanwhile, Zayn has spent the last several years carving out his own lane in music since leaving One Direction in 2015. His solo work blends R&B and alternative pop, showcasing a more introspective side than his 1D hits.
Neither artist has officially confirmed the collaboration yet, but between the visual clues, the leaked source, and their recent interactions, fans are convinced “Eyes Closed” is coming — and soon. If it’s true, this will be one of the biggest East-meets-West pop collabs of the year.
