1D say new album writing process wasn't affected by Zayn departure

One Direction have confirmed the writing of their upcoming new album wasn't affected by Zayn Malik leaving the band.

The group were reduced to a quartet this spring when the singer left to enjoy more time out of the spotlight.

The boyband are due to release their fifth album 'Made in the A.M.' on November 13 and Harry Styles confirmed that Malik's departure didn't halt their writing process.

He told Coup de Main: "I think it was obviously different, the process, because there was one less of us.

"But at the same time it didn't change, in terms of the writing of the album, it didn't change that much. I think the focus over the last five years has always been the same in that we want to make the best record that we can. I think that didn't change in any way.

"Obviously the album sounds a little bit different because you're missing a voice that was there before, but we've very much grown stronger, probably through the realisation that we all have the same goal for a lot of things.

"And I think it was nice to have the album as kind of a common ground, where we were all kind of thought we all want to make this the best record that we've made."

While One Direction are set to go on hiatus in 2016, Malik is expected to release solo music via his new label RCA.

Watch 1D talk Malik below: