Zayn Malik has taken issue with the lack of creativity in One Direction's music by calling it "generic as fuck".

Malik who left the band back in March almost immediately picked up a new record contract with RCA as a solo artist. At only 22, Malik has enjoyed a hugely successful career thanks to One Direction and looks set to embark on just as successful a career when he release's his own material.

In his cover interview for the December/January issue of Fader he makes the comments about One Direction's music where he seems to take exception to the way in which the recording process worked. Malik suggested that there was no room to improvise and make the music seem in any way different, stating: “There was never any room for me to experiment creatively in the band... If I would sing a hook or a verse slightly R&B, or slightly myself, it would always be recorded 50 times until there was a straight version that was pop."

"I wasn’t 100 percent behind the music. It wasn’t me. It was music that was already given to us, and we were told this is what is going to sell to these people. As much as we were the biggest, most famous boy band in the world, it felt weird. We were told to be happy about something that we weren’t happy about.”

Simon Cowell has now come out to defend the band and the band's process. “I think once he has had a chance to reflect on everything he will probably reconsider what he’s said because it was a very, very democratic process in the band.”

Cowell than goes on to say what he had done for Malik. "As soon as he left we sorted him out with a label who really were enthusiastic about him and then my loyalty was back with the boys."

When Malik left the band it appeared to be on good terms, with both the band and management supporting his decision. After his recent comments and Cowell being quick to respond with his own comments we may have to wait and see was there more reasons than we were first led to believe that contributed to Malik's departure.