How One Direction and Zayn Malik Are Moving On

It's been less than a week since Zayn Malik left the popular boy band One Direction, but already the guys seem to be moving on.

After posting emotional messages on social media in the hours after Malik announced his departure last Wednesday, the remaining foursome is now looking forward to recording their fifth studio album.

Meanwhile Malik, who said he was exiting the group so that he could be a "normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight," is already working on solo music.

A day after his announcement, Malik told the U.K.'s Sun that he was already writing new music.

"I'm just going to write and relax and chill," he told the newspaper, adding that he's "never felt more in control in my life. And I feel like I'm doing what's right, and right by myself and right by the boys, so I feel good."

Malik also went into more detail about why he quit One Direction.

"I did try to do something that I wasn't happy doing for a while, for the sake of maybe other people's happiness -- and that was mainly the fans," he told The Sun. "And I only ever tried to do it for the fans, and it was only ever for them. And, basically, I'm only upset I feel like I may have let them down in some sort of way. That's the main thing that I don't want to happen.

He added, "It's not that I've turned my back on them or anything, it's just that I just can't do that anymore because it's not real to me."

Malik was also quick to add that there's no "negativity" between him and the remaining group members, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Niall Horan. "They couldn't be more wrong," he said about rumors of a rift.

Indeed, Malik's former bandmates tweeted emotional messages following his announcement.

"All the love always. H," said Styles, 21.

"It's sad to think for the time being we won't grace the stage as five bros or have the same fun on a tour bus or laughs in a hotel together that we have over the years but I'm super sure us and zayn will always remain the closest friends," Payne, 21, wrote.

But by the weekend the foursome were back on stage, playing a show in in Johannesburg, South Africa, and looking ahead to the future.

"Had a sit down last night with the label, started organizing our writing sessions for the next album!" Horan, 21, wrote on Twitter Sunday. "F**kkk yeaaaahhhh! Can't wait!"

Payne also thanked the fans for believing that the group still had a future.

I can see a lot of people thanking us for staying but your the real Heros here thanks for not thinking it's finished

— Liam (@Real_Liam_Payne) March 29, 2015