One Direction releases first single post Malik's exit

Liam Payne tweeted the link to the song for his fans.

British boyband One Direction has released their first new single titled Drag Me Down since the departure of singer Zayn Malik earlier this year

Read: Zayn Malik left band for fiancee: Liam Payne

Liam Payne tweeted the good news, offering fans a link to the song on iTunes, and writing, "Bit of a surprise! Check out our new single! It's called Drag Me Down and I hope you love it a much as we do."

Bit of a surprise ! 😊 Check out our new single! It’s called Drag Me Down & I hope you love it as much as we do https://t.co/HPJn2Kij5M

— Liam (@LiamPayne) July 31, 2015

"Hopefully you love it, we're proud of it," father-to-be Louis Tomlinson tweeted minutes after the song's release.

Thank you for all your constant support. Hopefully you love it , we're proud of it :)

— Louis Tomlinson (@Louis_Tomlinson) July 31, 2015

Read: Zayn Malik signs with RCA Records 



The release of Drag Me Down comes in the same week that Malik signed new management and recording deals, kicking off his solo career in earnest, and is perhaps stealing the spotlight away from him more than a little bit.