By Staff Writer (media@latinospost.com) | First Posted: Mar 05, 2015 05:54 AM EST

Those One Direction split rumors are only bound to intensify further as it's reportedly been confirmed Zayn Malik has collaborated with Naughty Boy for some new music.

Will we be hearing this on Zayn's solo record?

According to Naughty Boy, the music making partnership was for the DJ's next album.

"I can't deny the fact that we have made music together," Naughty Boy, real name Shahid Khan, was quoted by RyanSeacrest.com as saying. "Zayn is going to feature on my next album ... We're making music and having fun. This is just like a side gig and I don't think there's anything wrong with it."

"It's a good time for Zayn to showcase what he can really do," the musician added. "I don't think that is being fully exploited with the band because there are five people and it needs to be balanced out."

Okay, so this is just a collaboration, not a definitive split from the group then. However, is this a sign of things to come? No matter, One Direction manager Simon Cowell is reportedly "happy" with Zayn working with Naughty Boy.

"Simon's very happy with the song and supports the whole thing", the DJ was noted by SugarScape as saying. "I think mine and Zayn's relationship is better because of our relationship with Simon."

"I know Simon loves every one of them and wants them to stay together," he continued. "I still think there's nothing wrong with trying different things. They are all experimenting and dabbling but I think the band will be together for the next 20 years"

So Zayn's got Simon's blessing. This should be a good move for Zayn, then.

It can be recalled that the 55-year-old music mogul recently revealed he had no problem about his wards dabbling in projects outside of the band, as long as they continue to stick together.

"I hear Harry is going to go solo all the time," MTV UK quoted Simon as saying. "My advice is they should stay together."

"They can still do things whenever they want. They should stay together," he emphasized.

This may explain why the boys appear to be dipping their fingers in various other projects. Directioners need not fear when they do so then, considering they have Simon's blessing.

But what about travelling separately during their world tour?

Recently, the band figured in the news for flying back to the UK on separate flights.

"Both Harry Styles and Niall Horan flew back to Britain without their band-mates Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne on Tuesday," MailOnline reported earlier this week.

Could this really be due to safety measures? Or is due to something else?

WATCH:

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