Zayn Malik inspired by `fearless` Prince!

London: Singer Zayn Malik says he is inspired to be "fearless" by the late pop icon Prince.

The former One Direction star is "really upset" that the "Purple rain" hitmaker passed away in April this year at the age of 57, but is hopeful his legacy will continue on, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

"It was obviously a surprise, I think for everybody. A lot of starting references for me are technology and Prince. I`m conscious in the back of my head of how he was sort of bold and fearless in the way he decided to dress," Malik told Dazed magazine. 

The 'Pillowtalk' hitmaker said that Prince "created another world" with the clothes he wore, which gave him an "otherworldly feel". 

"I was really upset with the fact that he passed away. But it is nice that we can use things now to portray what inspired us about him. That was kind of what I was doing at the Met Ball (an annual fundraising gala for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art`s Costume Institute in New York City)... Being fearless. But I was just having fun," the 23-year-old singer said.