Niall Horan opened up about the moment he learned of the passing of his One Direction bandmate Liam Payne, describing it as both shocking and deeply emotional.
In an interview with GQ HYPE, Niall shared that he initially struggled to process the news.
"I just remember getting a message. And I was just like, What?... I just didn’t think it was real. Someone so young, you’re not expecting to hear that they’ve passed, especially someone that you’ve just seen. I just went back from shock to sadness to anger," he recounted.
The singer admitted the loss felt even more surreal as he had recently reunited with Payne in Buenos Aires during his The Show tour. "It was great. Seemed in good form and we had a good laugh, good reminisce," he recalled meeting Liam.
Following Liam's passing, Niall said he "went into hiding a little bit" as he took time to grieve.
As tributes from fans poured in online, the memories became overwhelming. "Lots of photos and videos and things of us growing up together. And being nostalgic about it straight away, along with fear and sadness and all the stuff that comes with grief," he said.
Niall shared that he channeled his emotions into music, revealing that his grief influenced the song "End of an Era" from his upcoming album Dinner Party.
READ: ON THIS DAY: Remember One Direction’s Liam Payne with these songs
Reflecting on his recent experiences, the singer noted how loss and personal change have shaped his artistry. "Something happens in your early 30s and you’re like, yeah, maybe subconsciously, you’re changing. Some of the songs are now deeper to me now that I think of it, really ’cause I’ve subconsciously been writing deeper lyrics.”
Niall is set to release Dinner Party on June 5.
The "This Town" hitmaker last dropped an album in 2023 with The Show, following his earlier releases Flicker (2017) and Heartbreak Weather (2020).
In May 2024, he brought The Show tour to Manila, performing at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.