Liam Payne passed away in October 2024, causing shock among fans of One Direction. Niall Horan was particularly affected by this loss.
Horan spoke with GQ Hype about the impact of Payne’s death. He remembered meeting Payne in Buenos Aires early in October for a show, and how Payne stayed behind after Horan left due to visa issues.
Two weeks later, on October 14, Payne tragically died from falling off his hotel room balcony. Horan was shocked upon hearing the news and felt a mix of emotions including sadness and anger.
The loss inspired Horan to write ‘End of an Era’, a song included in his upcoming album Dinner Party. Julian Bunetta, a longtime collaborator, shared that they worked on the song multiple times until it captured the essence of their feelings.
Dinner Party, named after a party where Horan met his girlfriend Amelia Woolley, is set to release all tracks by June 5. It’s Horan’s fourth solo album since One Direction disbanded in 2016.