The road from boy band fame to solo stardom is notoriously bumpy, but Niall Horan made the transition easy with 2017’s debut album ‘Flicker’. Eschewing One Direction’s pop for earthy, singer-songwriter fare, the Irishman developed his own artistic identity – one hit at a time. Horan, 29, then broadened his sonic horizons with “Heartbreak Weather,” but its release coincided with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and promotion came to a sudden halt.
With his hands on his hands for the first time in a decade, the pop star looked in and began writing “The Show.” On his third album, out June 9 via Capitol Records, Horan lays bare his feelings as he opens up about love and the hardships of adulthood. “If I had made this album four years ago, I probably wouldn’t have written some of those songs,” the hitmaker muses. “The pandemic was a good time for me to reflect on everything that has happened so far.”
After the sting of his stillborn sophomore project wore off, Horan returned to the studio—somewhat reluctantly. “I had just written a thousand songs, so I was doing nothing for much of the early pandemic,” he recalled. Eventually he sat down at the piano and wrote the title track of his third album. With its introspective lyrics and quirky, alternative production, “The Show” would set the tone for the entire project.
“I wanted to say things I hadn’t said before,” Horan says of the song, which acknowledges that dizzying highs and devastating lows are inevitable side effects of being human. “When you write a song like that, you start thinking about what else you should be thankful for.” It also encouraged him to be more vulnerable and open about his fears and anxieties on the rest of the album. “I think it’s kind of contemplative,” he says, “but there’s some fun stuff in there too.”
And often darkness and light intersect – as is the case on new single “Meltdown,” a rousing pop-rock song with a radio-ready chorus that also happens to chronicle Horan’s struggles with anxiety. Exploring darker territory was new to the hitmaker and he turned to New Zealand producer Joel Little for guidance. “I’ve always been a huge fan of Joel’s work,” Horan says of the Grammy winner, who has worked with superstars like Lorde and Taylor Swift.
Horan asked his A&R to send Little a demo of “The Show” and it wasn’t long before they were on the phone. “We both agreed on how the song should sound,” says Horan. “I just knew he was the man.” Together they incorporated alt bloom into his sound – as evidenced by the anthemic lead single ‘Heaven’. “There’s definitely more of an alternative approach than we probably would have had before,” says Horan.
Another good example of that is “You Could Start a Cult”, a title that went viral when the tracklist was first released. “That title flew around,” he laughs. “I loved the idea of writing a love song with a dark, weird title.” Horan is amused by the almost concerned response from fans. “Everyone was like ‘What the hell is this?’ People haven’t even heard it yet and already think I’m starting a cult.” [Spoiler: he’s not].
As pleased as Horan is to subvert expectations, he’s careful not to stray too far from his signature sound. “Of course I make music for myself, but I never try to alienate,” the chart admits. “I want the fans to enjoy it.” Ultimately, Horan views “The Show” as a new and exciting chapter of a much longer story. “This is just great progress,” he says. “There’s nothing in it that would put people off.”
Horan has been in the limelight since puberty and has carried the weight of expectations throughout his adult life – and it never gets easier. “It’s scary, man, but I’m not afraid of a little hard work,” he says. “I spend a year or more on the songs, so I want the best possible result.” However, Horan is also wise enough to know that there is only so much he can do. “You just have to keep your fingers crossed and hope for the best.”
When asked if the commercial success of his One Direction bandmates is increasing the pressure to release solo material, Horan pauses to collect his thoughts. “I don’t think so,” he says. “Everyone puts out different kinds of music.” In fact, Horan sounds genuinely excited by the success of his former cohorts. “It’s a great watch as a friend. There is a bond there that cannot be broken and we always support each other.”
Horan’s stint in One Direction has come in handy since he signed on as a coach for the latest season of ‘The Voice’. After all, the band was accompanied by Simon Cowell on UK’s “The X Factor” — making the gig a round moment. “It’s very weird,” he admits. “I was like, ‘Do I want to come back to that? Isn’t that something from my past?’ But then I thought, “Fuck it. It’ll be a great laugh.” It turned out to be a wise decision.
“I really enjoyed choosing songs, interacting with the artist and going to rehearsals,” says Horan.
“I haven’t enjoyed making ridiculously difficult decisions and having people’s futures in the palm of my hand.” In times of doubt, he turned to veteran coach Blake Shelton. “From the moment I met the man I knew instantly, I wanted to get along,” says Horan. “He’s absolutely hilarious and doesn’t give a fuck.”
Once his commitments with “The Voice” are wrapped up, Horan will hit the road for a 30+ date US tour, kicking off May 29, 2024 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. “It’s the best part of what we do,” he says. “Going out every night, feeling that feeling, playing tunes you’ve written, hearing them sing back, there’s no feeling that can replace it.” When asked how he’s going to squeeze three albums of material into a 90-minute set, Horan sounds audibly stressed.
“It’s going to be a rolling setlist,” he says. “Your average arena show lasts, what, 90 minutes? That makes for about 20 songs. So I’m going to rehearse too many songs, then pick and choose as we go. While “The Show” will dominate the setlist, Horan promises to bring gems from his growing arsenal of lovingly crafted pop songs. “This is my public service announcement to people who like my album: Please buy a ticket.”