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Niall Horan has shared his thoughts on the loss of Liam Payne.
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In an interview British newspaper The Times The former One Direction member said the loss of his bandmate "still feels surreal.".
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Horan's latest single, "End of an Era," was inspired by his grief and memories of Payne.
Niall Horan has spoken about how shocking Liam Payne's death still is for him.
In an interview British newspaper The Times The Irish native opened up about the loss of his One Direction bandmate, who died in October 2024 at the age of 31.
Horan, 32, recalled being with Payne in the weeks before his death.
«"I'm glad about that; it means my last memory of him was a happy one," he told the publication. "It still feels surreal. On the first day, I thought, 'No, that didn't happen.' Our friendship was a bond that always existed, even if we didn't see each other for a while, and it's incredible that one day, like the flip of a switch, he was gone.".
Horan said that after the "Strip That Down" singer's death, "all our families" remain in touch as they grieve. He noted that there are "lights and shadows" in Payne's loss.
«"When I think about Liam's death, I'm overcome with sadness, but at the same time, I laugh and grin because of the memories of our relationship," he said. "I'll be in different places and remember something silly in a hotel or something random that makes me laugh.".
Horan continued, "We always had fun in Australia because we could go to the beach. Liam was a pretty good surfer. I can barely swim.".
On May 22, Horan released his new single, "End of an Era," in which he reflects on his friendship with Payne, who passed away in October 2024 at the age of 31.
«"We had it, pure magic / Remember how it felt? / Time flies so fast that / I didn't get a chance to say goodbye," the "Dinner Party" singer sings on the track.
Later in the song's lyrics, he mentions how "everything changes overnight" and "steps that can't be taken back.".
In a March interview GQ Hype Horan said "End of an Era" is a lullaby inspired by the grief of losing a friend.
He recalled how, after Payne's funeral, he "hid away for a bit" to be alone with his grief. Watching videos and photos of them together, Horan also said he felt nostalgia, fear, and sadness.
«"There are memories that only he and I can share, because you have a team and there are always a lot of people around," he told the publication. "But we always said that only we have this experience, no one else has.".
Horan mentioned that he spent time in Buenos Aires a few days before his former bandmate's death.
Niall Horan and Liam Payne in December 2015 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty
«"It was great," he said. GQ Hype . "[He] looked in good shape and we had a good laugh and made some nice memories.".
Horan recalled learning of Payne's death while watching television in bed at home.
«"I remember getting the message. And I was like, 'What?'... I just didn't believe it was true," he said.
Horan continued, "When someone so young dies, you're not expecting to hear about their death, especially if you've just seen them. I was overwhelmed with shock, sadness, and anger.".
After learning of Payne's death, the "Heaven" singer wrote on social media that he was "absolutely devastated" by the loss.
Horan's new album «Dinner Party» will be released on June 5th.
Read the original article on People.