Singer-songwriter Niall Horan has spoken candidly about Liam Payne, saying there are "light and dark sides" to his grief over the death of his One Direction bandmate.
In a new interview with the British The Times newspaper Horan recalled spending time with Payne in Argentina just a couple of weeks before his death in October 2024.
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«"I'm glad about that, because it means my last memory of him was a happy one," Horan said. "It still feels surreal. 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 a switch flipped, he was gone.".
The Irish musician said he remains in touch with Payne's relatives: "All our families are in touch, they've been through this too.".
He continued, "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. I'll go somewhere and remember some silly thing in a hotel or something random that makes me laugh. We always had fun in Australia because we could go to the beach. Liam was a pretty good surfer. I can barely swim.".
Horan, who along with Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles and Zayn Malik released solo albums after the group's breakup, included in his upcoming album Dinner Party a song dedicated to Payne called "End of an Era.".
«"We had one thing in common," he said of his bandmates, "but it also unites the fans; they've experienced loss, too.".
Payne died at age 31 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony.
When the publication asked Horan if One Direction would ever reunite, he replied, "God knows. Look at Harry, look at Louis, they're at the top of their game, so God knows, but everyone still asks about it; it's so exciting.".
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