When Niall Horan’s unmistakable Irish accent comes through my computer speakers, it’s clear he’s in a great mood. The former One Direction member has just released his fourth studio album, Dinner Party (via Capitol Records), and while a certain lightness has been a theme in his solo work from the start, this new project takes it to another level. (Dinner Party plays off Horan’s relationship with his longtime girlfriend, Amelia Woolley, with the title inspired by how they first met.) Take a song like “Tastes So Good” (where Horan sings longingly, “Can’t take another breath without you / Can’t walk down the street”) or “Pretty” (“Baby, can’t you see? You’re so fucking pretty”), which feels like a spiritual follow-up to One Direction’s breakout hit “What Makes You Beautiful.” But maybe the album’s most powerful moment is “End of an Era,” a bittersweet ballad Horan had been working on for a while and rewrote after the 2024 death of his former bandmate Liam Payne. Here, Horan talks about writing love songs, his retro musical influences, and getting ready to hit the road again.
Vogue: Listening to the album, you sound so in love. Did you know that would be the theme from the start?
Niall Horan: I mean, it sounds cliché, but you write from where you are. When I pick up a guitar, I say what I see. If you’re going through heartbreak, you write heartbreak songs—they come naturally. And if you’re doing the opposite, you write love songs about the little details of a relationship, and that happens too. I pick up the guitar, play four chords, start humming a melody, and then sing it. I fill in sentences with whatever comes to mind, and I guess you end up with an album like this. It sounds simple when I say it like that, but you do have to do some soul-searching and digging to find those lyrics.
At what point did you play these songs—some of which are very personal—for Amelia? Do you play her new music as you’re writing, or when it’s all finished and produced?
Yeah, good question. On my last album, there were songs about her too, so this wasn’t her first time dealing with that. But no matter who you are, I guess you don’t expect songs to be written about you, so I think it was a bit of a shock for her at first. But I think she’s pretty happy with this album. She’s been taking it in stride, as she always does. I have a studio in the basement, and I’ll go down, start something, then come up and play it for her. She gives me constructive criticism, or tells me if she likes it or doesn’t. She’s never too harsh, but she understands this is what I do: I write songs. That’s how I express my emotions, I suppose, so she gets it completely. She’s nice to me whether she likes a song or not.
I imagine not everyone would be so open to that, especially with the result being so public.
Yeah, I haven’t really talked to her about that in depth. She just understands that this is my job. I’m sure sometimes she thinks, Oh my God. I’ve played songs to her and she’s gotten emotional, so it’s a nice thing we can share together too.
There’s a story about Billy Joel writing “New York State of Mind”: he came up with it on a train and rushed home to write it down, humming it to himself so he wouldn’t forget. Do you ever have moments of inspiration like that?
“New York State of Mind” is one of my all-time favorite songs, so I feel you, Billy. For me, it’s more about what happens after the fact. When it came to the dinner party, I thought, “Why not write a song about the thing that started it all?” I just wrote down the words “dinner party,” and it made me want to keep that night in mind when I sat down to write.I’ll hear a song or a musical vibe and think, “Oh, that kind of matches the emotion from that night.” But inspiration can come from anywhere. I might be humming something, or I’ll be in a conversation with someone, and they’ll say something that sparks an idea. I’ll have to leave the room and record a voice note. “Sorry to be rude, but I need to go and write this down!” Then when I sit down to write, I’ll look back through my notes or voice recordings.
One of the album’s most powerful songs is “End of an Era,” which I understand reflects on your time with One Direction and the death of Liam Payne. Can you tell me about writing that song and how it evolved?
Yeah, I wrote it a while ago with completely different lyrics but a similar melody. The original song was basically about starting a new chapter in my life. It was about looking back at the past with nostalgia, enjoying the present, and feeling excited about the future. That was the core of it. But I never really nailed the lyrics, so it just sat in a Dropbox somewhere. I’d try to work on it now and then to see if anything clicked, but then, obviously, after Liam passed, it came back to mind. I was talking with producers Julian Bunetta and John Ryan about it, and it hit us: Oh my God, that song! If we just change a few things, it’s really about Liam and his passing. We were talking about nostalgia and looking back at the past with fun memories, but also being in the present and feeling sad. I think those were the two emotions we needed to capture in the song. Once we realized we were writing about Liam, the lyrics came together in about 15 minutes.
It was a surreal experience. One minute you’re writing a song about nostalgia and being excited for the future, and then something like that happens, and you’re writing the same song but with a completely different meaning. It’s hard to explain.
Sometimes a piece of writing waits for the right moment to truly come to life. I assume that’s how it felt for you?
Yeah. I guess there’s a time for everything, and that song was waiting for me to write it while grieving. It definitely helped. And I think it means a lot to the fans too, since they obviously felt a connection with Liam as well. I haven’t performed it in front of people yet, so that’ll be interesting. I don’t know how I’ll do or feel, but it’s going to happen, and I imagine it’ll be an amazing moment.
Are there songs or lines you’ve left out because you felt they revealed too much?
I think I used to do that a bit, but not as much anymore. I really believe the best lyrics are the ones that first come to your head. If you overthink it, you’ll never get the best stuff. If you try to be too artsy or creative with a line, it can actually mess it up. I’m basically just trying to tell a story, and I try to write music that feels conversational.
I’ve heard you say before that you’re an “old head, young shoulders” type. Most people in your position might buckle under pressure, but you seem to have a good head on your shoulders.
Yeah, I guess so. I don’t know. Maybe it’s the way I was raised. There are so many factors. I don’t really think about it. I just go with the flow, you know? I plod along, be myself when I can, and just be honest. I feel like I’ve heard it a thousand times, but it’s important to be grateful for what I have. My life has been absolutely incredible for the last 16 years. We all have our ups and downs, but I’m just always happy to be anywhere. Happy to be doing what I’m doing. The places I get to go, the people I get to meet—I try not to take any of it for granted. I don’t think I’ve ever let it get to me.It really got to me. “Old head, young shoulders” could also describe your musical style, even back in the One Direction days. You never really went for a super pop sound. When I listen to your music, it feels modern, but it’s also rooted in the singer-songwriters of the past. Was that always your goal?
Yeah, that’s what I grew up with. Your first influences stick with you, you know? So when I pick up a guitar—the chords I play, the strumming patterns, the melodies I try to sing—it all just comes naturally. I’m really lucky that I was raised on that kind of music, the classics that people still listen to today. And a lot of those artists are still playing stadiums around the world. So I guess I got lucky in that way, having a love for music from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s. When I make records, those are always my references. I ask myself, how do I put my own twist on this? How do I make a modern version of this song?
You have a global tour coming up later this year to support the album. Do you do anything special to prepare?
Now that my promotional run is almost over, I’m going to switch into full tour mode. I’ve been going to the gym a bit, but I’ve also been having a few beers here and there and eating some junk food. Now it’s time to get serious because the stage for this next tour is pretty big. On the last tour, when I took care of myself, I felt better, sang better, and performed better. I had more energy. I think I really enjoyed that tour because of all that. That was one of the things I learned after turning 30.
This conversation has been edited and condensed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about Niall Horan enjoying every moment covering his mindset career and lifestyle
BeginnerLevel FAQs
1 What does enjoying every moment mean for Niall Horan
It means hes focused on being present and grateful for his career his relationships and his personal lifewhether thats touring playing golf or spending time with family
2 Is Niall Horan happy right now
Yes by all accounts hes very happy He often says hes in the best place of his life both personally and professionally
3 How does Niall relax and enjoy his free time
He loves playing golf watching football cooking and hanging out with his close friends and family Hes also a big fan of a quiet night in
4 Why does Niall talk so much about being in the moment
Hes learned from his early days in One Direction that life moves fast Now he makes a conscious effort to slow down and appreciate things instead of rushing to the next thing
5 What is Nialls current attitude toward touring
He absolutely loves it He says performing live is his favorite part of his job and he tries to soak in every show because he knows it wont last forever
IntermediateLevel FAQs
6 How has Nialls mindset changed since his One Direction days
Hes much more relaxed and less anxious He used to be caught up in the chaos but now he prioritizes his mental health and takes time to appreciate the small wins
7 Does Niall ever feel stressed or overwhelmed
Yes but he handles it differently now He uses exercise golf and talking to his therapist to manage stress Hes open about the fact that enjoying the moment doesnt mean life is perfect
8 What role does golf play in his happiness
Golf is his escape It forces him to focus on one thing at a time gets him outdoors and gives him a break from music and social media
9 How does Niall balance work and personal life
He sets boundaries Hes said no to certain projects to protect his downtime and he makes sure his friends and family are a priority