Liam Payne, the former One Direction singer who died tragically last October at age 31, finished recording two full albums before his passing. His family now faces the difficult decision of whether to release this deeply personal music to his millions of fans.
Friends close to Payne say these albums capture a meaningful turning point in his life. He recorded them during a period of sobriety while “really looking after himself,” according to his longtime friend Roger Nores, who told media that Payne “had turned a corner” during this creative phase.
The first album came together in Camden, North London, with producer Jamie Scott – the same talent who helped write One Direction’s hit “Night Changes.” Payne created his second album between Palm Beach, Florida, and Sweden during summer 2024, while living with girlfriend Kate Cassidy.
During these months, Payne’s daily routine transformed into one of sobriety, regular workouts, and dedicated studio time. The music he created reflects this personal journey, offering what sources describe as his “most personal” work ever.
Payne’s family hasn’t announced a release date yet, but they’re having “serious talks” about sharing some songs with fans. They might time this release with his Netflix show “Building the Band,” which started streaming this month.
In the competition series, Payne appears as a judge alongside Nicole Scherzinger and Kelly Rowland, with Backstreet Boy AJ McLean hosting. During the premiere, McLean dedicated the show to Payne, saying, “When we came together to film ‘Building the Band,’ we never imagined we’d soon be saying goodbye to our friend.”
For Payne’s sisters, the Netflix series offers comfort in seeing their brother’s final project. Nicola Payne shared that “watching this over the past few months has given me a way to feel close to you.”
The music isn’t the only posthumous project facing delays. Grammy-winning producer Sam Pounds recently postponed “Do No Wrong,” a song with Payne scheduled for November 2024 release. Pounds said it wasn’t “the time yet” as people were still grieving, and wants any future proceeds to go to a charity the family chooses.
Since Payne died without a will, his £24.3 million estate will go to his 8-year-old son Bear, with the boy’s mother Cheryl Tweedy named as one of the estate’s executors.
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The investigation into Payne’s death – a fall from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires – continues. Two Argentine men remain in custody, accused of supplying cocaine to the singer, though both deny these claims.
Reports suggest Payne might have faced career struggles before his death. Some sources claim Universal Music quietly dropped him days before his passing due to disagreements about his musical direction and concerns about how the public viewed him.
For fans, these unreleased albums represent more than just new songs – they offer a glimpse into Payne’s personal journey during what people close to him describe as a time of reflection and recovery. His family now balances preserving his artistic legacy with respecting the deeply personal nature of his final work.
