One Direction is back
Well, kind of
Since 2016 is back, it seemed appropriate that the One Direction boys bring the band back a decade after their hiatus formally began that very year. Well, they’re not officially reunited, but January 15th-23rd really made it feel like the world-famous British boyband was back together.
The first of these events began on January 15 when Harry Styles announced his fourth studio album, Kiss All the Time. Disco Occasionally, which will be released this March. A subsequent tour has also been advertised, though fans speculate that more dates will be announced due to the limited number of concert dates and venues. Five days later–the 20th–Styles confirmed that his first single “Aperture” would be released January 23rd, which it did, revealing a sound that left Harries pleasantly surprised.
On the same day, the 20th, Niall Horan confirmed his collaboration with Myles Smith in a new song called “Drive Safe.” While it has yet to receive a release date, it is highly anticipated by fans, including bandmate Louis Tomlinson, who commented “Love this!” on the announcement post. Prior to the 20th, Lovers (Horan’s fanbase) noticed hints several days before the announcement when Smith teased the song on his Instagram; it should be noted that these correct fan theories began around the same time that Harry announced his album.
Speaking of Louis Tomlinson, his long-awaited album How Did I Get Here? was released on the 23rd. The album delves into psychedelic pop, pop-rock, and synth-rock sounds, an area Tomlinson was eager to try creatively, stepping outside of his comfort zone and “challenging [himself]”. The album features tracks such as “Lucid,” “Sunflowers,” “On Fire,” and “Dark to Light,” a song all but confirmed to be about former bandmate Liam Payne, who passed away in October of 2024. Ironically, the album was released the same day as Harry’s “Aperture,” or vice versa. In an interview on the Elvis Duran Show, Tomlinson said, “I found out a couple of days ago” that Harry’s single was also released on the 23rd, presumably when the rest of the world heard about the song. Regardless, Tomlinson’s album has been a success, debuting at #1 on the iTunes Chart.
Last but certainly not least is Zayn Malik, who went on Instagram Live on the 15th right before Harry announced his album. On this live, Malik teased an unreleased song called “Die for Me,” one that is likely to appear on his upcoming, unannounced fifth album. Additionally, Zayn began his seven-date Las Vegas residency on January 20th. During these performances, Zayn has performed additional unreleased tracks, getting his fans excited about his upcoming album.
While the One Direction boys haven’t had an actual reunion, Directioners everywhere feel as if they are together again. For the first time in a long time, the former bandmates are releasing and/or teasing music at the same time, all within the same week, similarly to how they advertised as a band. And as for Liam Payne, he lives on in the hearts of the 1D boys and Directioners.
By Adelle Hall