Liam Payne Is ‘Taking A Break From Music’ Hardly News To One Direction Fans

As one-quarter of One Direction Liam Payne is no stranger to the occasional bizarre headline. In recent months, some sections of the media have seemed determined to link any snippet of information about Payne or his bandmates to claims of One Direction’s terminal demise. Payne and his bandmates caused dismay amongst One Direction’s millions of fans last August when they told us they were taking a break to concentrate on solo projects. Amidst the heartbreak Liam stood as a beacon of hope for fans as he continually insisted that One Direction would be back, most likely at some point in 2017.

Nothing has happened since to indicate that Liam and the boys do not fully intend to hold true to that promise. At times, it seems that some sections of the media are determined to stoke speculation that Payne’s words were no more than an attempt to appease One Direction’s anxious fans.

What’s this about a new Liam Payne solo song? We ‘Wonder’ if it’s his debut single… https://t.co/HT2lz86yMK pic.twitter.com/IRmZhG0Xrs

— Maximum Pop! (@maximumpop) July 5, 2016

In recent weeks the Daily Mail indicated that Harry Styles’ massive deal with Columbia records was evidence that he intended to leave One Direction behind. One Direction released all five of their hit albums on the Columbia label. It was a sound decision, based on trust and a good relationship, that Harry should choose Columbia for his solo work.

For his part Payne has been strongly rumored to be concentrating on his songwriting. Collaborations with Juicy J, Wiz Khalifa, and Jennifer Lopez have been widely muted. Liam has even said that he will be writing songs for his One Direction bandmates. Today, the Daily Mirror claims that Liam is putting ” his music career on hold” so that he can concentrate on his relationship with Cheryl Fernandez-Versini.

The Mirror says that a source told Heat magazine that Liam was stepping away from his music and has been “left behind” by his One Direction bandmates.

“Ever since Liam started dating Cheryl, he seems to have put his own musical ambitions on hold. Liam’s fallen behind. Before he and Cheryl went public, he was in the studio trying to make things happen.

“Now [Liam’s] agenda is all about Cheryl and trying to make her happy – it’s like he’s drowning in being a couple.”

As is invariably the case, the so-called “source” is unnamed and there is absolutely nothing to support the assertion that Payne has given up on music. Let’s face the truth, almost six years a member of One Direction has allowed Liam to amass a sizeable fortune. There is no financial imperative driving Payne to get his nose back to the grindstone. One Direction decided they needed a break, they lived their lives on the road for the best part of five-years, their time away from touring largely taken up with writing and recording the next One Direction album.

Has Liam Payne put music career on hold? Star 'takes break from recording to concentrate on Cheryl romance' -… https://t.co/a4TMR1FXNB

— Liam Payne News (@LiamPayneACE) July 5, 2016

Payne and his mates needed to break that cycle. They needed time to enjoy their success and to relax away from the spotlight that shines so brightly on every aspect of their lives. Yet when Liam does just that, claims emerge that suggest that he has given up on his music career. Payne is clearly not in any hurry to release new material, and it may not be possible for him to do so during the life-cycle of Made In The A.M., One Direction’s fifth album.

Simon Cowell is renowned as someone who insists on watertight contracts. Payne and his bandmates are likely to have had a clause in their contract restricting the release of solo material for a set period. Zayn Malik’s solo album came out on a Sony label — so too will Harry Styles’ solo work. Malik’s solo album release came almost a year to the day after he walked out on One Direction. That suggests a contractual obligation. There is no date set for Styles to release solo music but it is likely to be some time away. There is nothing to suggest that Liam Payne is not in the same situation.

Payne, like any writer, will tell you that you don’t just sit down and write a song or indeed any piece of writing. Inspiration is king and it either strikes or it doesn’t. Liam will then rewrite, amend and perfect his writing, sometimes over months or years, before being ready to cut a demo. Only at that point will Liam Payne be able to decide if a song is worth recording.

As Unreality TV points out it is entirely possible that Liam is “secretly working away on his new material, but being deliberately low-key and mysterious about it.”

[Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP]