Niall Horan reflects on solo career and One Direction’s split
The singer says his solo career is focused on building long-term longevity
Niall Horan has spoken candidly about his solo career and the mixed emotions that come with watching former bandmates achieve individual success following their split from One Direction.
The Irish singer, who rose to global fame alongside Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, and the late Liam Payne in the chart-topping group One Direction, reflected on how their separate paths have unfolded since the band went on hiatus in 2016.
Speaking to The Sunday Times, Horan admitted that while he is proud of his former bandmates, he sometimes feels a competitive edge when observing their achievements.
“Watching mates release stuff is fuel to the fire, there’s nearly a jealousy to it,” he said, describing the emotional complexity of seeing friends succeed in different ways within the same industry.
Since One Direction’s split, each member has pursued solo careers with varying levels of commercial success and artistic direction, with Styles often cited as the most commercially dominant among them.
Despite those comparisons, Horan said his own approach has been focused on building a steady, long-term career rather than chasing immediate peaks.
“My solo career has been a nice slow build, which is the idea because the aim is to have a bit of longevity – my favourite artists have had 50-year careers,” he explained.
Horan’s comments highlight both the camaraderie and quiet rivalry that can exist between former bandmates as they navigate individual identities in the music industry.
While acknowledging moments of jealousy, the singer emphasized that his overall goal remains sustainability and artistic endurance rather than short-term success.
One Direction, formed in 2010, became one of the world’s biggest pop acts before going on hiatus, leaving its members to establish independent careers that continue to shape global pop music today.
