Editor's Note: This article was updated on May 17, 2024 with information about Zayn Malik's album ROOM UNDER THE STAIRS and other releases/significant moments since the original publish date.

Looking at everything One Direction achieved in their time together, it's hard to believe that they were only active for six years. What's even harder to fathom is that they've now been on hiatus for nearly a decade — but luckily for fans, that time has proven fruitful for Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinson. 

Each member has released at least one studio album as a solo artist, and they have all dipped into several other ventures within fashion, producing and mentoring rising stars. Malik is the latest to deliver more solo music, unveiling his fourth album, Room Under the Stairs, on May 17.

Through all of those efforts, the quintet has kept One Direction's legacy not only alive, but thriving. While together, they were a pop phenomenon who sold an approximate 70 million records, but their solo careers have allowed them to showcase their true personalities. With that, monumental achievements came in tow — GRAMMY Awards, sold-out tours, and even more chart-topping hits — as well as the certainty that One Direction will never fully diminish (see Styles' roaring rendition of "What Makes You Beautiful" or Horan's sweet performance of "Story of My Life").

From Styles' eponymous debut LP to Malik's latest set, GRAMMY.com breaks down all of One Direction's solo endeavors to date.

Zayn Malik

Soon after his sudden departure from the group in 2015, Zayn Malik signed with RCA Records. His debut album, Mind of Mine, came out on March 25, 2016 — exactly one year after he left the band.

Mind of Mine saw Malik in a new musical direction, leaning into his R&B roots and soulful voice while also taking a more risqué approach in his songwriting. Despite the stark difference, the album topped several charts upon debut, including the U.S. and the U.K., even helping Malik become the first British male singer to top the Billboard 200 with his first album. (Lead single "Pillowtalk" also debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the first time a U.K. artist topped the chart with their first single.)

Malik quickly proved to be a sought-after collaborator, with Chris Brown, Snakehips and M.I.A. all recruiting him for singles in 2016. At the end of that year, he issued his biggest collab to date, "I Don't Wanna Live Forever" with Taylor Swift for the Fifty Shades Darker soundtrack. The song scored Malik his second massive hit on the Hot 100, peaking at No. 2.

As fans eagerly awaited his second album, Malik delivered two more major collabs, "Still Got Time" featuring PartyNextDoor and "Dusk Till Dawn" with Sia. After facing several delays, Icarus Falls arrived in December 2018. Comprising 27 songs across two disks, the album was inspired by the Greek myth, and expands Malik's usual R&B to loftier, edgier pop moments, like singles "Let Me Be" and "No Candle No Light" with Nicki Minaj.

Malik released his third studio album, the vulnerable Nobody Is Listening, in 2021. Described as his "most personal project to date" in a statement, the record is a stripped-down, quiet statement on Malik's growing talents. Later that year, he shared a since-deleted Dropbox link to Yellow Tape — a collection of three controversial hip-hop songs that showed another side of his musicality.

Though he has been fairly quiet in the past three years, Malik made waves in both 2022 and 2023 for very different reasons. In 2022, he paid tribute to his time in 1D with an instantly viral clip of him singing his fan-favorite note from "You & I"; last year, he hopped on a posthumous remix of Jimi Hendrix's "Angel." 

In March 2024, Malik finally announced his much-anticipated fourth LP, ROOM UNDER THE STAIRS, which dropped May 17. Co-produced by Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile, Bruce Springsteen), the record sees Malik taking yet another musical turn and diving into country-leaning, bluesier sounds, as can be seen in singles "What I Am" and "Alienated." Malik explained in a teaser video that his intention for the 15-track album is for the listener to "get more insight on me personally as a human being."

Niall Horan

Niall Horan signed with Capitol Records and released his first solo single, "This Town," in September 2016. Followed by "Slow Hands," and "Too Much to Ask," Horan released his debut LP, Flicker, in October 2017 — just as "Slow Hands" hit No. 1 on Billboard's Pop Airplay and Adult Pop Airplay charts. A mix of soft rock and straightforward pop, the album helped Horan become the third 1D member in a row to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart (after Malik and Styles, more on the latter later).

In support of the release, Horan embarked on two world tours: Flicker Sessions, which started in August 2017 and was held in smaller, intimate venues, and 2018's Flicker World Tour, which featured 82 shows across North and Latin America, Europe, Oceania, and Asia.

Horan's second studio album, Heartbreak Weather, led by single "Nice to Meet Ya," came out in March 2020 and topped the charts in the U.K. and Ireland, while reaching No. 4 in the U.S. However, the COVID-19 pandemic stalled his ambitious touring plans, and he decided to use his downtime for collaboration. 

He teamed up with Anne-Marie for two singles, "Our Song" and a cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Everywhere," and hopped on a version of Ashe's "Moral of the Story," But perhaps his most beloved collab is with his best friend Lewis Capaldi — a bromance that started with Horan's admiration for the singer and developed into live performances together, plenty of interactions on social media, and a Guinness-sponsored TV special, Homecoming: The Road to Mullingar, out in 2022.

Horan's third studio album, The Show, came out on June 9, 2023, just after he wrapped up his first (and winning) season as a coach on NBC's "The Voice." A fruitful experimentation of folk melodies and modern synths, The Show displays how much his songwriting has matured since Heartbreak Weather, and the result resonated with fans and critics alike; The Show debuted at No. 2 on Billboard's 200 chart.

In the following months, Horan performed at a slew of festivals across Europe and Asia — and won his second season of "The Voice" — as he prepared for the biggest tour in his solo career so far. The Show: Live on Tour kicked off in his native Ireland in February 2024, and hit cities across the U.K., Europe, Asia and Oceania. The tour will keep Horan busy through October 9, making stops in North and South America as well as a brief return to Dublin and the U.K.

Louis Tomlinson

Louis Tomlinson was the biggest contributor to One Direction's songwriting, with credits on nearly 40 songs in their discography. His passion for music production extended to an auxiliary participation on 2015's "The X Factor," which in 2018 turned into a fixed position as a judge and winning mentor on the fifteenth series of the show.

As for Tomlinson's own solo music, he made his debut with the Steve Aoki-assisted single "Just Hold On" in December of 2016. Before releasing his debut LP, Walls, in January of 2020, the singer focused on collaborations and singles. Through a pop-punk verve, Tomlinson began to establish his own post-1D style with singles like 2017's "Just Like You" and the minimalistic "Back To You" with Bebe Rexha — his biggest hit to date, with more than 1 billion combined streams on Spotify and YouTube. Some other singles, like the touching tribute to his late mother, "Two of Us," and the rock-edged "Kill My Mind," were included on Walls.

In 2021, he created and curated The Away From Home Festival, a one-day fest first held in London that year, followed by a 2022 edition in Malaga and a 2023 edition in Italy. In 2024, the event will return for its fourth run in June at Mérida, Mexico. Among the lineup are rising names like Kevin Kaarl, DMA's, and Dylan, in addition to Tomlinson's own set.

Faith in The Future, Tomlinson's second album, was released at the end of 2022 and reached No. 1 in the U.K., marking his first top-charting album in the country as a soloist. Supported by singles "Bigger Than Me," "Out of My System," and "Silver Tongues," it furthered Tomlinson's explorations into indie rock and Britpop. In March 2023, he also released All Of Those Voices, a soul-baring documentary where he talked about his fears upon One Direction's hiatus, grief, fatherhood, and the struggles of fame. 

Tomlinson has been making stops around the globe on his Faith in the Future World Tour, which started off in North America in May 2023 and hit Europe, and the U.K. last year. He picked things up again in January 2024, first stopping through Indonesia and Australia; Tomlinson's last leg sees him performing in South America and Mexico, starting in Panama May 2 and concluding in Guadalajara, Mexico on  June 6.

Just before his final tour stretch, Tomlinson surprise-released a live album, simply titled Live, in April 2024, featuring 15 songs from 15 different shows over the past three years. Each track was recorded in a distinct city, including "The Greatest" in London, "Fearless" in Rio de Janeiro, and "Chicago" in Chicago.

Harry Styles

After signing with Columbia Records in 2016, Harry Styles made his solo debut in April 2017 with the power ballad "Sign of the Times." Just one month later, his eponymous debut album came to life. A commercial and critical success, it topped charts in several countries upon release, including the U.S. and the U.K album tallies.

From the get-go, Styles' solo appeal was apparent. After immediately selling out his first run of solo shows that fall, he plotted a world tour playing arenas in 2018 — all of which sold out. That success translated to the release of his second album, 2019's Fine Line. The album's first-week sales were the biggest for a British male soloist since 1991, when Nielsen began tracking sales electronically.

While singles "Adore You" and "Falling" had solid traction, it was "Watermelon Sugar" that solidified his place as a solo superstar. Not only did the track earn Styles his first No. 1 hit on the Hot 100, but it also won the singer his first GRAMMY in 2021, for Best Pop Solo Performance.

Then came the lauded Harry's House, the album that cemented Styles as a vanguard artist and performer. Lead single "As It Was" foreshadowed the gargantuan success that was to come, topping the Hot 100 for 15 weeks — the longest-running U.S. No. 1 by a U.K. artist. Harry's House debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and was one of the best-selling albums of 2022 with more than 2 million equivalent album units. The album also went on to win Best Pop Vocal Album and the coveted Album Of The Year at the 2023 GRAMMYs.

Styles' sold-out Love On Tour, which lasted from September 2021 to July 2023, has also set unprecedented records. Through 169 shows across North and South America, the U.K., Europe, Asia, and Oceania, Love On Tour concluded as one of the best-selling tours of all time, grossing $617.3 million and selling more than 5 million tickets, according to Billboard's Boxscore. These numbers also outdo One Direction's entire career gross of $583.4 million over four tours from 2012 to 2015, leading Styles to a new level of superstardom.

Along with his impressive music career, Styles has made an impact through his daring fashion sense in recent years. He's modeled for brands like Gucci, and became the first man to appear solo on the cover of Vogue in 2019. The singer has also ventured into acting, appearing in movies like 2017's Dunkirk and 2022's Don't Worry Darling and My Policeman.

Back in March, Styles teased new music during his New Zealand concert. "We're almost at the end of the fruit bowl," he said, nodding to the many fruit references in his discography ("Watermelon Sugar," "Kiwi," "Grapejuice"). "Come album four, who knows? No citrus is safe."

Liam Payne

Like Tomlinson, Liam Payne co-wrote over 30 songs for One Direction; he also started to venture into his own musicality with a few remixes of 1D tracks in 2014 and 2015, under the aliases "Payno" and "Big Payno." He signed with Republic Records in October 2016, unveiling his debut solo single, "Strip That Down" (featuring Migos' Quavo) in May 2017. With lyrics that reinforced his new journey ("You know I used to be in 1D"), the track peaked at No. 10 on the Hot 100 and spent two weeks atop Billboard's Pop Airplay chart.

Payne's solo career has arguably been the most diverse of any One Direction member, as he's explored pop, hip-hop, Latin, and electronic music. Along with collaborating with the likes of Rita Ora ("For You", off of Fifty Shades Freed's soundtrack), A Boogie wit da Hoodie ("Stack It Up"), and J Balvin ("Familiar"), he proved to be dexterous on his own as well, bending his voice from high falsettos ("Bedroom Floor") to charming croons ("Home With You").

After a 2018 EP, First Time, Payne dropped his debut studio album, the long-awaited LP1, in December 2019. Including all of his previous singles, the record frames Payne as a jack of all trades, able to move from trap and hip hop ("Weekend") to Timberlake-inspired pop ("Strip That Down") and even to a Christmas song ("All I Want (For Christmas)").

While he has been less active musically in recent years, Payne delivered another dance collab in 2020 ("Midnight" with Alesso), a couple of Christmas tracks (including the Dixie D'Amelio team-up "Naughty List,"), and a song for the 2021 animated movie Ron's Gone Wrong,  "Sunshine." Outside of music, Payne was also named the first global ambassador for fashion brand Hugo Boss, and designed two of their capsule collections.

After mentions of working on a new album last year, Payne shared the single "Teardrops" in March 2024. Co-written with One Direction collaborator Jamie Scott and JC Chasez of *NSYNC, the track leans into early '00s pop and tackles the pain of a heartbreak. The release comes after a turbulent phase for the singer, who opened up on YouTube about his rehab stretch and controversial comments on his former bandmates. In a statement, Payne said that "Teardrops" "marks the start of a new beginning," and that "there's lots more to come in 2024."

Whether or not a One Direction reunion ever happens, the quintet's individual forays continue to bloom, and exciting opportunities lie ahead for each of the members. Through their diverse repertoire and newfound artistries, one thing is certain: the 1D members might follow multiple directions now, but they aren't stopping anytime soon. 

Harry Styles' Sonic Evolution: How He Grew From Teen Pop Idol To Ever-Evolving Superstar

When the news broke that Liam Payne passed away at the age of 31 at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Oct. 16, it marked the end of a singular pop era drenched in immense success. Throughout his career, the English singer captured hearts around the world, both as part of the beloved boy band One Direction and as a successful solo act — making his mark as a dynamic performer and songwriting force.

The outpouring of tributes from the music community was immediate. Saying that their duet "For You" takes on a whole new meaning, British singer Rita Ora tweeted, "I'm devastated. He had the kindest soul, I will never forget. I loved working with him so much - he was just such a joy to be around on and off stage." Zedd, who collaborated with Payne on the singer's second solo single, "Get Low," noted he couldn't believe the news was real. "Absolutely heartbreaking," he tweeted, also sharing a series of photos with Payne on Instagram. Meanwhile, a tweet from fellow boybanders the Backstreet Boys noted, "Words can not express the emotions we are collectively feeling right now, and it seems like the rest of the world is in the same boat."

Payne's path to success began when he was just 14 years old, when he first auditioned for the UK version of"The X Factor." Though his snap-filled rendition of Frank Sinatra's "Fly Me To the Moon" moved him past the audition round, Payne was ultimately told by judge Simon Cowell to come back in two years.

Sure enough, Payne returned in 2010 — and though his solo run was short-lived, he was famously (and fortuitously) paired with Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik to form a boy band called One Direction. While the gang later came in third place on the show, a spark was already lit and public interest rapidly grew. They made their official debut in 2011 with the single "What Makes You Beautiful," the earworm pop love song that quickly catapulted the quintet to global fame.

As One Direction exploded into household names, Payne proved to be an integral part of the group, taking center stage with memorable vocal turns on "One Thing," "Best Song Ever" and "History," as well as impactful co-writes on tracks like "Same Mistakes" and "Last First Kiss." Payne was also instrumental in pushing the boys from bubblegum to a more mature sound with songs like "Story of My Life," a triumphant yet melancholy ballad that reflects on the pains and pleasure of growing up and growing old. Across One Direction's five-album discography, Payne co-wrote on each, with songwriting credits on 33 songs total.

In fact, after One Direction released their final album in 2015 (Made in the A.M.), Payne assumed he was going to be a full-time songwriter. "To be honest with you, I wasn't going to do a solo venture," he told Billboard of his mindset before being offered his own record deal. "But then I was like, 'You've been trying to do this since you were 14 years old. You would be ridiculously stupid to turn down the option to have a deal.'"

That foray resulted in a more R&B-leaning sound, often with sexually charged lyrics. His first solo single, 2016's "Strip That Down" (featuring Migos' Quavo) not only showcased his fresh take, but it also proved he had put his poppier One Direction days in the rearview: "You know I used to be in 1D (Now I'm out, free)/ People want me for one thing (That's not me)/ I'm not changing the way that I (Used to be)," he declared in the song's pre-chorus.

The rest of Payne's solo work further flexed his knack for sensual music — particularly his solo album, 2019's LP1, which featured the Charlie Puth co-penned "Bedroom Floor" and racy cuts like "Both Ways" and "Rude Hours." He also delivered a number of genre-spanning collabs, from Latin ("Familiar" with J Balvin) to rap ("Stack It Up" with A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie) to dance ("Midnight" with Alesso). Payne even gifted fans with not one, but two Christmas songs: 2019's "All I Want (For Christmas)" and 2020's "Naughty List" with Dixie D'Amelio.

In recent times, it seemed Payne was ready to keep the music going: he was reportedly working on the anticipated follow up to LP1, and earlier this year released "Teardrops," a sultry, pulsing song that effectively showed off his lush falsetto. Naturally, he co-wrote that one too, this time with boyband cohort JC Chasez of *NSYNC. 

Unfortunately in the wake of his time with One Direction, Payne courted controversy, at times grappling with the status of the band and speaking negatively about fellow members. He also struggled with addiction to drugs and alcohol as well as his own mental health, something he was refreshingly candid about with fans. "It was really, really, really severe," he said in a 2021 interview with the podcast The Diary of a CEO about his trials with addiction. "And it was a problem. And it was only until I saw myself after that, I was like 'Right, I need to fix myself.'" It was a challenge he faced up until his tragic death, with reports suggesting a relapse after a period of sobriety. 

Although things weren't wasn't always easy for Payne, there's no denying that he was able to live the big dreams he had as a starry-eyed 14-year-old on "X Factor." He may have put it best himself when talking to E! News about his stratospheric career with One Direction in 2013: "We're just here to have a bit of a laugh, and then whatever else comes with it is great." 

Among many of the heartfelt tributes to Payne, Republic Records' ode to his impact reminds fans around the world how many lives he touched. "His legacy will live on through the timeless work he created, and he will forever be remembered as an icon of his generation."

Some artists are lucky enough to have a moment: a song of the summer, a radio hit, or a point at which their song dominates the pop conversation. Before even launching her own singing career, Amy Allen has done just that — multiple times.

In 2022, the Maine native contributed to hit songs from Harry Styles, Lizzo, Charli XCX, and King Princess; at the 2023 GRAMMYs, she was one of the inaugural nominees for Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical, and celebrated an Album Of The Year win alongside Styles thanks to her work on Harry's House. And as of press time, two songs she co-wrote with Sabrina Carpenter are in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart: "Espresso" and "Please Please Please," the latter of which hit No. 1.

When you have a resume and catalog as impressive as Allen's, it's hard not to get stuck in a run of highlights — but Allen's writing style is so full of remarkable emotional depth and inevitable hooks that her life and career deserves further exploration. After binging on classic rock and performing in rock and bluegrass bands in her youth, Allen began writing songs for others in the mid 2010s and has only continued to expand her impact on audiences and collaborators alike.

"Amy is a once-in-a-lifetime writer and friend — it all comes to her very naturally and effortlessly," Carpenter recently told Variety. "She's super versatile: She can wear any hat and yet it still feels authentic. I've learned a lot from her and admire what an incredible collaborator she is."

Along the way, Allen has continued honing her skills as an artist in her own right, releasing a handful of EPs and singles since 2015, initially under the name Amy and the Engine. But on Sept. 6, she's ready to fully introduce herself with her debut album — fittingly titled Amy Allen.

Just after Allen celebrated her latest No. 1 and released her newest single, "even forever," GRAMMY.com rounded up the key details you need to know about the singer/songwriter's diverse musical background, from her advocacy for female creators to seeing Harry Styles sing a song she co-wrote to a massive audience.

Her Origin Story Features A Lot Of Car Talk

Allen's early musical growth relied on four-wheeled vehicles to drive the plot forward — in many different forms. Growing up in rural Maine meant long car rides to for school and family outings, which in turn meant a lot of time with the radio.

"My dad is the biggest classic rock fan, so since I was little, I spent hours every day listening to music in the car with him and my sisters," she told Variety earlier this year.

When it came time for one of her sisters to start a band, the elder Allen named it No U-Turn, setting the theme. When the band needed a new bassist, Amy took up the low end at just 8 years old, learning classic songs from the likes of Tom Petty and Rolling Stones. The band started collecting opening spots at a bar in Portland, Maine, and lasted until Allen was in high school and her sisters had left for college. In addition, she started playing in a bluegrass band called Jerks of Grass alongside her high school guitar teacher.

Eventually, Allen thought about moving on and changing course. "I went to nursing school at Boston College for two years, and within a month of getting there I was like, 'I made a big mistake,'" she continued. After moving over to the prestigious Berklee School of Music, Allen started a new project, yet again turning to vehicular terminology: Amy and the Engine, who would go on to open for the likes of Vance Joy and Kacey Musgraves. The project's timeless indie pop charm shone brightly on singles like "Last Forever" and the 2017 EP Get Me Outta Here!, fusing references ranging from the Cranberries to the Cure.

She's A Major Champion For Women In Music

Back in 2021, Allen pondered whether it was time to carve up one of America's most prominent monuments. "Can you imagine tits on Mount Rushmore/ And Ruth Bader Ginsburg from dynamite sticks?" she sang on "A Woman's World," a highlight from her 2021 solo EP AWW!. The song backs off from that explicit ask, but the low-slung waltz of ghostly piano and gentle acoustic guitar still subversively slices at traditional gender roles and power dynamics. 

And while the track may focus its first verse on the Notorious RBG, Allen designed it as a more approachable anthem. "I felt very proud of that song. And it's something that I love to play live, because I think that it's nice as a woman to give that moment to other women in the audience where I see them," she told The Line of Best Fit upon the EP's release.

Her solo work sits in a long line of female pop and rock stars looking to lift others up — with Allen's list of influences including everyone from the Carpenters and Pat Benatar to No Doubt, Hole, and Siouxsie and the Banshees. But she's also aware of the shortcomings in the industry when it comes to behind-the-scenes matters, with female songwriters representing a disproportionately small percentage of the industry and often at lower revenue than their male counterparts. 

"It's important to have more women writing and performing so that younger girls can be hearing that and really connecting with that and resonating with that, and then being inspired to do that themselves," she continued. "I'm really excited to hear what the next generation of singer songwriters creates, and I want to do my part in making sure that they're able to."

She Went Full Circle With Selena Gomez

Allen's emotionally salient and indelibly quirky songwriting with the Engine caught the attention of more than just adoring fans. While on a tour stop in New York, she connected with Scott Harris, a songwriter who has worked with the likes of Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello, Niall Horan, and Meghan Trainor; when Allen eventually moved to New York, she would take on some of Harris' writing sessions when he was in Los Angeles. One of those sessions spawned the first song she'd place with another artist: Selena Gomez's "Back To You," which ended up on the soundtrack for the second season of Netflix's teen drama "13 Reasons Why" in 2018. 

"I grew up listening to Selena Gomez, and I know that she's going to be a pop icon forever," Allen told People in 2020. "She's awesome. I was so psyched…It definitely propelled my career in the pop writing field further."

Two years later, she would re-team with Gomez for "My Mind & Me," a single released alongside a documentary film of the same title following the impact of the star's diagnoses with lupus and bipolar disorder on her career. The single similarly offers an openhearted, empathetic look at big mental health struggles, this time in the form of a sweeping, cathartic power ballad driven by stumbling syllables and stair-step piano. 

The track was shortlisted for Best Original Song at the 2023 Academy Awards, charted in more than a dozen countries, and, perhaps most importantly, seemed to have made quite the connection with Gomez. "Honestly, it was therapeutic for me," the pop star and actress told Variety in 2022. "I felt super connected to what I was singing and what I was saying."

She Loves Seeing Her Collaborators Live

Songwriters often wind up hidden behind the scenes, unable to really gather the impact that their artistic expression is making on others. But thankfully, Allen has been able to catch a peek in on the arena-sized reactions for some of her biggest collaborators. 

One of Allen's most-played co-writes is "Adore You," a highlight from Harry Styles' 2019 album, Fine Line, which has nearly 1.7 billion streams on Spotify alone as of press time. The buoyant, slippery burst of Fleetwood Mac-indebted funk pop embodies the start of an infatuation, and fans similarly felt under the song's spell. And Allen finally got to see that feeling come to life at Styles' album release show at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles in 2019. 

"Watching Harry, I was really nervous because the album had only been out for a couple days and I wasn't sure if anybody would know that song," Allen told Variety in 2020. She also noted that the song was a hard turn from more heartbroken tracks she'd written for the likes of Halsey. "'Adore You' was my first feel-good song, so I'm psyched about that," she added.

Though not in person, Allen got a similar bolt of joy when she was able to watch Lizzo perform Styles' track for BBC Radio 1 in 2020. "I idolize Lizzo," Allen continued. "It really just goes to show that the right song can be performed by many different people." 

Little did Allen know that she'd get to celebrate a GRAMMY nomination and win alongside Lizzo and Styles, respectively, just three years later. She co-wrote "If You Love Me" from the flute-jamming pop star's 2022 record Special, which was nominated for Album Of The Year at the 2023 GRAMMYs, where Styles' Harry's House (which featured Allen's co-write "Matilda") won the coveted honor.

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She Shapeshifts Her Songwriting For Each Artist

When a songwriter has to split their tracks up between multiple different artists, it might be difficult to ensure that each track sounds appropriately fitted to each performer. For Allen, it all comes down to knowing when to follow the rules and when to break them. 

"Sometimes we'll be writing and someone will say, 'It should go straight to the chorus here,' and in my brain I'm like, 'But we need a pre-chorus!' — you know, following the ABCs of songwriting," she told Variety. "But I've really been trying over the last couple of years to deconstruct some of those — that you don't need to pull out all the tricks all the time. It can actually make the song more interesting."

In fact, it might come down to what she prioritizes when sitting down to write, rather than which rules to follow. While walking the red carpet for the 2021 Ivor Novello Awards for songwriting and composition, Allen explained her perspective on songwriting formulas to PRS For Music: "When I'm writing for myself, I usually start with the verse and move my way through, and lots of other times when I'm writing with another artist I make sure the chorus is bulletproof."

The GRAMMYs Are Helping Change Her Family's Perspective On Her Career

Allen earned her first GRAMMY nomination in 2022 for her work on Justin Bieber's Justice, but her most meaningful nomination came a year later for Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical at the 65th Annual Awards ceremony (alongside Nija Charles, The-Dream, Laura Veltz, and Tobias Jesso, Jr.). While Allen had a hard time contextualizing the recognition, it helped her loved ones better understand the impact of her career.

"I'm just so grateful…Even my closest family and friends, they're like, 'I've listened to this artist for so long, or I listened to this song on the radio, and I had no idea there was a team that helped make this happen,'" she told VERSED: The ASCAP Podcast in 2022. "People like me growing up in small towns, we don't know that being a songwriter for a career is an option… I watched the GRAMMYs when I was growing up, and if I had known that people were making great careers, I would've gotten on the track a lot earlier."

Though the inaugural award ultimately went to Jesso, Jr., Allen seems to agree that he's deserving of the honor — he's one of her collaborators on her upcoming album.

Maine Will Always Be Home — and An Inspiration

For those who haven't been to Maine, a quick look at Allen's social media will reveal just how stunning the American Northeast can be. Among TikToks promoting her music, Allen almost inevitably drops in a clip displaying the expansive natural beauty of her home state — whether she's on a rope swing over a dazzlingly blue pool of water, or dropping a front spin while skating on the ice, or watching the massive waves from her family home.

"POV: ur back home in maine and wondering why u ever left," she plastered over one particularly stunning TikTok montage of a dazzling day swimming amongst waterfalls. The only thing as beautiful as the scenery is the music behind it is an unreleased track about missing home — proof that Maine will always be part of her, and that she clearly made the correct choice in following her songwriting dreams.

Editor's Note: This article was updated on May 15, 2024 with details about Zayn's album process and release show.

After a three-year interlude, Zayn is back with his fourth solo venture. His highly anticipated LP, Room Under The Stairs, will drop May 17.  

His latest opus follows the 2021 release of Nobody is Listening, and promises to be a sonic oasis to fans parched for his next drop.

After wiping the slate clean on his Instagram, the "Pillowtalk'' star shared a window into his new era on March 6. A sneak-peek video laced with Zayn's own narrative prepares listeners for an album that promises to be an introspective, pared-back and profoundly personal portrait. 

"There's just me writing this," he said in the post. "I didn't want anyone else to be in between me and the music, and the music and the people listening to it."  

Dropping a trail of musical breadcrumbs, Zayn divulged snippets, artwork, and release dates culminating in the reveal of the name, cover, and drop date for the full LP.

Read on for everything GRAMMY.com has unboxed about Zayn's artistic resurgence.

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It's His Most Intimate Album To Date

Zayn's new work promises to be an auditory memoir and a portal to a new era for the artist. On March 6, Zayn prefaced the album's unveiling, shedding light on the upcoming direction in an Instagram post.

In a visual collage overlaid with candid commentary, Zayn confides, "I think the intention behind this album fully is for the listener to get more insight on me personally as a human being… my ambitions, my fears, and for them to have a connection with that and that's why it's so raw. It's just me."

It's A Fresh Start With Mercury Records

Transitioning from RCA to Mercury Records last summer, Zayn dropped his first single under the new label "Love Like This" in July 2023. Ever since, fans have been looking forward to the full experience. Room Under The Stairs will mark the grand unveiling of this new alliance. 

It Took Six Years To Get It Right

Though Zayn released albums in 2018 (Icarus Falls) and 2021 (Nobody Is Listening), the singer has hinted that he has slowly been chipping away at Room Under the Stairs in that time. "I wasn’t sitting on it for six years," Zayn explained to Kelly Clarkson on her talk show, "It took six years to make the record." He went on to detail the piecemeal way the songs fell together in the studio: "I was living, something would happen, and it would give me inspiration."   

The First Two Singles Are Out Now

Two days after announcing the album, Zayn debuted the first single, "What I Am," on March 15. On the acoustic, folk-leaning track, the singer/songwriter delivers a harmonious blend of raw emotion and introspective, soul-searching lyrics as he wonders, "Am I crazy?/ Am I foolish?/ Am I stupid for playing these games with you?/ If I told you I loved you would you say that it's f—ed up?" 

On April 11, Zayn debuted the second single, "Alienated," with a live performance video. Before releasing the reflective song, he revealed in an Instagram video that he wrote "Alienated" back in 2018, which eventually led it to being the first track written for Room Under the Stairs. "That kind of helped me mold and shape the sound even for, like, the way I wanted to approach the sound of my own voice and sonic sound of everything else, like the guitars," he shared. "I don’t even know what to call it genre-wise… I think it’s like, my version of, like, blues."

The Cover Art Reflects Renewal

The cover art for Room Under The Stairs serves as a visual metaphor for a new beginning for Zayn, featuring a silhouette of the singer/songwriter superimposed on a simplified concept illustration of a room under a staircase. 

The use of the blueprint drawing conveys the idea of life under construction, paralleling Zayn's deliberate crafting of new musical narratives. The contrast between the silhouette underscores the album's exploration of intimate aspects of the artist's mind and the conception of fresh beginnings.

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There's An Unexpected Country Influence

Zayn co-produced the album with famed Nashville producer Dave Cobb. A nine-time GRAMMY winner, Cobb has worked with rock legends and country greats alike, including Brandi Carlile, Lady Gaga, Bruce Springsteen, Chris Stapleton and others.   

“What got me about Zayn was his voice, you can hear love, loss, pain, triumph and humanity in it. I feel as if this record is removing the glass from his spirit directly to his fans,” Cobb told Rolling Stone. “Zayn has really created his own universe on this record, he really has no fear and is speaking straight from his soul.”

He'll Celebrate The Album With A Special Release Show (And Documentary!)

Hours after Room Under the Stairs arrives on May 17, Zayn will play six songs from the album live at O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire in London. Along with celebrating the album, it celebrates Zayn's return to the stage, as it will be his biggest solo show to date.

The night will be even more special because the performance will follow the premiere of Zayn's 'Road Back To The Mic' documentary, which documents his journey to the momentous show. "It's going to be a lead up and an explanation… of exactly why it's been this long that I haven't performed — the story behind me getting back to the mic, basically, and getting back into a place of wanting to perform," Zayn recently explained to Talk Shop Live. "There's some real cool stuff in there."

15 Must-Hear Albums In May 2024: Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, Sia, Zayn & More

After a wildly successful debut and sophomore record, you'd think it was impossible for Harry Styles to top himself. Yet, his third album, Harry's House, proved to be his most prolific yet.

The critically acclaimed project first birthed Styles' record-breaking, chart-topping single, "As It Was," then landed three more top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Late Night Talking," "Music for a Sushi Restaurant" and "Matilda." The album and "As It Was" scored Styles six nominations at the 2023 GRAMMYs — and helped the star top off his massive Harry's House era with an Album Of The Year win.

In this episode of GRAMMY Rewind, revisit Styles' big moment from last year's ceremony, which was made even more special by his superfan, Reina Lafantaisie. Host Trevor Noah (who will return as emcee for the 2024 GRAMMYs) handed the mic to Lafantaisie to announce Styles as the winner, and the two shared a celebratory hug before Styles took the mic.

"I've been so, so inspired by every artist in this category," said Styles, who was up against other industry titans like Beyoncé, Adele, Lizzo and Coldplay. "On nights like tonight, it's important for us to remember that there is no such thing as 'best' in music. I don't think any of us sit in the studio, making decisions based on what will get us [an award]."

Watch the video above to see Harry Styles' complete acceptance speech alongside his collaborators Kid Harpoon and Tyler Johnson. Check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of GRAMMY Rewind, and be sure to tune into the 2024 GRAMMYs on Sunday, Feb. 4, airing live on the CBS Television Network (8 -11:30 p.m. LIVE ET/5-8:30 p.m. LIVE PT) and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the special airs).

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