If you’ve been keeping up with Liam Payne since the start of One Direction’s hiatus, chances are you’re more eager now than ever before to hear his solo music. It came as no surprise to fans that he was one of the first members to get back in the studio – with other artists – and begin writing, recording, and pouring his heart back into something that means so much to him. His voice, his songwriting capabilities, and his natural talent make Liam a force to be reckoned with. The music industry just wouldn’t be the same without him, and while his first solo single seems like it took forever to grace our ears, it was worth the wait.
Some fans thought that his first song would be released in October after a photo hit Instagram looking a lot like the cover of a single. The caption was #lovefeelsbest which was trending within moments of the post. However, as days went by, fans began to realize that Liam was either a giant tease or just really liked the aesthetics of that photo. We have to admit, it is a good one.
Liam continued to tease fans in December when he did #askliam on Twitter and said he had music coming soon. When a fan replied asking him to define soon, this was his cheeky response.
— Liam (@LiamPayne) December 17, 2016
As December drew to a close and 2017 got rolling, Liam still shared some of his life, and banter, on social media with fans but new music wasn’t on the horizon in the way fans hoped. That is, until now.
Liam has been doing a promo tour for his new single ‘Strip That Down’ and fans have been loving it. Anyone who has heard the tune so far has been tight-lipped about it, which was extremely respectful to Liam, who deserved to have his music released when he wanted to, how he wanted to. Often in One Direction, their music got released long before they wanted it to be.
Liam did tease the new single himself on Twitter and after a few seconds, we already knew it was a banger. We’ve had that twenty-second clip in our heads for almost two weeks!
Mad excited to announce my new single Strip That Down ft. @quavostuntin out May 19th #STRIPTHATDOWN ?? pic.twitter.com/ZVviFrJmpd
— Liam (@LiamPayne) May 11, 2017
The wait is finally over and we no longer have to rely on a few seconds. We have the song in its entirety and it is more incredible than we imagined. Ed Sheeran helped write it, he’s featuring Quavo from Migos on it, and it’s something that will be played on the radio and at festivals and clubs all summer!
We love the entire tune but the pre-chorus is incredible. He talks about being in 1D, then being out free, but not changing the way he was – he just wants to have more fun. Not one of the lads have had a negative thing to say about their first chapter as One Direction and they’re going to get back to it later, but for now, as Liam said recently, they deserve to have this time. This song sort of embraces that at the same time that it’s sexy and fun.
‘I’m not changing the way I used to be, I just wanna have fun and get rowdy’
The chorus is awesome too, and we are still as in love with that snippet of the tune as we were when we first heard it. You can’t not dance when you’re listening to this song. We have a feeling it’s going to be one of the most talked about songs of the year.
‘So put your hands on my body and swing that ’round for me, you know I love it when the music’s loud but come on strip that down for me.’
Needless to say, we’ll be listening to this on repeat for a bit. Liam picked the perfect solo single to debut with. Congrats, we’re in love with it!
What about you? Are you massive fans of the tune? Let us know!