Niall Horan opens up about the sound of his fourth album 'Dinner Party'
It is the follow-up to 2023's 'The Show'
Last updated 21 hours ago
Niall Horan confirmed earlier this month that his fourth 'Album is DONE', sharing the exciting news with his fans on social media. Now the singer has confirmed the release date, along with its name and tracklist.
Since the announcement, he has revealed the inspiration behind the album, and its songs, and while it isn't a country album, he would be up for doing a "country-leaning album" one day. Find out everything we know so far below...
What is the inspiration behind the album?
On the release day of his new song 'Dinner Party', he joined Hits Radio Breakfast for an interview, where he opened up about the album.
Speaking about the upcoming album, and the inspiration behind it, he explained: "When you're writing an album, you need one song to kind of kickstart everything. Because it's hard to get an album off the ground conceptually.
"So I once had written that song ('Dinner Party') and how quick it came and how simple it was and it described the first time we met. It kind of reminded me then to pick out all the different angles of the relationship, the small moments, the big moments.
"And then it made me just think of other people, like, made me think of like where other people met their... (other halves). The dinner party is like a focal point. It could be, I met you in an office next to the printer. I met you in a cafe. It could be anything like that."
Niall went on to reveal more about the songs on the album, saying: "I think a lot of the album is kind of like from all the angles of the relationship and then on every album I always have a couple of observational songs, where things I've seen or other relationships or whatever and you can kind of make it a little bit about yourself just to write the song, make it relatable to you.
"But I feel like it's got a bit of everything in there a bit of sexiness...
"And yeah, and there's a bit of like fear of losing that person, just loss in general.
"There's like a little bit of everything, but it kind of has… I always try and write songs that have sound like they could have a happy ending to them.
"It's kind of windows down summer type music, I would say."
Is it a country album?
While county music is very popular at the moment, and there is a hint of country in Niall's music, he said it isn't a country album.
"It's funny, it's like, I just naturally just pick up and just sing like that (country), like my melody choices kind of lean a little folkier than... Than they would like pop and straight, I kind of just like, I don't know, it just kind of happens, but I kind of grew up on Irish folk music, which is not a million miles away from country music, and they kind of lend their hand to each other," he explained.
"I do want to do some sort of country-leaning album at some point. I don't think anyone would be mentally shocked by that, though.
"I also kind of don't want to do it at a time that everyone else is doing it. Jump on the bandwagon."
What is Niall's fourth album called?
While fans dubbed it '#NH4', Niall officially announced its name as 'Dinner Party' on 18th March.
When will it be released?
He confirmed on 18th March that it would be released on 5th June, and is available to pre-order now.
What is the artwork?
Niall has revealed the artwork, showing himself drinking out of a mug, in front of a backdrop of old plates, mugs and a teapot.
What songs are on it?
Niall has released his song 'Dinner Party', which is not only included on the album, it is the title track!
Niall's collab with Myles Smith, 'Drive Safe', which he released earlier this year, will not be included on the album.
See the full tracklist below:
- 'Tastes So Good'
- 'Dinner Party'
- 'Monochromatic'
- 'She Gets It from Her Mother'
- 'Better Man'
- 'Little More Time'
- 'Flowers'
- 'Boys Are Fun'
- 'Fighting Over Nothing'
- 'Pretty'
- 'Die If I Don’t'
- 'End of an Era'
The inspiration behind 'End of an Era'
The last song on the album is called 'End of an Era', and Niall opened up about the sad meaning of the song. He told Fleur and Will: "That one is kind of an emotional one, to be honest. It's about fear of losing and loss in general. That, yeah, from a personal point of view, it started as something completely different. It started as a completely different song.
"A lot of this album is kind of like saying goodbye to the past with nostalgia whilst like 'Hello future, hello present'. There's a bit of that going on without like being fearful.
"But in this song in particular, you know, I just wanted to delve into it. The kind of the fear of losing someone and loss in this particular song."
Is he taking the album on tour?
Yes, Niall will be taking his latest album on tour. The tour called 'Dinner Party Live On Tour' will take place in September and October across the UK.
Now read:
Niall Horan and Myles Smith: Find out more about their collab 'Drive Safe'
Niall Horan: 107 incredible facts about the 'Heaven' singer
Niall Horan’s incredible career timeline