Liam Payne

Liam Payne
Payne Performing at Soldier Field in 2015
Background information
Birth name	Liam James Payne
Born	(1993-08-29) 29 August 1993[1] Wolverhampton, England, United Kingdom
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	2008–present
Labels	Capitol Records & Republic Records
Associated acts	One Direction

Liam James Payne (born 29 August 1993) is an English singer and songwriter. He rose to fame as a member of the band One Direction, before going solo in July 2016. On 22 July 2016 Payne revealed on Twitter that he had signed a recording deal with Capitol Records and is set to release a solo album in late 2016/early 2017.^[2] On October 17, 2016, it was revealed that Payne had signed with Republic Records in the United States. ^[3]

Payne made his debut as a singer when he auditioned as a solo artist for the British television series The X Factor in 2008 with "Fly Me to the Moon" by Frank Sinatra. Though cut by Simon Cowell following judge's house, Payne was encouraged to audition again. He reauditioned as a solo artist in 2010, where he was put into a group along with four other contestants, to form the boy band that would later become known as One Direction.^[4][5]

Since joining One Direction, Payne, along with bandmates Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles and former bandmate Zayn Malik, have released five commercially successful albums, performed on four worldwide tours, and won multiple awards, including two BRIT Awards and four MTV Video Music Awards. The group's debut single "What Makes You Beautiful" debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart, and has since sold over 5 million copies worldwide, making it among one of the best-selling singles of all time. Payne has also appeared in television and film, including the Nickelodeon series iCarly^[6] and the concert film One Direction: This Is Us.

Payne has worked independently under the monikers "Big Payno" and "Payno" creating remixes for songs such as British pop singer Cheryl Cole's single "I Don't Care."^[7]

Early life

Payne was born in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England. He is the son of Karen, a nursery nurse, and Geoff Payne, a fitter. He has two older sisters, Nicola and Ruth.^[8] Until the age of four, Payne had regular tests done in hospital as doctors noticed one of his kidneys was scarred and dysfunctional. To help cope with the pain, he had 32 injections in his arm in the morning and evening as a child.^[9] As a student, Payne was heavily involved in sports, particularly cross country running. Payne originally joined the Wolverhampton and Bilston Athletics Club to pursue his running career. After failing to make the English National Team for the 2012 Olympic Games, he was placed on the reserve list.^[10]

Payne was bullied in secondary school and took up boxing lessons at the age of 12.^[11] Payne completed 11 GCSEs at St Peter's Collegiate School before moving on to study music technology at Wolverhampton College's Paget Road campus.^[5]

Payne was first introduced to the world of show business at age 12 as a member of the Pink Productions Theatre Company, even appearing as Tony Manero from Saturday Night Fever.^[12] Payne had previously performed in front of a crowd of 26,000 during a Wolverhampton Wanderers football match.^[5][13]

Payne cites Pharrell Williams and Justin Timberlake as major musical influences.^[14][15] "The person who has inspired me most is Pharrell Williams who I worked with a while back. I got talking to his producer recently and asked him what Pharrell was like when he was younger, and he said to me that when he was my age he couldn’t press a note on a keyboard. And that was amazing to me because at 22 I thought I was too old to learn guitar," revealed Payne.^[16]

Career

The X Factor

Payne first auditioned for the fifth series of the British Singing Competition The X Factor in 2008, at just 14 years old. Payne moved past the first round after performing Frank Sinatra's Fly Me To The Moon. He was subsequently cut at the Boot Camp stage, but Simon Cowell, who then changed his mind and asked Payne to return in the Judges' Houses.^[17] Payne was cut again during judge's houses, but was encouraged by Cowell to return to audition for the following series.^[18]

Payne returned to the seventh series of the British Singing Competition The X Factor in 2010. He auditioned with the Michael Bublé version of Cry Me A River, which earned him four yeses and a standing ovation from Cowell. Payne was considered the second favourite to win the competition following his solo audition.^[19] "He failed to progress to the Boys category at judges' houses." Four others in his age group did as well, but after a suggestion by Nicole Scherzinger, a guest judge, they were put together to form a five-piece boy band at Wembley Arena, during the bootcamp stage of the competition, thus qualifying for the Groups category.^[20] Subsequently, the group got together for two weeks to get to know each other and to practice. For their qualifying song at Judges' houses, and their first song as a group, One Direction performed an acoustic version of "Torn." Simon Cowell later commented that the performance convinced him that the group "were confident, fun, like a gang of friends, and kind of fearless as well." The group quickly gained popularity in the UK, ultimately coming in third place on the show.^[21]

One Direction

Liam Payne, 2011

Following The X Factor, One Direction were signed to Simon Cowell's Syco Entertainment in 2010.^[22] One Direction released their first studio album, Up All Night, in 2011, followed by their second album, Take Me Home, in 2012. Their third album Midnight Memories was released in 2013, followed by their fourth album Four in 2014 and Made in the A.M. in 2015.^[23] One Direction became the only group in this 58-year history of the Billboard 200 albums chart to have their first five albums debut at number 1.^[24] The single "Drag Me Down", which Payne announced, set a Spotify record with 4.75 millions plays in its first 24 hours.^[25]

During the Take Me Home Tour, One Direction covered Wheatus's "Teenage Dirtbag". In the original song lead vocalist Brendan Brown performs a segment in a "female voice" which, in One Direction's rendition of the song Payne covered in falsetto. This garnered praise from Brown, who commented, "You can do my girl part anytime."^[26]

Following the departure of former member Zayn Malik, Liam has been tasked with taking over the bulk of Malik's vocals.^[27] Bandmate Harry Styles admitted, "Liam [Payne] stepped up to do the high notes. He kicks them in the bollocks every show. He doesn’t hold back."^[28]

Payne is known as one of the principal writers in One Direction, credited for co-writing more than half of the songs on the band's third and fourth album.^[29][30]

Other work

Payne has begun working as a producer under the monikers "Big Payno" or "Payno," teaming up with fellow producers AfterHrs to remix several tracks including Cheryl Cole's "I Don't Care."^[31] Payne's remixes have garnered praise as they delve into the subgenre called future house, which is considered the future of EDM.^[32][33][34]

Payne is also credited with writing Cole's "I Won't Break," off her album Only Human.

Payne has begun working on future projects collaborating with Juicy J on seven tracks with more in the works,^[35][36] DJ Mustard,^[37] and Miguel.^[38] He has also been in the studio with producer and performing artist Pharrell Williams.^[39] Payne has also worked with singer Omi.^[40] In September 2015, Little Mix singer Jade Thirlwall confirmed that Payne and the girl group had plans to collaborate on their next album.^[41] Payne is also scheduled to work with onetime The Collective member and popular YouTube musician and producer Will Singe.^[42]

In August 2014, Payne created and became director of Hampton Music Limited, a publishing company under which his solo projects will appear.^{[43][44][45][46]}

Payne appeared on the cover of Attitude Magazine after being awarded the Sexiest Man of the Year, marking the first and only solo cover and interview by a member of One Direction and furthering speculation of Payne's solo career.^[47]

Payne has also promoted up and coming acts such as LunchMoney Lewis,^[48][49] up-and-coming R&B artist Lauv,^[50] Bars and Melody^[51] and breakout stars 5 Seconds of Summer, who are signed to One Mode Productions Limited, on which Payne serves as director.^[52][53]

In 2015, Payne collaborated with songwriter Jamie Scott on Irish band Hometown's single "The Night We Met."^[54]

In early 2016, Payne featured on a track titled You by Wiz Khalifa and Juicy J. Payne denied that the track was a single, but it was confirmed to be a leak from an untitled mixtape, yet to be released.^[55][56]

On 22 July 2016 Payne revealed on Twitter that he had signed a recording contract with Capitol Records.^[2]

Songwriting credits

Remixes

2014

• One Direction – "You & I" (Big Payno Remix)^[57]
• One Direction – "Steal My Girl" (Big Payno & Afterhrs Pool Party Remix)^[58]
• Cheryl Cole – "I Don't Care" (Payno vs Aftrhrs Remix)^[59]

2015

• One Direction – "Drag Me Down" (Payno vs Aftrhrs Remix) (feat. Lunchmoney Lewis)^[60]

Philanthropy

Payne is an avid supporter of Unicef and teamed up with tennis star Andy Murray, Jack Whitehall and Clare Balding in support of Unicef UK’s Children in Danger Summer Disease Appeal.^[61]

Payne teamed up with motorsport star Eddie Jordan in support of UK based chartiy CLIC Sargent.^[62]

Payne is an ambassador for the charitable organization Trekstock, whose aim is to "empower young adults to thrive through and beyond cancer."^[63][64] Payne's original campaign with the organization in 2013 raised $784,198.^[65] He raised an additional $211,237 during his campaign in 2015.^[66]

Payne has also been named an ambassador of Sustainable Development Goals also known as the Global Goals campaign.^[67][68]

Payne also began a Twitter campaign in the hopes of helping impoverished people across the globe by personally getting involved with charity work and inspiring his followers to do so as well.^[69]

Payne also gave a much needed push to a £6 million youth project "The Youth Zone" in his hometown of Wolverhampton.^[70]

As a member on One Direction, Payne has also supported Comic Relief,^[71] Office Depot's Anti-Bullying Campaign,^[72] and a new initiative titled Action 1D "to help better the future."^[73]

Personal life

Payne saved best friend Andy Samuels following an accidental fire in August 2013.^[74] Payne also came to the defence of a waitress when several members of the Tottenham Hotspurs F.C. acted inappropriately towards her in a club in London.^[75] Payne also saved Calvin Harris during an incident at Miley Cyrus's birthday party in 2013.^[76]

Payne is a friend of English recording artist Katie Waissel, whom he helped through her divorce.^[77] He is also a close friend of radio personality Scott Mills.^[78]

Payne was named Attitude Magazine's Sexiest Man of the Year in 2015.^[47]

Payne has been credited by fast food giant Burger King as being the inspiration behind the return of the Chicken Fries menu item.^[79] Payne is also an avid fan of the Harry Potter series.^[80]

Payne began dating singer Cheryl in 2016.^[81][82][83] After much speculation, Cheryl unofficially confirmed she was pregnant with her first child when she was spotted sporting her pregnancy bump on 29 November 2016; sources told E! News that "Cheryl is indeed expecting and currently in her second trimester."^[84][85]

Filmography

Awards and nominations

References