Liam Payne

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Following the release of his single "Bedroom Floor" in October 2017, Payne told Hits Radio that his album would be released in January 2018, saying he had worked with Ed Sheeran and that he "didn't really want to nail [him]self down so there's some dark pop on there, some super urban tracks and a lot of trap music". In May 2018, Payne told Good Morning America that the album was to be released on 14 September 2018, and that there was "a good mix of beautiful people on my album, which is amazing". However, in August 2018, Payne announced that he had delayed the release of the album and that he would be releasing his debut EP First Time (2018) to make up for it. In September 2019, following the release of "Stack It Up", MTV said Payne had "spent much of 2019 in the studio". The same month, Payne revealed to Australian radio station Nova 96.9 that the album was finished, that he was "proud" of it and it is "exactly the way I'd want my first album to sound". He also stated that it is "very hip-hop and R&B-orientated, with lots of artists that I like – an Usher and Justin Timberlake reference throughout". On 18 October 2019, Payne formally announced the album, its title and that it would be released on 6 December 2019. This is the only solo studio album Payne released before his death in 2024.

In Their Own Story

The album LP1 was met with mixed to negative reviews. According to Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 44 out of 100, which indicates "mixed or average reviews" based on seven reviews. It was the worst reviewed album with seven reviews or more of 2019 on the site. Helen Brown of The Independent wrote "he's got a nice set of pipes. He gets the songs across. But without imposing any personality on them he's just, well, a singing six-pack" and that "it's all fine: shiny and efficient pop, smelling of body oil and new car upholstery. But Payne treats each track like a rental car." Mark Kennedy, writing for ABC News, called the album "embarrassing" while writing that the album "never really gets off the ground, a collection of monotonous club songs that often sound like warmed-over Justin Bieber rejects." Laura Snapes of The Guardian opined that it is a "terrible pop album, but very effective contraception." El Hunt of NME felt Payne was "so focused on ticking boxes that he forgets to have fun" and that it "shows a more grown-up side to the former One Direction member, and cherry-picks from pretty much every genre that's in vogue right now."

Reader's Guide

Liam Payne's solo work is defined by his only studio album LP1, released on 6 December 2019. The album mixes pop and trap music with hip hop and R&B production, drawing influences from Usher and Justin Timberlake. Key singles include "Strip That Down" featuring Quavo, a trap and hip hop-influenced pop and R&B track where Payne croons over "pulsating" synth-bass with minimalist production. "Familiar" with J Balvin is a Latin, Latin pop and R&B song that "combines Latin vibes with a summery, R&B sound" according to Billboard. "Get Low" with Zedd is a quick-spaced tropical dance, club-pop song with light percussion and a lead tropical house synth line. "Stack It Up" featuring A Boogie wit da Hoodie was released as the lead single from the album on 16 September 2019. The song "Live Forever" featuring electronic music DJ trio Cheat Codes was released simultaneously alongside the album on 6 December 2019. Commercially, LP1 peaked at number 17 on the UK Albums Chart, left the Top 50 the next week and spent a further five weeks in the bottom half of the Top 100. The album debuted and peaked at number 111 on the US Billboard 200.

Did You Know?

• LP1 was the worst reviewed album with seven reviews or more of 2019 on Metacritic, scoring 44 out of 100.
• Payne told Hits Radio he worked with Ed Sheeran on his album, saying he 'didn't really want to nail [him]self down' so there would be 'some dark pop, some super urban tracks and a lot of trap music'.
• The album was originally scheduled for release in January 2018, then September 2018, before being delayed and finally released on 6 December 2019.
• Payne stated the album is 'very hip-hop and R&B-orientated, with lots of artists that I like – an Usher and Justin Timberlake reference throughout'.
• LP1 peaked at number 17 on the UK Albums Chart and number 111 on the US Billboard 200.