Niall Horan’s “Heartbreak Weather” review

Lydia Drake, entertainment writer| June 11, 2020

Laurel Seidensticker

Niall Horan began his music career on the stage of ‘The X Factor’ in 2010, where the popular boy band One Direction was formed. After the band announced their hiatus in early 2016, Horan has released seven singles and two albums including “Heartbreak Weather,” which was unveiled March 13, 2020. As a solo artist, Horan is known for catchy pop-rock songs, and “Heartbreak Weather” is no exception.

The album opens with the title track, “Heartbreak Weather,” that has an upbeat rhythm, emphasizing drums and guitar. In this track, he recognizes the heartache he has experienced from his past relationships when he sings the lyrics, “All of my life it’s been heartbreak weather, thinking to myself it won’t get better.” Amid these negative feelings he describes, it seems Horan has found someone who gives him the happiness he has been longing for in the lyrics, “It can be so lonely in this city, but it feels different when you’re with me.” This track differs from his previous work because Horan is showing a more raw side of himself that fans haven’t encountered before. 

In an interview with Fault Magazine, Horan acknowledges that “Heartbreak Weather” is a breakup album. “I didn’t intend for it to be that way when I started, but I think as songwriters we write about our lives and feelings and it just happened,” Horan said. In the same interview, Horan said that not all songs on the album have a sad feeling to them. “When you go through a breakup, you process the whole relationship and think back to amazing nights together, and the bad ones, and I wanted that for this album,” Horan said. 

 

The remainder of the album consists of 13 other songs, including three pre-released singles, “No Judgement,” “Nice to Meet Ya” and “Put A Little Love On Me.” In an interview from The Sun, Horan said, “Black and White,” the second song on the album, is “one of my favorite songs I’ve ever had the pleasure of making.” The song describes being in a relationship, envisioning their wedding together and spending the rest of their lives together. This is the first time Horan’s audience has heard him express long-term feelings, which suggests Horan has matured and is ready to settle down with someone. 

Other songs on the album, like “Everywhere” and “New Angel,” talk about the deep emotional struggle of not being able to get over someone from a past relationship. Communicating these deeper feelings is something Horan hasn’t done before and makes this album stand out from his other music. 

With Horan being more open with his audience, he is able to show more of his true self and connect on a deeper level with fans, making the music more meaningful to both him and his listeners. Horan has grown as both a person and songwriter since being in One Direction as a teenager, and albums like “Heartbreak Weather” are helping him shift away from only being known from One Direction. Horan is showing his fans that breakups are hard and come with a mixture of emotions, and with this album, is changing how he is perceived by his listeners.