We are aware of our fan following from the country and we are extremely thankful to our Calcutta fans. We would like to convey our heartfelt thanks to all our followers for their endless love and encouragement towards the band....,” Liam Payne of One Direction told t2 over email a day before Zayn Malik’s Thailand episode –– and subsequent dropout from the 1D tour –– exploded online.

Liam, Niall Horan, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson (minus Zayn) are currently touring Asia, paying no attention to the recent advice of Nathan Sykes, member of the erstwhile boy band and 1D rival The Wanted: “I think their last album sounded brilliant. But when you’re a percentage of a group, you’ve also just got to give yourself some time where you can be 100 per cent for yourself. You’ve got to do the stuff that you always wanted to do and have fun with it, rather than be 20 per cent of a boy band.”

Too bad Zayn, who is engaged to Perrie Edwards of Little Mix, had to cut short the tour after being “signed off with stress” and fly back to the UK to recuperate. But The Times, London, reports that he is expected to rejoin the boys for their show in Cape Town in South Africa on March 28. That’s probably because 1D doesn’t believe in the word “disband”.
Even before their latest album, FOUR (Sony Music), dropped, they had found a place in the Guinness World Records for an unprecedented hat-trick of number one debuts –– Up All Night, Take Me Home and Midnight Memories –– on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Their march continues.

’Nuff talking. Let’s hear it from the boys about FOUR (Sony Music) and beyond, in an e-mail that popped into our inbox at 5.55pm on March 19! And yes, we have not dared edit a syllable of what the boys wrote.

In what ways has the band grown up in terms of sound and fashion with FOUR?

Liam: We are crazy for fashion and music, we set trends and it’s really awesome to be followed and loved by our fans. Our latest album, FOUR, represents a sprawling pop-rock pastiche and its compositions are unique and crucial.

As far as songwriting goes, there is contribution from all of you on the album. How do you decide on the subjects for your songs? And how do you go about the writing process?

Zayn: We had this album in mind since long. It’s peppy, exciting as all our other albums released, but a bit more chilled. As a group we have collaborative thoughts and creative ideas running in our minds, and as we write the thoughts reflect joint efforts.
Niall: Precisely, we’ve concentrated a lot on lyrics and evolved with our writing. We have impressed ourselves with this album, as it is lively.

Compared to your earlier albums, where does FOUR stand?

Harry: A lot of singles from our albums have been bold and pop based, but FOUR is fresh and mesmerising, so far it’s our personal favourite, as it connects with us.

How much of a challenge is it to record a fourth album?

Entire band: The album FOUR is a crazy musical offering by us. From the beginning we wanted to make it our proudest album.
Louis: Fans are great support and the greatest factor of motivation for any artiste. There’s absolutely nothing that fills us with more glee than to see our fans motivating, appreciating and cheering us.
Somehow your music gets leaked before release. Must be a terrible feeling!
Niall: Worst feeling on earth, I swear! Music is our soul and we put in a lot of effort to connect with our fans and live up to their expectations.

What have been some of the differences when it comes to where the band now stands and when you started? Anything that you miss from those early days?

Zayn: Yes, we so do miss the early days, but we have learnt to move with the times, and live the moment, we are going crazier and it’s fabulous. We love one another and we share a bond and there are no differences.

What motivates the band these days?

Niall: Fans! Yes, of course. Also, the support of family and friends. And most importantly, passion and love for music.

How much of a normal life do you boys lead?

Louis: We live a normal life and love the fact of being loved by fans, family and friends. We enjoy every moment and opportunity.

You have a huge following in Calcutta and they constantly send messages for the band to t2. What’s your message for Directioners in Calcutta? Have you read about your fans here?

Liam: We are aware of our fan following from the country and we are extremely thankful to our Calcutta fans. We would like to convey our heartfelt thanks to all followers for their endless love and encouragement towards the band. Calcutta is a wonderful city and nothing describes it better than striking the chord with the youth of a nation and its musical heritage.

There is a lot of fan fiction around One Direction. Have you read any of it and what’s your take?

Niall: We care about music and try to be focused and to deliver best out of us as a team.

The band is very active on Twitter. Over the years, Twitter and YouTube have been instrumental in making you popular. Your take on it….

Zayn: Yes, completely, we agree… and today social media is a very important aspect. Twitter and YouTube have an impeccable impact and we try to be active and stay close to our friends and fans.

Also, the Net constantly gets filled with fake news of the group being on the verge of a break-up. What’s your message for 1D haters?

Louis: We have been hearing this all this while and it’s just a rumour for us. And nothing else.

Mathures Paul

Starting my day with 1D and t2 means....
Tell t2@abp.in