Entertainment
The Irish superstar has survived the ups and downs of fame by learning to enjoy the ride.
he cheers over Zoom, before eyeing my jacket: And that, too!
You tell him to stop but he is in there) still remains.
No wonder he was thefirst one selectedfor 1D after the boys were put together following their solo eliminations.
All four of them have such individual personalities.
Thats what made people love them.)
I didnt have anxieties then, Horan laughs.
I was just having a great time.
That informs the advice he gives contestants.
Im just trying to get them to enjoy what theyre doing.
Youre on one of the bigger shows in the country.
Millions of people watch every night.
Who can blame him for wanting some semblance of control?
I couldnt really go many places, he says.
So I attempt to keep my private life as private as I possibly can.
But Im not hiding.
I scribed it in!
Its still on the desk.
The funky follow-up Slow Hands, inspired by Eagles member Don Henleys solo work, righted the ship.
Horan talks about the song with an air of relief.
The success of Slow Hands and the first album felt like a big moment, he says.
And the first tour learning I can go around the world and still play to thousands.
It was a kick in the stomach, as he describes it.
I was, like everyone, angry at the world for allowing this to happen, he says.
And then the stillness took over for a second.
I think I might be the eternal optimist, he says.
I hadnt had any time off in 10 years.
Because at that point, my life was so rat race-y.
He spent his days working out, playing golf, and getting really into Formula 1.
The pandemic was horrific, he says, but also: It was boring!
As a guy that travels the world on a regular basis, I was so bored.
(No, jeez!
Thankfully not, he laughs.
Im not just the fella with the acoustic guitar all the time, he laughs.
I put my neck on the line.
Ive grown into it a bit.
I gave myself permission.
You have to swim through the sh*t water to get to the clear stuff, he explains.
Everything will be OK if you just see it out.
Im finding it hard to explain…
In some ways, youre always trying to be the best version of yourself.
When Horan talks, he often punctuates vulnerabilities with a joke or a folksy aphorism.
The phrase in Ireland is if you dont laugh, youll cry, he laughs.
But he doesnt veer away from the hard stuff in song.
That got misconstrued, he clarifies.
Im not saying Im fully OCD.
[…] Ive definitely had overwhelming moments.)
When he does experience anxiety, he has a few grounding tactics.
I literally say to myself, Itll all be over in a few minutes.
Itll all be over in a few minutes.
That unrelenting optimism is a core facet of his personality.
His mum came to his defense, saying it was a nonalcoholic beverage.
The debate ended there.)
It definitely worked as a metaphor for me!
I dont… no strong views on cults.
At least, no public ones.
Is he madly in love right now?
Thered be all these theories, and Im not in town for that.
Hes the same nice guy, just with some life experience.
And hes enjoying the ride: Looking at arenas full of people its the best view in the world.
