Harry Styles has performed an unreleased song in tribute to his former One Direction bandmate Liam Payne, telling fans he wrote it for him around two years ago.
The 32-year-old singer, who played to thousands of fans in London this summer, performed the track — titled What Is Enough — during a concert at Madison Square Garden in New York on Friday, 16 October.
Introducing the song, Styles told the crowd: “I feel incredibly lucky to get to play these shows here in New York, and this building means a lot to me.”
“There are so many people in my life, friends and people that I’ve worked with that I wouldn’t have been able to do this without. And two years ago today, I lost one of those friends.”
Remembering Liam
Payne died aged 31 in October 2024 after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina, sending shockwaves through the music world and among the band’s huge global fanbase.
Addressing the New York audience, Styles acknowledged the pain of loss and the importance of looking out for one another. He said: “I’m sure a lot of you have been through similar things. I hope you haven’t but… Really, it’s just about looking after each other.”
He added that he would not be where he is today without the support of those who had touched his life in “such special ways.”
One Direction’s legacy
Payne rose to fame alongside Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik after the group formed on The X Factor in 2010. One Direction went on to achieve global success with hits including Story Of My Life, What Makes You Beautiful and Best Song Ever, earning four UK number one singles and four UK number one albums before going on hiatus in 2016.
After the split, Payne launched a solo career, landing six Top 40 singles including For You, Get Low and Bedroom Floor. He also became a father to a son with Girls Aloud star Cheryl.
In February 2025, a court in Argentina dropped criminal negligence charges against three of the five people initially charged in connection with Payne’s death.
There has been no announcement about whether What Is Enough will receive an official release. The performance marks one of the most public tributes Styles has paid to his former bandmate since Payne’s death.
Fans at Madison Square Garden described an emotional atmosphere as Styles introduced the song, with many holding up phone lights during the performance. Clips shared on social media quickly spread among One Direction’s devoted fanbase, who have kept Payne’s memory alive through anniversary tributes and charity fundraisers in his name.
Styles has largely kept his reflections on Payne’s death private, making Friday’s on-stage dedication a rare and poignant moment. The two had known each other since their teens, when they were put together as a group on The X Factor at the ages of 16 and 17.
For more music news, see our coverage of London’s festive season line-up and the O2’s big fight night.
