Photo Diary: Niall Horan

Since the beginning of March, Niall Horan has been hitting the road with his first ever solo world tour. In all the biggest European cities -and soon in Oceania, Asia, South and North America, the Irish singer-songwriter comes to meet his public following the success of his debut LP "Flicker" released in October 2017. You’ve missed the show you wanted to attend? You want to relive a memorable night? You’re eager to know what to expect from an upcoming date of the "Flicker World Tour"? Hop with us, front row, at Niall’s Parisian show.

Who would have thought, at the time of One Direction, that Niall was going to headline his own world tour?

The Irish part of the quintet was frequently labelled as the shyest one. But you just have to see him live to realize that was jumping to a false conclusion. Yes, Niall Horan’s music is characterized by a smooth yet catchy folk sound. Yes, the man carries around an elegant modesty. But God knows there can be a lot of charm in being reserved and we witnessed it in real life at le Zénith de Paris on that day of April! Even before Niall Horan was on stage, the audience cheered for him fiercely. It was clear that people in the crowd weren’t there to confirm their opinion on Niall on that night, but to shout their love to him instead.

So, what is best song to start the night on an already suffocating venue than the groovy "On The Loose"? The fans -on the loose themselves– shout the lyrics as one, and won’t cease to sing along for the entire set. A bright start that Niall Horan doesn’t allow to fade away by carrying on with the catchy "The Tide".

Between songs, Niall Horan let his knowledge of French slip here and there, playfully. When he shouts "Allez les Bleus !" -as a regular French football supporter-, we can’t help but smile. These little jokes make him even nicer than he already seems. His good spirit is infectious!

Niall Horan takes on a softer side with "This Town", the track that revealed him as a solo artist. Whether it is ardent or vulnerable, emotion is running through every song performed as in the charming "Paper Houses". In "You and Me", charm mingles with confidence, shining through the deep vocals of the artist.

Being confident is what you also need when you tackle a song of Bruce Springsteen like "Dancing in the Dark". Niall covers it with no pretentiousness and most of all, brilliantly ! "You can’t start a fire without a spark" the song says… And that special spark, Niall definitely has it! Master of his favorite instrument and comfortable in occupying the whole stage, there is no doubt that Niall belongs where he is standing right now.

On "Seeing Blind", he even does the job of two people at once, performing solo a track he initially shares with Maren Morris. But, Niall isn’t exactly solo as he shares great moments of complicity with his musicians.

The fire soothes a bit on "Too Much To Ask", "Flicker" et "Fool’s Gold", the last one being drawn from One Direction’s discography. It becomes very difficult to channel the public’s fervor even though the artist asks to put away phones and enjoy the silence on "Flicker". Excitement eventually fades away for a second and the moment feels like a beautiful respiration in the course of this show.

On "So Long", it is time for Niall Horan to shine a bit differently, in front of a piano. He leaves us thinking he should play it way more often before singing the charming "Since We’re Alone", opening a space of intimacy.

Another languorous song "Fire Away" is playing and violins twirl around before one pop anthem you can’t resist. Niall Horan covers Camila Cabello’s "Crying in the Club" and gradually leads us towards a flamboyant grand finale. Indeed, as the show unravels, the energy doesn’t cease to increase. A spirit of rock blows on "Mirrors" and announces the surge of the encore!

As a goodbye, Niall Horan chooses three tracks which effet is inevitable on the public. First, "Drag Me Down" – one of the latest hits released by One Direction – clearly electrify the crowd. It was almost too predictable but the reference to his early career as one of the members of the band feels nice to remember, and fair-play to emphasize.

The tension doesn’t drop on the sexy "Slow Hands". On this song, Niall leaves his guitar aside and becomes a true performer. Going from one end of the stage to the other, he goes for a few dance moves and comes to meet his public more closely. On the way, he borrows a French flag from a fan front row. Ultimate tribute to the country that welcomes him warmly tonight!

Niall Horan ends on Irish accents with the beautiful "On My Own". A federative track, that lets the music slip away softly... Niall says a last goodbye to his public before letting his musicians close the show alone, as some shinning letters now chant his initial "NH".

If we learned something about Niall Horan tonight, it is clearly that his apparent calm and supposed timidity actually hide a true energy and a delicate selfconfidence. In front of a public that sometimes comes very close to hysteria, Niall Horan doesn’t lose himself and delivers an honest, generous and playful show. The jump from studio to live is totally convincing thanks to simple, solid arrangements and even some surprising reinterpretations, of his own songs or songs of artists that particularly inspire him. Then, if the Zénith’s crowd was clearly won over from the very beginning, the rare people that were left to convince are charmed as well!

Words by Coraline Blaise | Photos by Nazym H. exclusively for On the Move