Liam Payne, former member of One Direction, has reportedly halted production on his second solo album due to his first single from the project, “Teardrops,” failing to make an impact on the charts in March

The highly anticipated follow-up to Liam Payne’s debut album seems to have encountered significant obstacles, now being described as “completely on pause,” despite earlier speculation suggesting he could “headline Glastonbury.” The 31-year-old artist, who gained fame as part of One Direction, was gearing up to share new music since the release of his 2019 debut LP1, but it appears things have taken a different turn. Following the lackluster performance of his latest single, insiders indicate that the entire project is currently stalled.

Earlier in the year, Liam, who mentioned having “a lot to discuss with former bandmate Niall Horan,” reportedly parted ways with his manager, potentially complicating his career trajectory. A source spoke to The Sun’s Bizarre column, stating: “Things are tough for Liam right now. His former manager Roger stepped back earlier this year.” This change has left Liam without the steady support he previously had, leading to some unpredictable career decisions. “Without Roger’s guidance, things seem a bit erratic, with plans being made only to be cancelled at the last moment.”

Liam’s split from his manager could be contributing to the disruption in his plans

Despite making strides with his upcoming album, significant uncertainty now clouds its release date. “Liam had been doing really well on his second album, but now it’s completely on pause. He’s telling people he has no idea if it will ever come out.”

Adding to the tumult, a documentary chronicling Liam’s rise to fame has also reportedly been shelved. Nevertheless, it’s not all negative news. Earlier this year, Liam expressed his commitment to authentic songwriting, stating at a fan event, “This time, the scariest part is that every one of these songs is a story from my life.”

Liam with his One Direction bandmates

“And they’re really close to me. I hope listeners can feel this connection as they experience each track. I actually felt whatever emotion they’re feeling right now while listening.” He went on to explain, “We’ve rewritten a lot of these songs based on our intentions for this project and my personal feelings. I used to just show up to sing, then leave. Not this time, though—this is going to be fun.”