Liam Payne wrote and recorded his latest song as a tribute to his love for supermodel Naomi Campbell, the Mail on Sunday can reveal.
The former One Direction star dated Campbell for several months in 2019 and began writing the song ‘Closer to You’ shortly after their breakup.
But he abandoned work on the love song, which begins with a reference to the smell of her perfume in the air, until earlier this year, when he finally recorded it.
He died believing it would be his next success.
The Mail on Sunday understands that Liam, who died in October after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina aged just 31, was extremely proud of the album and, we’re told, Campbell knows he wrote the song in its honour.
A source said: “Liam and Naomi dated for three or four months and, like everything with Liam, he took it very seriously. He was an emotional guy. They didn’t have a big fight, rather they realized that their relationship was not It could last a long time because they were both juggling careers and traveling a lot.
The separation was amicable and they remained friends.
The lyrics speak of her longing to “get closer to you” and reveal that she was the one who “walked away.”
Model Noami Campbell with pop singer Liam Payne at a dinner in Ghana, January 2019
The former One Direction star dated Campbell (pictured) for several months in 2019 and began writing the song ‘Closer to You’ shortly after their breakup.
But Payne (pictured) abandoned work on the love song, which begins with a reference to the smell of her perfume in the air, until earlier this year, when he finally recorded it.
He repeatedly pleads, “I want to love you.”
He was particularly proud of the melody’s first line: “I still smell your perfume in my room…”
The source said: “Liam joked that Naomi’s scent was so distinctive that he could always smell it, even long after she was gone.”
The Mail on Sunday heard a rough draft of the three-and-a-half-minute song which was recorded in Los Angeles in July.
The song was presented to a Buenos Aires court as part of a 91-page document containing more than 400 files prepared by lawyers representing Liam’s close friend, Argentine-American businessman Roger Nores, as part of the ongoing investigation. about Liam’s death.
Mrs. Nores and her girlfriend contributed the lyrics and melody to the song.
Liam traveled to Sweden in August where he recorded the final version of the song with producer and songwriter Rani Yacoub, who wrote One Direction’s biggest hit, ‘What Makes You Beautiful’.
Also contributing to the album on the phone in Los Angeles was Grammy-winning Swedish record producer Max Martin, who wrote ‘Baby One More Time’ for Britney Spears and ‘I Kissed A Girl’ for Katy Perry.
The lyrics speak of her longing to “get closer to you” and reveal that she was the one who “walked away.” Pictured: Mrs. Campbell
One of the world’s most successful songwriters, Martin has written the most number one singles on the Billboard 100 chart after Sir Paul McCartney. His hits include ‘Shake it Off’ by Taylor Swift and ‘I Want It That Way’ by the Backstreet Boys.
A source told the MoS that Liam was “excited” to be back in the studio with his long-time mentor Mr Yacoub.
In 2023, Yacoub posted a photo of him and Liam on Instagram with the caption: “I’ve known this wonderful human being for almost 13 years. Sorry for torturing you in the booth, Liam, but as everyone can see by his face, he loves it.” ‘Time passes but some things never change…’
While Liam battled his addiction issues, he appeared sober and drank nothing stronger than the energy drink Red Bull, when he recorded the final version of ‘Closer to You’ during an eight-hour session that lasted into the night.
He had reportedly been fired by his record companies and management, but believed the song would mark his comeback as a solo artist.
A source said: “Liam was delighted to be back in the studio with Rami and working with Max. They are both legends. He was happy and laughing. He felt this would be his big comeback record.”
Liam and Campbell have never publicly commented on their widely reported relationship, which took place when she was 48 and he was 25.
They were first seen together celebrating the New Year in Ghana in early 2019 and flirted on Instagram, liking and commenting on each other’s posts.
The Mail on Sunday understands that Liam, who died in October after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina aged just 31, was very proud of the record.
Liam described her as “perfection in a person” and she called him “a beautiful soul.”
Campbell has not commented on his death, but put a broken heart, dove emojis and praying hands under a photo of Liam posted by singer Nicole Scherzinger after his fatal fall.
Liam had hoped to release the song during a world tour in 2025, but relapsed into drugs while in Argentina waiting to have his US work visa renewed.
The song, which has an upbeat and catchy melody, contains touching lyrics about how much he misses Mrs. Campbell.
He reflects on the desire to be able to be “closer to you,” which ended up being the song’s title.
“Liam was laughing a lot and was very happy in the studio,” the friend said.
“I think everyone who worked on Closer to You hopes that one day it will be released so that his fans can hear the great music he was making, all the way through.”
Liam died after falling 45 feet from the balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires on October 16.
His autopsy revealed he had drugs, including crack cocaine, in his system, while prosecutors revealed he ordered several bottles of champagne and whiskey from room service during his final hours.
Last night, Yocoub declined to comment when approached by the Ministry of Security in Los Angeles saying Liam’s death “affected me a lot and I can’t really talk about it.”
Representatives for Campbell and Payne’s estate did not respond to requests for comment.