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\n\tHarry Styles<\/a> opened up about the death of his One Direction bandmate Liam Payne<\/a> for the first time, revealing that he struggled with the public perception and expectations of how he was supposed to grieve the loss of his friend.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cFull transparency, it\u2019s something that, even the idea of talking about it, I struggle with that a little bit even. I think there was a period when he passed away where I really struggled with acknowledging how strange it is to have people kind of own part of your grief in a way,\u201d Styles told Apple Music\u2019s Zane Lowe. \u201cI have such strong feelings around my friend passing away. And then suddenly being aware [that] there\u2019s maybe a desire from other people of you to convey that in some way, or it means you\u2019re not feeling what you\u2019re feeling or something.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tPayne died on Oct. 16, 2024, from injuries sustained after falling from the balcony of his hotel room. The singer was 31 years old. In the wake of his death, each member of One Direction<\/a> published a tribute on social media, and the official band account on Instagram shared a joint post, its first upload in four years<\/a>. \u201cWe\u2019re completely devastated by the news of Liam\u2019s passing. In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly,\u201d they said at the time.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cIt\u2019s so difficult to lose a friend who is so like you in so many ways,\u201d Styles said. \u201cI saw someone with the kindest heart who just wanted to be great.\u201d The conversation marked his first time speaking extensively about Payne, whom he referred to as a \u201csuper special person.\u201d It comes ahead of his fourth studio album, Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally<\/em>, set for release on Friday, March 6, which emerged from an ethos that came to him in the midst of this grief.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cIt was a really important moment for me in terms of taking a look at my life and being able to say to myself, \u2018OK, what do I want to do with my life? How do I want to live my life?\u2019\u201d Styles continued. \u201cAnd I think the greatest way you can honor your friends who pass away is by living your life to the fullest.\u201d The hedonistic escape of the album is rooted in the time Styles spent embracing a sense of normalcy for the first time following the conclusion of the extensive Love on Tour. <\/p>\n