The singers met as contestants on The X Factor where they were formed into world-famous boyband One Direction alongside Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, and Louis Tomlinson.
Liam passed away in October 2024 after falling from a balcony in Buenos Aires and Niall managed to see his friend in Argentina shortly before his death.
“I’m glad of that, it means my last memory of him was happy,” he told The Times.
“It still feels surreal. On day one I was, like, ‘Nah, it didn’t happen.’ Our friendship was a bond that was there for ever even if we hadn’t seen each other for a while and it’s wild that one day, like the flick of a switch, he’s gone.”
Niall also said he has stayed in contact with Liam’s family.
“All our families are in touch, they shared those experiences too,” he said.
The Irish lad also wrote a song for Liam on his new album, Dinner Party.
“I think it’s his type of song, he liked Coldplay, he loved songs like You & I by One Direction, songs that went somewhere,” Niall explained adding, “It’s funny, actually, now you say that, thinking about the stuff he liked.”
He also described the “light and shade” of his grief over Liam’s death.
“When I think of Liam’s passing, there is sadness, but it also makes me laugh and smirk because of the memories we had. I’ll go to places and think of something stupid in a hotel or something random that makes me laugh,” Niall said.
“We always had good fun in Australia because we were able to get out and go to the beach. Liam wasn’t too bad at surfing. I can barely swim.”
On a lighter note, Niall also opened up on the possibility of an One Direction reunion.
“God knows. I mean look at Harry there, look at Louis, the boys are flying, so God knows, but everyone still asks about it, it’s exciting.”
