One Direction’s break has been long planned, according to one of their closest collaborators. Julian Bunetta, who worked extensively in their last two albums and on their current single Drag Me Down, says the group entered the studio to record their fifth album knowing they would be taking time out after its release.
“There was a feeling of, ‘Well, we’re going to take a break, and anything in the world can happen during that time off,’” Bunetta told Billboard. “It’s the first time of there being some uncertainty, of not having things planned out beforehand, since they were 16 years old. There was definitely a vibe of making [the album] the best it can possibly be, and knowing it has to last as long as it needs to until we make another record – if we make another record.”
Bunetta said the album would address some of the group’s recent tribulations. “There’s a song about losing someone that isn’t Zayn,” he said. “There’s also a song about the band being on shaky ground and not knowing what the future is. There are songs about love, there’s a song that is a little more sexually charged. It’s all over the map.” In an unusual aside, Bunetta said: “It wasn’t like every day was depressing in the studio.” Immediately after, however, he added: “We were having so much fun when we were making this record – going out, having parties, really enjoying ourselves and not taking any day for granted that we got to spend with each other.”
Drag Me Down hasn’t quite been the chartbuster that might have been expected. Although it entered the UK charts at No 1, it dropped to No 9 in its second week, and now, in its third week of release, stands at No 16.
