Niall James Horan (born September 13, 1993 in Mullingar, County Westmeath, Ireland)  Irish singer-songwriter and guitarist, best known as a member of the boy band One Direction. In 2010, Horan auditioned as a solo artist for the seventh series of the British televised singing competition The X Factor. He failed to progress, but guest judge Nicole Scherzinger suggested that Niall join One Direction, with Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson. In his career as a member of One Direction he has co-written many songs, including the song "Story of My Life". He released his first single as a solo artist, "This Town", in 2016.