Niall Horan taking winter break to work on debut solo album

Niall Horan will be laying low until early next year (17) to focus on his debut solo album.

The Irish singer became the first current member of One Direction to release a solo single, This Town, in September (16), and he has been busy working to record other new material for his first solo album.

Now the 23-year-old has revealed plans to disappear from the public eye until February (17) to allow him to finish the project in peace.

"I'm currently 8 songs deep and ready for more," he shared in a handwritten letter to his fans, which he has posted online. "I want to take my time with no pressure and make sure I get it right. I'm quite the self critic, which I like about myself. So I'll let you know when I'm done."

Niall has just a few bookings to complete before locking himself in the studio - he is slated to appear on an upcoming episode of America's The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and perform on the ongoing Jingle Ball U.S. tour.

"After Christmas I'm gonna fall off the face of the earth and do one of my disappearing acts," he continued. "I want to come up with more song ideas and get back in the writing zone. So have a lovely Christmas and happy New Year and I'll see ya in Feb (sic)."

The singer previously opened up about taking his time to record the album and revealed fans shouldn't expect the finished product until 2018.

"The album's nowhere near done yet. I haven't even finished writing it yet...," he said during an appearance on Australian DJ Kent 'Smallzy' Small's radio show in September (16). "I wouldn't be expecting it this year and I wouldn't expect to hear it next year."