Claim: Niall Horan wrote songs for One Direction.

Niall James Horan -LRB- born 13 September 1993 -RRB- is an Irish singer and songwriter , 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 to the `` Boys '' category at the `` judges ' houses '' , but after guest judge Nicole Scherzinger suggested that Niall join One Direction , with Harry Styles , Zayn Malik , Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson , the group became a reality . The five-piece band made it to the final and finished in third place . Even though they did not win , One Direction was signed by Simon Cowell to his record label Syco .   In his career as a member of One Direction , Horan co-wrote many songs , beginning with `` Taken '' , `` Everything About You '' , `` Same Mistakes '' , `` Back for You '' and `` Summer Love '' from their debut albums Up All Night and Take Me Home . In the latter , he also played guitar . He continued to co-write , including the songs `` Do n't Forget Where You Belong '' , `` Why Do n't We Go There '' and `` Story of My Life '' for the album Midnight Memories ; `` Night Changes '' , `` Fool 's Gold '' and `` Change Your Ticket '' for the album Four ; and `` Wolves '' , `` A.M. '' , `` Temporary Fix '' and `` Never Enough '' for the band 's fifth album Made in the A.M. . He released his first single as a solo artist , `` This Town '' , in 2016 .