Ross Harris is honoring his cousin Liam Payne with a new song. On Sunday, the musician released “Bones,” a track he wrote in tribute to Payne about the difficulties of dealing with grief.
“I’ve been back and forth about releasing this song a dozen times. It’s the most personal thing I’ve ever written – which made the idea of releasing it absolutely terrifying,” Harris wrote on Instagram. “After my cousin passed on October 16th, writing this song (with the extremely talented Jordan Round) gave me an outlet for my grief.”
He added: “Eventually, I knew I had to get it out into the world – for myself, for Liam and for anyone who’s lost someone.”
Harris said he wanted to release the song as a “nice little birthday present” for Payne, who would’ve turned 32 on Friday, Aug. 29. “I still see us as young boys with the world at our feet trying to figure out how to trick our parents into letting us have a sleepover,” he wrote.
For the song’s artwork, Harris used a rose that Payne drew himself. In his post, Harris thanked Payne for “trying to teach me how to scribble a Rose.”
“This one’s for you, Liam. Even though you’re not here to hear it, maybe you’re listening somewhere,” Harris wrote.
Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy shared Harris’s Instagram post about the “beautiful song,” and said she was so proud of Harris for releasing it. “I just know Liam would LOVE this song,” she wrote. “He’s singing it from up there in heaven.”
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Cassidy also shared a touching letter to Payne on Friday, which would’ve been his birthday. “In your 31 years here on this earth, you brought so much joy, happiness and hope to so many- especially to me. I hope you know how brightly you still shine, even from up there,” Cassidy wrote. “I would give up years of my life just to give you a few more. I miss making memories with you. I miss having things to look forward to together.”
Payne died on Oct. 16, 2024, after falling from the balcony of a hotel room in Buenos Aires. Netflix recently released Building the Band, in which Liam served as a mentor for new groups in formation. He was honored on the show.
