Liam Horne On Songwriting And Navigating Honesty In Mesmerizing New Single “Again”

Scottish-born, LA-based, and quietly one of pop’s best-kept secrets, Liam Horne has spent years writing hits from the shadows (yes, that’s him behind Justin Bieber’s “Out of Town Girl”) before finally stepping into his own spotlight. Now he’s back with “Again,” out August 7, and it’s giving exactly what the title promises: that dizzy, can’t-stop-thinking-about-it feeling of watching a friendship tip into something more. Enlisting Grammy-winning heavy hitters Brian Kennedy (Rihanna, Doechii, The Weeknd) and James Fauntleroy (Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake), Horne blends old-school R&B soul with pop that feels made for right now.

We caught up with Liam to talk about all things “Again,” his creative streak in music right now, and what’s next!

You moved from Scotland to LA at a young age to chase music. How did that move shape who you are as an artist today?

L: “Leaving Aberdeen as a 9 year old and landing in Los Angeles was a total culture shock. In Scotland, music was in my family’s blood, it was raw, personal, and deeply rooted. LA, on the other hand, is the center of the engine. Moving across the world at that age forces you to grow up fast and gives you a certain fast pass to life. It made me adaptable and fearless about starting from zero. Sonically, my music sits right at that crossroad, the storytelling grit and heart I brought with me from home, wrapped in the
polish and energy of the West Coast.”

“Again” explores a friendship turning into something romantic. What advice would you give to listeners navigating this relationship change firsthand?

L: “Don’t fight the shift out of fear of losing what you had. The best relationships usually start with a solid foundation where you already genuinely like the person and know their rawest sides. Navigating that shift takes real honesty and vulnerability… You have to lay your cards on the table and accept that things can’t go backward once you cross that line. But when it works, there’s nothing better than falling for your best friend.”

You wrote this one with James Fauntleroy and Brian Kennedy. What was it like being in the room with them, and what did you learn from that process?

L: “It was an absolute masterclass. Brian creates sonic landscapes that feel massive yet intimate, and James is a genius when it comes to vocal melodies and lyrical subtlety. Being in the room with guys at that level teaches you to strip away the “norms” and be fully committed to the moment. You stop trying to overcomplicate things and start leaning into raw emotion and instinct. They showed me how to give a song room to breathe without losing its punch.”

Your journey started early, co-writing “Out of Town Girl” for Justin Bieber. Looking back, how do you think that experience shaped the songwriter you’ve become?

L: “I was literally just a kid writing for fun with no expectations when that idea came together. Having a pop icon like Justin pick up a track I made as a young kid gave me a massive validation boost early on. But more than that, it taught me the power of a relentless hook and a timeless melody. It showed me that a great song can come from anywhere you just have to catch the lightning when it hits.”

You’ve built a sound that blends soul and pop. How do you know when a song has struck that balance?

L: “It’s a feeling in the room. Pop gives you the groove, the structure, and that immediate head-nodding instinct. Soul gives it the heartbeat, the grit, and the truth. I know a track strikes the right balance when you can strip away all the modern production, sit down at a piano or an acoustic guitar, and the song still gives you chills. If the emotion holds up bare-bones, the pop polish will only elevate it.”

Your music often touches on themes of connection, belonging, and building a life from nothing. Why do those themes keep showing up in your writing?

L: “Because that’s been my actual life. When you pack up your world as a young kid and move halfway across the globe, you spend a lot of time figuring out where you fit in and who your real people are. I’ve had to build my foundation brick by brick in this industry. When you write from that place, connection and belonging aren’t just trendy song ideas they’re survival instincts.”

You’ve worked with major collaborators, but also have longtime partners like UHLONE. How do you balance working with big names versus people who’ve been with you from the start?

L: “Working with big names brings fresh perspective and pushes you out of your comfort zone, which you always need. But working with someone like Uhlone keeps the foundation grounded. Uhlone knows my DNA as an artist; he knows where I came from and what makes my voice feel authentic. You need a mix of both. I’m just lucky to have people who push me into new territory and a brother who won’t let me lose my core.”

With “Paradise,” “Everywhere,” and now “Again,” it feels like you’re in a real creative streak. What’s driving you right now, and where do you want this era of your music to go?

L: “Clarity and freedom. For a long time, I was dividing my focus between writing for others and finding my own footing. Right now, I’m completely locked into my own story and stepping into the spotlight with total confidence. “Paradise” and “Everywhere” set the stage, and “Again” builds on that energy. I want this era to feel cinematic, honest, and unforgettable music that people don’t just listen to once, but live with.”

Make sure to stream “Again”, available now on all music platforms!

Photo Credit: Pat Clark

Je’Kayla Crawford– Founder and Director– Je’Kayla has been a journalist for years and decided to start a publication of her own, New Scene Magazine, back in October 2020. When not helping her team and working on their print issues, you can find her watching a movie on Netflix or baking using a viral TikTok recipe.