Liam Payne's final song was a tribute to ex Naomi Campbell which he believed would mark his big comeback

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The last song written and recorded by the late Liam Payne was a tribute to his ex-girlfriend, supermodel Naomi Campbell, as per the Daily Mail. The pair dated for several months in 2019.

The former One Direction member started working on the song, 'Closer to You', shortly after their breakup, however, he abandoned the project midway. The 31-year-old finally recorded it earlier this year, as per the outlet. 

Payne died on October 16 after falling from the third-floor balcony of the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. A source told the Daily Mail that he died believing the song would be his next big hit. 

Source shares insight into Liam Payne and Naomi Campbell's relationship and breakup

An insider told the publication that Naomi Campbell is aware of the fact that Liam Payne's final song was a tribute to her.

"Liam and Naomi dated for three or four months and, like all things with Liam, he took it very seriously. He was an emotional guy. They didn’t have a big bust-up, it was more that they realized their relationship couldn’t last long-term because they were both juggling careers and traveling a lot," they shared.

The couple amicably parted ways and remained friends till Payne's tragic death.

The British singer wrote in the lyrics of his desire "to get closer to you," and how she was the one "who walked away." He began the song with "Still smell your perfume in my room..." and repeatedly pleaded, "I want to love you."

The insider explained the opening, saying, "Liam joked Naomi’s scent was so distinctive he could always smell it, even long after she’d left."

Liam Payne felt 'Closer to You' would be his big comeback record

Liam Payne recorded a rough cut of 'Closer to You' in July in a studio in Los Angeles. The final three-and-a-half minute version was recorded in Sweden in August, along with producer and composer Rami Yacoub. According to the publication, Swedish record producer Max Martin also contributed to the song over the phone in Los Angeles.

Payne was reportedly thrilled to be back in the studio with Yacoub, who penned One Direction’s all-time best-selling single, 'What Makes You Beautiful'.

"Liam was thrilled to be back in the studio with Rami and to be working with Max. They’re both legends. He was happy and laughing. He felt this would be his big comeback record," the source stated. 

Yakoub himself shared a post mentioning the star on Instagram in 2023, writing, "I’ve known this wonderful human for almost 13 years. Sorry for torturing you in the booth Liam, but as you all can see on his face, he loves it. Time goes by but some things never change..."

The final version of 'Closer to You' was recorded in an eight-hour session that stretched into the night, with Payne drinking nothing stronger than a Red Bull energy drink at the time.