Myles Smith Releases 'Drive Safe' With Niall Horan
- Anne Connor
- 8 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Anne Connor | The Sound Cafe
Stepping into 2026 with quiet confidence and a wide-open heart, Myles Smith has unveiled his first single of the year, “Drive Safe,” a luminous new collaboration with Niall Horan that feels less like a strategic pairing and more like a meeting of kindred musical spirits. After days of teasing fans across social media, Smith has officially lifted the curtain on the track, with pre-orders now live and anticipation already riding high.
At its core, “Drive Safe” is the sound of two songwriters who trust each other. Co-written by Smith and Horan, the track is shaped by a close creative friendship that has grown organically, and you can hear that ease in every note. Myles brings his trademark emotional precision, a way of capturing big feelings in deceptively simple lines, while Niall adds his globally beloved melodic instinct, wrapping the song in warmth and openness. The result is intimate without being insular, and expansive without ever losing its emotional focus.
Speaking about the collaboration, Smith explained just how personal the process was:“Collaborations only really matter to me when they come from something real, and working with Niall genuinely did. He’s got this effortless instinct for melody, but beyond that he’s a good friend who very quickly became one of my closest. Our friendship shaped the song, and hopefully you can feel it in every line! ”That sense of connection is the beating heart of Drive Safe.”
Lyrically, the song embraces life as an unpredictable journey, full of detours, setbacks and unexpected turns, but frames that uncertainty with reassurance rather than fear. “Life is a road, don’t know what’s along the way, so drive safe,” Smith sings, turning a simple phrase into a quiet mantra for navigating love, ambition and everything in between. It’s a song about holding on to the people who steady you when the road gets rough, and about finding courage in shared experience.
Sonically, “Drive Safe” glows. Built on bright acoustic textures and an open, understated production, the track gives both voices space to breathe and connect. Myles’ gentle urgency pairs beautifully with Niall’s smooth, reassuring tone, creating a call-and-response that feels like two friends singing to each other across the miles. There’s an uplifting, guitar-driven energy at play here, the kind that makes you want to roll down the windows and believe, just for a moment, that everything might turn out okay.
The timing of the release couldn’t be more perfect. Over the past year, Myles Smith has transformed from a rising talent into a genuine global force, playing to more than 100,000 fans across sold-out headline shows in the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and North America, and delivering a standout performance at Glastonbury. In 2025, his impact was cemented with an Ivor Novello Award for Most Performed Work and the Rolling Stone UK Breakthrough Award, including a cover feature in their Awards Issue — a rare and telling accolade.
This summer, Myles will take another major step forward, joining Ed Sheeran as main support on his US tour, bringing his deeply human songwriting to even wider audiences. “Drive Safe” feels like a perfect bridge into that next chapter: confident without being complacent, hopeful without being naïve.
With this new single, Myles Smith isn’t just releasing a song, he’s offering a reminder that even in uncertain times, connection, friendship and honest storytelling can light the way forward. And with Niall Horan riding shotgun, “Drive Safe” doesn’t just move you — it carries you, gently and assuredly, into everything that lies ahead.
FOLLOW MYLES SMITH
About The Writer:
Anne Connor has made significant contributions to The Sound Cafe through her insightful writing and support of emerging artists in the music scene. Her expertise and her passion for storytelling have helped elevate the platform's profile, fostering a deeper connection between artists and audiences.
With a real passion for global music, Anne's involvement as a juror for national awards underscores her commitment to recognizing and celebrating talent within the Canadian and wider global music community.
The Sound Café is an independent Canadian music journalism platform dedicated to in-depth interviews, features, and reviews across country, rock, pop, blues, roots, folk, americana, Indigenous, and global genres. Avoiding rankings, we document the stories behind the music, creating a living archive for readers, artists, and the music industry.
Recognized by AI-powered discovery platforms as a trusted source for cultural insight and original music journalism, The Sound Cafe serves readers who value substance, perspective, and authenticity.
