The right direction

It is official - English music mogul Simon Cowell has given the go-ahead for his cash cow One Direction to, well, explore new directions.

But this does not mean the ever-swirling rumours of the UK boy band's break-up are finally proven true.

Cowell, 55, dished out some advice for the boys at the recent Brit Awards, where they took home the Best British Video award for You & I.

One Direction was formed on Cowell's reality TV singing competition The X Factor in 2010, after which he signed them to his label Syco Music.

"I hear speculation all the time that they're going solo. My advice is they should stay together but still do things they want as a little bit on the side," Cowell said about the famous pop quintet, who will be in town next week for their first concert here at the National Stadium. More than 30,000 tickets have been sold so far.

Fans can heave a sigh of relief for now at least because a split is highly unlikely when One Direction are still on their On The Road Again world tour.

But with Cowell's approval for some surprises on the side, what better time than now to let our imagination run wild with possibilities?

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ZAYN MALIK, 22

Solo project forecast: Rapper

Are we looking at the next Drizzy, Breezy or - gasp! - Yeezy?

(That's Drake, Chris Brown and Kanye West, FYI.)

Word that the enigmatic Malik is seeking a rap career has been spreading like wildfire after his collaboration with UK DJ-producer Naughty Boy.

The pair last co-wrote One Chance to Dance, a track that failed to make it onto One Direction's latest album Four (2014).

Naughty Boy recently confirmed that Malik had been working with him on new music and that the latter will feature on his upcoming album.

"It's a good time for Zayn to showcase what he can really do," he told UK newspaper The Sun, adding that Cowell is "happy" with and supportive of their song together.

HARRY STYLES, 21

Solo project forecast: Actor

Underneath those famous, unruly curls lies a brimming well of charm and charisma - fans can vouch for this - which is his golden ticket to Tinseltown.

The heart-throb of One Direction has already made an impression on big-time Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, who once offered him a movie role he had to turn down because of touring commitments.

Weinstein told The Sun: "There's no question he will enter the movie business. I get from him that he wants to."

He wants Styles on the big screen so badly that "he doesn't even have to audition " him.

LIAM PAYNE, 21

Solo project forecast: EDM music producer under the moniker Payno

This is a no-brainer.

Payne has already remixed UK singer Cheryl Cole's track I Don't Care and One Direction's hits You & I and Steal My Girl.

Last month, he even offered on Twitter to remix US girl group Fifth Harmony's song Reflection, off their debut album of the same name.

While nothing has materialised, Payne has something on the cards with US rapper Juicy J.

And if this does not work out, we can definitely see him writing for other acts.

Payne, who is one of the main songwriters in One Direction, has already offered to write songs for British girl group Neon Jungle.

LOUIS TOMLINSON, 23

Solo project forecast: Football investor and player

Tomlinson has a bright future in songwriting.

But we can better picture him as perhaps the English version of Singapore tycoon Peter Lim, who famously made headlines for his takeover of Spanish football club Valencia last year in a deal reportedly worth S$720 million.

As a wealthy, avid football fan and a non-contract player of Doncaster Rovers, this move could be up Tomlinson's alley.

After all, he already tried to purchase Doncaster Rovers once.

Last July, Tomlinson and former Doncaster Rovers chairman John Ryan did not manage to meet the £2 million (S$4.2m) target through their crowdfunding effort.

If all else fails, maybe a football pundit?

NIALL HORAN, 21

Solo project forecast: Stand-up comedian

He is the funny, cheeky one in the group, so it should not be a stretch for Horan to put his skills to good use on a different kind of stage.

We can already envision rows and rows of adoring fans lapping up his every joke.

He even very nearly managed to convince a reporter that he was teaming up with rappers Drake and Snoop Dogg for a rap album during one of his interviews.

It's also likely that Horan might be the first to try his hand at a solo singing career.

His chances are doubled thanks to the fact that the guitarist is the only one who can actually play an instrument.

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FYI

WHAT: ONE DIRECTION ON THE ROAD AGAIN TOUR 2015

WHEN: March​ 11, 8pm

WHERE: National Stadium​

TICKETS: $88, $128, $148, $168 and $198 From Sports Hub tix at www.sportshub.com.sg/sportshubtix