New York: British boyband One Direction has started a new era as a foursome with Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson, after the exit of Zayn Malik.
The boy band has released its first group shot without Malik and have also started writing songs for their fifth studio album, Payne revealed on Twitter, reported New York Daily News.
Payne also divulged that he and his bandmates are writing with singer-songwriter Jamie Scott.
One Direction's follow-up to the 2014 album titled "Four" is scheduled to be released "later this year," according to the group's bio.
Malik's abrupt exit from the group upset the band's loyal fanbase, many of whom were concerned whether the group would go on without him.
"All four of us are 100 per cent committed to staying in One Direction," Tomlinson reassured fans during the group's first official interview as a quartet earlier this month.
"We're gutted Zayn chose to leave. But now after a few performances as a four-piece, we feel confident and determined to carry on stronger than ever," Payne added.
