IN CONVERSATION WITH WESTLIFE
interview by JANA LETONJA
With over 55 million records sold, 14 UK No.1 singles, and more than 6 million tickets sold worldwide, Westlife remain one of the most iconic and best-selling pop groups in music history. As the UK & Ireland’s top-selling album group of the 21st century, their timeless ballads and soaring harmonies have defined generations. Now, as they celebrate an incredible 25 years together, the band are set to release a brand-new album and embark on a massive world tour kicking off in September 2026. The first single ‘Chariot’ just came out, with the full album set to arrive in time for Valentine’s Day. From ‘You Raise Me Up’ to ‘Flying Without Wings’, Westlife continue to remind the world why their music has stood the test of time.
Twenty-five years together is an incredible milestone. How does it feel to reach this point in your journey as a band?
Shane: When you say the words “twenty-five years”, it still feels mad. We’ve lived nearly half our lives as Westlife. The fact that we’ve been able to take this around the world, sell out arenas year after year, and come into this anniversary with demand actually going up, that’s not normal. We genuinely feel privileged. These Royal Albert Hall shows reminded us again, this is special. When you’ve got audiences of all ages still turning up like that, singing every single lyric, it makes you realise that Westlife is bigger than a moment in time, it’s become part of people’s lives.
What emotions come up when you look back at where it all began versus where you are now?
Kian: The truth is, when we started, we didn’t have a clue. We were thrown into a whirlwind. But today, we’re men, we’re fathers, we’re more grounded and we’re more grateful. We’ve been through everything you can go through in a band. Breaks, reunions, comebacks, global tours. There’s a huge pride in knowing we came out the other side with our friendship intact and our passion intact. That’s rare. And now, doing this 25th anniversary, it feels like we’re celebrating the past, but we’re not stuck in it. We’re using it as fuel for the future.
Why was now the right time to record a new album and go back on a world tour?
Nicky: Because the timing is perfect. This moment feels like a cultural reset for Westlife. There’s this major wave of celebration and nostalgia happening globally. Not just in the UK and Ireland, but across Asia, across Europe, and now we’re going back to Europe properly for the first time in twenty years. Our 25th album ‘25 - The Ultimate Collection’ lets fans have the songs they’ve grown up with, plus brand new material that reflects who we are in 2026. And the world tour is a chance to bring that to life in a big way. It’s our most ambitious run since the reunion.
Can you share a bit about the creative vision behind the new album?
Shane: We wanted to make something that truly celebrates the past 25 years, but also opens the door to what happens next. So, having the iconic hits there was essential, they’re part of pop history. But adding brand new songs today means this isn’t just a nostalgia record. It’s a bridge between eras. The new single ‘Chariot’ is a perfect example of that. It’s classic Westlife emotion, but with a contemporary stamp. It sums up why this album exists, to honour where we’ve been while showing where we’re going.
Shane:
jacket and shirt OFFICINE GENERALE
Kian:
jacket SANDRO
shirt MOSS
Nicky:
jacket ARIES
How does the sound of this new album differ from your earlier work? Is there a new energy or theme that defines it?
Kian: The new material is more lived-in. It’s more personal. Lyrically and vocally, you can hear the life experience. ‘Chariot’ especially is about family, love, legacy, it reflects what matters to us today. We’re not the teenagers who recorded our earliest hits. We’ve toured the world, raised kids, gone through joy and heartbreak and growth. You can hear that maturity in the new songs. But the emotion is the same. It’s still Westlife, just evolved.
Also, your tour kicks off next September. After so many years performing together, how do you keep the live shows feeling fresh and exciting for both you and your audience?
Nicky: We treat every new tour like a brand-new show, not like a repeat of anything we’ve done. The 25th anniversary tour is our biggest production ambition since ‘Wild Dreams’. We’re building it as a proper celebration, big moments, big medleys, big visuals, but also intimate moments. And also these songs have taken on new meanings now. Singing a hit from 2001, but as fathers in our 40s, with 20.000 people singing it back, feels totally different. That energy keeps it fresh every single night.
Your songs have soundtracked so many people’s lives. What does it mean to you to have music that still resonates so deeply today?
Shane: It’s the greatest gift of this career. When someone says “Flying Without Wings’ was my wedding song” or “You Raise Me Up got me through losing someone”, you realise it’s bigger than pop. These songs have been there for people at the most important moments of their lives. And now we see a whole new generation discovering them, kids singing the songs their parents grew up with. That’s when you really understand the power of what Westlife has meant to people.
How do you balance nostalgia for your classics with the excitement of creating new material?
Kian: We don’t see them as competing. The classics are the foundation. They put us here. But if we only played the old songs, we’d just be reliving memories, not making new ones. The exciting part is that fans want both. They want the hits, and they want something new to hold onto. That’s why having songs like ‘Chariot’ on the album is crucial. They sit in the same world, but they move the story forward.
How has your dynamic as a group evolved over the years, both personally and professionally?
Nicky: We communicate so much better now. When you’re younger, everything is ego and adrenaline and going at a million miles an hour. Today, we know when to step forward, when to step back, when to protect each other. We’ve grown up together. We’ve been through every life stage together. The biggest difference now is respect. We genuinely support each other. And that’s why this era feels so strong.
What continues to inspire you to create and perform after two and a half decades in the spotlight?
Shane: The stage. Always the stage. That moment when the lights go down and the crowd explodes, there’s nothing like it. That feeling never gets old. And honestly, this 25th anniversary has brought a whole new spark. It feels like the world is saying “Yes, we still love these songs, we still love this band, we want more.” That’s incredibly inspiring.
How do you see the next chapter for Westlife unfolding beyond this anniversary?
Kian: This isn’t a closing chapter, it’s a new beginning. The demand is bigger than ever. We’re touring Europe properly for the first time in twenty years. We’ve got new music that reflects who we are today. There are more international dates coming. The next chapter is about expanding again, taking Westlife to fans who’ve waited a long time for us. It feels like the start of the next era, not the end of one.
Tickets for Westlife 25: The Anniversary World Tour are on sale now at LiveNation.co.uk
TEAM CREDITS:
talent WESTLIFE
photography LEE MALONE
styling ADELE CANY
hair TYLER JOHNSTON
makeup CHARLOTTE REID
gaffer JAKE MILSOM
second gaffer KAI JADWAT
styling assistant MY OLSSON PAJKIN
editor TIMOTEJ LETONJA
interview JANA LETONJA
cover design ARTHUR ROELOFFZEN
