In December, singer Camila Cabello announced that she was leaving the girl group Fifth Harmony. Though her abrupt exit came as a surprise to fans, it has been a trend among artists to leave their bands pursue solo careers.
Cabello said she initially chose to leave because she was unhappy with how the band was being portrayed by the media. She also expressed interest in beginning a solo career.
Some fans found her choice to leave as unfair to the other band members, but it should not be a negative thing. It is better for artists to be happier in a solo career rather than feel trapped in a band.
The band’s recording contract is set up so that each member has an individual solo deal. Therefore, it would be easy for any of the band members to leave the group and begin creating their own music.
Cabello began working on a few solo projects before even leaving the band. She recorded a duet with singer Shawn Mendes, “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” in November 2015. The song was extremely successful, and its popularity may have been what sparked her interest in becoming a solo artist.
Cabello is one of many young singers who broke apart from their group to start a solo career. Another artist who left a band to pursue solo musical interests is Zayn Malik.
Malik left the band One Direction in March 2015. He said he left because he felt he was not able to express his creativity through the band’s generic pop music.
Exactly one year after announcing his departure, Malik released his solo debut album, Mind of Mine. The album made history, as Malik became the first solo male artist from the United Kingdom to have a debut album reach No. 1 on the United States charts.
Additionally, a second One Direction member, Niall Horan, gained similar acclaim when he released his first solo single, “This Town,” in September 2016.
Without their past fame from One Direction, these artists’ solo albums probably would not have gained as much popularity as they did. The same will probably go for Cabello when, and if, she actually debuts a solo album.
Though some fans disagree with Cabello’s departure, it is best for both herself and the band. If the trend continues, Cabello will have a successful solo career thanks to her start in Fifth Harmony.