Niall Horan Off Campus duet surprised Ella Bright on soundtrack
Ella Bright learned Niall Horan joined her Off Campus cover of “Baby Now That I Found You” in a recorded reveal posted by Island Records.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
3 min read
The Niall Horan Off Campus duet landed with a secret worthy of the show: Ella Bright, who plays music major Hannah Wells, did not know Horan had added vocals to her cover of the Foundations’ “Baby Now That I Found You” until she heard it in a reveal video.
Rolling Stone reported that the track appears on Off Campus: The Mixtape (Extra Credit), the newly released soundtrack tied to the series. The recording turns Bright’s version of the song into a duet with the former One Direction member.
In a clip posted by Island Records on TikTok, Horan introduces the surprise directly to Bright. “You don’t know this yet, but you’re about to listen to our version of ‘Baby Now That I Found You,’” he says in the video.
Bright’s reaction was immediate. In the clip, she compares the sound to Horan’s debut solo single “This Town,” then says, “That’s my favorite song,” and adds, “I’m obsessed. That’s so beautiful.”
What is Niall Horan's Off Campus duet?
The duet is a version of the Foundations’ hit “Baby Now That I Found You,” with vocals from Ella Bright and Niall Horan. Rolling Stone reported that it is included on Off Campus: The Mixtape (Extra Credit), the soundtrack connected to the series.
Bright stars in Off Campus as Hannah Wells, a character whose story is closely tied to music. Author Elle Kennedy previously told Rolling Stone that Bright brought Hannah’s musical drive to the role, saying, “Ella is magnetic,” and, “When you see her, you feel this joy.”
Prime Video also leaned into Hannah’s music taste around the show’s May release. Rolling Stone reported that the official character playlist for Hannah included songs by Olivia Rodrigo, the 1975, SZA and One Direction.
That One Direction connection is baked into the show, according to Rolling Stone. The playlist includes “Steal My Girl” and “Where Do Broken Hearts Go,” both from the band’s album Four. In the playlist description, Bright wrote, “Music is everything to Hannah, and these songs helped me find and understand her voice.”
The series itself keeps returning to One Direction. Rolling Stone reported that Josh Heuston’s character Justin performs “Kiss You” at a charity fundraiser in one episode. In another, Hannah’s Spotify is shown with a playlist made up of One Direction songs, and she recalls writing about the group’s vocal harmonies.
For Horan, “Baby Now That I Found You” is his first release since his fourth album, Dinner Party, arrived earlier this year, according to Rolling Stone. Speaking to the magazine about that album, Horan said, “I like the slow evolution that we get to go on together,” adding that it made him excited about what his music could sound like in eight years.
This story draws on original reporting from Rolling Stone.