Louis Tomlinson has spoken to NME about his third solo album ‘How Did I Get Here?’ – the record he says he “always deserved to make” – and championing new talent alongside fellow Doncaster star Yungblud.
The first new music from the singer since 2022’s deeply personal sophomore record ‘Faith In The Future’, the record also arrives 10 years since One Direction announced their indefinite hiatus – with each of the members embarking on their own respective solo careers, and bandmate Liam Payne tragically passing away in 2024.
While his first two solo albums saw Tomlinson tackle heavier themes with personal lyrics to match, this time around he’s embraced a more colourful, optimistic outlook. This, he told NME, was born after spending time writing in Costa Rica, realising he had more confidence thanks to touring, and becoming less afraid to experiment with his sound.
“The experience that I built up on my past tours not only proved to me that I could do it on my own and provide a good night for people, but also it really informed the record in general,” he said. “I don’t think I would’ve been able to make a record like this without the confidence that I built there. There are now certain things that are seeping in that I disregarded in the past because I wasn’t confident enough.”
“I realised that in the writing process that the most confident thing to do now was to stare the things that I found intimidating in the face, and see how I could mould them into something I feel comfortable with,” he added. “It’s like the album is an amalgamation of everything I’ve learned out on my own.”
Louis Tomlinson. CREDIT: Press
Check out our full interview with Tomlinson below, where he also opened up about channelling his hardships into positivity, fully overcoming the “intimidation” of going solo, whether he still enjoys performing One Direction songs live, and his determination to help new talent rise through the ranks.
NME: Hi Louis. It’s been nearly four years on from your last record, why did now feel like the right time to drop new music?
Louis Tomlinson: “I wanted to take more time with it this time, because when you have the luxury of taking your time, you’re able to take more risks. You don’t have to be as clinical.
“When I set out to make this record, I had a vision for the scale [I wanted], but there wasn’t a specific musical steer straightaway. I needed to make mistakes and take risks creatively to find out where the edges of the record were. Because of that, there are songs like ‘Lucid’ and ‘Sunflowers’ which I don’t think would have happened otherwise. Where the record has more depth, it comes from those moments.”
A lot has changed since ‘Faith In The Future’, and you’ve been through some hardships since then. Has much of that gone into the album?
“To a degree. When poignant things happen in your life, it’s really hard to write about anything else, to be honest. So there was an element of needing to write about some things that weighed heavy on my mind. That’s not something I’ve ever resisted as a writer because those honest and truthful moments, as raw as they are, are usually the most relatable.”
It’s interesting you say that, because there is still a huge sense of joy that prevails throughout the songs…
“It was really important to me that my personality shone through in this record. I’ve had some stuff to deal with in the past, and with that comes a real emotional weight. The previous two albums I made were darker in sound, and I wanted to try and change that because I’ve always been an optimist. I’m a glass-half-full kind of guy, almost regardless of what life throws at me. This time, I wanted to marry the depth of honesty with a glass-half-full outlook… This record as a whole had to feel positive in every single way.”
Was that approach almost like a coping mechanism?
“It might be, but it’s also something that I’ve always had. I don’t really allow myself to think any other way, because what’s the point? I’m quite logical with that kind of thing. There’s no point in dwelling over things really too much…”
It’s been 10 years since One Direction went on hiatus. Looking back at that transition to solo artist, how did it feel to make that leap and how do you feel about how far you’ve come?
“It was utterly intimidating. I’d built up all this amazing experience in the band, but I didn’t know how relevant it was to me as an individual, so there was an element of working all that out on the job. My first two singles were collaborations and really important moments in my career, but also when I listen back to those songs, I can hear how indecisive I was and how I was still working it out. To be honest, I can feel that across a lot of the first record [2020’s ‘Walls‘] as well.
“Those things were definitely tough because, while we were still working things out in the band, it’s different when you’re doing it collectively. Plus, a band like One Direction by nature is less serious, so when you go out on your own and your lyrics are autobiographical, there is more of an element of seriousness. It definitely took me a second to acclimatise to everything like that.
“Beforehand, I naively thought that the experience would count for more. I’m not undermining it, I just mean it feels like a separate thing. Even things like being on stage, I only had to take up a fifth of the stage when I was in the band, but now having to don full stage, that takes some getting used to. That’s just one of a hundred different things like that. There was a lot of working things out, but that’s where I feel really thankful for my fans. They’ve always looked after me, and there wasn’t too much pressure on me to have it all worked out straight away. It felt like they were with me for the ride. In hindsight, that feels really special.”
Louis Tomlinson ‘How Did I Get Here?’ album artwork. CREDIT: Press
Speaking of taking up the whole stage now, you have a huge tour coming up. What can we expect from those gigs?
“I’m lucky enough to have a certain base level in terms of the atmosphere and the energy from the crowd. It’s the kind of thing that I can rely on at every single gig, and the more I get from the crowd, the more I can give back. I’m really excited to show off the record [in a live setting]. It feels really special this time [because] my first two tours were similar to each other in terms of aesthetic, but this is gonna have a slightly different feel. It will be a more colourful, slightly more electronic sonically, and I’m interested to see how it plays out. It’s my favourite thing to do, I don’t think I’d do the job if I couldn’t tour.”
In the past you’ve had One Direction tracks in the setlist. Is that because you genuinely enjoy performing them still, or is it something you do mainly for the fans?
“To be honest, both. It works out well for me that fans enjoy it when I do One Direction songs, but truthfully, it’s never really a play [role I do for them]. For example, there’s a One Direction song called ‘No Control’ which I played at my festival and fans have been asking me to do it for a long time. I was kind of dreading doing it, but the first time I did it in soundcheck, I remembered that singing those songs is really nostalgic. It just takes me straight back to a happy place. So the fact that other people like it as well, it’s a win-win.
“It’s something that I’m treating with caution for this next run though. I’ve kept One Direction of songs in the setlist now for a couple of tours, and I might be a little bit more selective about how I use them going forward. Maybe they’re not going to be in every show because the spots for the set are really competitive now I’ve got three albums to choose from. There’ll have to be a sacrifice, and it might be a One Direction song.
“Those things definitely built me up in the past and, don’t get me wrong, there will definitely be time for those moments, but going back to that original statement: I feel like this is the album that I deserve to make, so the tour that I deserve to go on is one in my own glory. [That means] not having reliance on anything else.”
Louis Tomlinson, 2026. CREDIT: Press
2026 is shaping up to already be great for One Direction fans. We’ve got your new album, Zayn is making a comeback, and Harry Styles dropped a new single. Have you had a chance to check Harry’s track out?
“I’ve only seen one clip of him dancing or getting thrown around or something like that! [Laughs] I haven’t actually heard the song in its entirety yet, but I’m sure it’s great!”
It seems like both of you are itching to push the boundaries this time around. We’re seeing you with more elements of funk, Harry with new nods to electronica…
“Yeah! If you look across the music that we made in One Direction and then the music that everyone has made individually, it’s testament to what we all brought to the band. There were a lot of different music tastes and a lot of different artistry. We were always keen to push the boundaries in the band, so I’m not surprised that’s carried over into our solo work.”
Have you had a chance to think about bringing back your Away From Home festival in 2026?
“A little bit. I’m more of a short-term thinker, which is ironic in my job, but I’ve thought about it loosely. It’ll be happening this year, I’m pretty confident of that. But it’s something the suits are already well under the way with, and I’m not quite up to speed on yet!”
The festival is great at creating a platform for emerging artists. Why was it something that you wanted to take into your own hands?
“There’s something really raw and exciting about getting bands on the up when they’re at that development stage and when they’re a bit younger. It’s those artists who are probably willing to take more risks, so there’s something really exciting about that.
“It also goes back to where I’m from. Now we’ve got Yungblud, but before him, there wasn’t really too much musical inspiration [from places like Doncaster] to look towards, and the opportunities were – and still are – few and far between. It’s important for me to do my bit. I’ve certainly had a good ride so far, so I think it’s important that I give back like that. When you give acts who aren’t as experienced a bigger stage to play, you see them really come alive. It makes you proud.”
It is getting harder for artists to get that platform to grow, and we’re consistently seeing grassroots venues closing down in the UK. It’s great to see artists like yourself and Yungblud strive to make a difference by creating your own festivals…
“Yungblud is so good at it too. The Donny lad’s doing well! I think it’s really important, and change starts at the top. There are so many great musicians that are absolutely begging for a great opportunity. Take Ed [Sheeran] as a good example. How many hundreds of shows did he do before he made it? Small venues play such a vital role in that, and it’s something really close to my heart, definitely. That’s what Away From Home stands for. I want it to attract people who want to see these up and coming acts, as well as someone like me.”
Have you ever considered joining forces with Yungblud to design a new initiative?
“It’s something we’ve been murmuring about in the past. I haven’t spoken to him directly about it yet, but it makes a lot of sense. We’ve only met in passing at an award show a couple of years ago, so I’ve not actually sat down and had a proper chat with him, but I’ve got a lot of respect for him. He’s fucking taking over word at the moment, isn’t he? He’s doing so well.”
And in terms of a musical collaboration…
“I’d be open to that too, definitely! He’s a great writer, so that would be cool.”
Away From Home is firmly established, album three is out, and now we have tour dates on the way… is there anything on the bucket list that you’re wanting to do next?
“I used to be interested in acting when I was younger, but I’m not so interested anymore. I think now it’s mainly about being more involved in that process of development and working with bands on the up.”
Are there any new artists who are catching your eye at the minute?
“While I’ve been making this record, I haven’t really been listening enough, I’ve just been focused on what I’m doing. The process has been all consuming, and when I’m busy I find myself falling back towards my comfort songs. For me, I like Sam Fender, I love his lyrics and he’s someone I always come back to. Same with that latest Fontaines D.C. album [‘Romance’]. That is absolutely amazing. Then there is also Kings Of Leon and Arctic Monkeys… all the stuff that I used to listen to when I was younger. It’s like a comfort when I’m this busy.”
‘How Did I Get Here?’ is out now via BMG. Visit here for tickets to Tomlinson’s UK dates, and here for tickets to international shows. More information about Away From Home 2026 is expected to be released at a later date.
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