If you ask most of the Canadian general public, which member of the 2010s mega boy band One Direction would be touring in 2026, it is unlikely they would guess (or maybe even know) Louis Tomlinson. If you ask any girl who owned a black-and-white striped top and red pants in 2011, they will tell you all about him, probably even down to his blood type.
As he embarks on his first solo arena tour this summer, with a stop at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena in July, Louis Tomlinson continues to be One Direction’s best-kept secret. As the band’s eldest member, Tomlinson was the voice behind its later sound and business decisions, a role that has carried into his solo career. He has developed a music festival, “The Away from Home Festival,” which has spanned multiple countries since its inception in 2021, has been judged on the UK X Factor, and has had consistent number 1s on the UK Billboard charts. Behind Louis is a legion of loyal fans who will follow him anywhere. He is the choice of the 1D die-hards, and he never shies away from it. In an interview with Zane Lowe promoting the album, he emphasized, “at least my feeling with the fans is that we are doing this together. I wouldn’t be able to do half, or really any of this without them” (TIKTOK).
How Did I Get Here? is the third studio album by Tomlinson. The record departs from the grunge rock sound he pursued on his first two albums and adopts a beachy, 1970s-inspired pop that suits him. It is brighter and more upbeat, with sing-along choruses on songs like Palaces that will no doubt fill arenas with the loud cheers of adoring “Louies”. His Doncaster accent has always made him a great candidate for the British indie sound he is drawn to, and this is one of his best shots at it. The running drum beat and electric guitar bring back early 2000s rock, and could easily be a stand-in for Mr Brightside on the dance floor.
A highlight on the album is “Dark to Light”, a beautiful tribute to late friend and band member Liam Payne, who passed away in October 2024. It tells the story of wishing you could’ve helped a friend going through addiction, and struggling to grapple with the grief that comes with a life that ends too soon. As Louis says, “I wish you could see how you look in my eyes one more time,” and “Don’t go anywhere I can’t follow,” it is sure to resonate with anyone who has lost someone close to mental health struggles. This song is Tomlinson at his best and is a beautiful way to say goodbye to a friend.
Although it would be easy to say How Did I Get Here? is a departure from Tomlinson’s typical sound, it feels more like a homecoming. The lyricism is much more similar to his work during the 1D days, with classic pop songs like “On Fire”, songs with an indie twist that sound like they could be a bonus track on FOUR or Made In The AM. His resume stands to prove that it is no secret how Louis Tomlinson “got here”, as he has been proving himself as a knowledgeable industry figure and skilled songwriter for nearly a decade. I urge you to listen to the One Direction fans in your life and give Louis a try.