Louis Tomlinson – How Did I Get Here?
“How Did I Get Here?” is the third studio album by Louis Tomlinson. Tomlinson has been active in the music scene for more than ten years, six of which he has now spent as a solo artist. The former One Direction superstar has an idiosyncratic sound that is hard to pin down to a single genre. His music is generally pop, leaning towards rock, but above all consists of very powerful songs, especially when looking at the use of instruments and lyrics. After “Walls” (2020) and “Faith In The Future” (2022), it is now time for “How Did I Get Here?” to be added to his discography.
“How Did I Get Here?” perfectly summarises Tomlinson’s journey throughout his entire career, from One Direction to the present day. There are weaker moments and highlights, but the album mainly focuses on the journey itself, not the destination. Appreciation, but also insecurity and sadness, are themes that play a major role. Wrap this in a danceable package and you get the third studio album by the singer from Doncaster.
The album opens with “Lemonade”, a track that immediately evokes a summery feeling. The solid bass line and Tomlinson’s British pop sound instantly set the tone for the rest of the album.
“On Fire” is a danceable and predictable track. After the opener “Lemonade”, it quickly becomes clear that Tomlinson is taking a different direction here compared to previous releases. Tracks like “Sunflowers” and “Sanity” contain a striking amount of wordless vocals. Tomlinson often sings along with the melody without words, something that is new for him.
With the track “Palaces”, there is a lot of recognition for those familiar with his music. The song strongly resembles other tracks from his repertoire that lean more towards rock. On the second single, you can hear how much attention has been paid to the balance between the instruments. Louis is known for being able to package his emotions very well into beautiful lyrics on a fitting beat, and he shows that again on this album. With a song like “Last Night”, he captures the melancholic feeling of touring perfectly, creating a true fan anthem.
“Imposter” is the most accessible track on the album, radio-friendly pop without many quirks. Simple lines like ‘I think there’s a stranger in my bed’ develop into a standalone moment within the song, leaving little depth in the rest of the track. Nevertheless, the song fits well with the other tracks on the album, and the slightly too high key for Tomlinson suits the song.
A recurring element on the album is the strong beat and the danceable music. Unlike the first two albums, this thick production remains present throughout the entire record, including on “Lazy”. These kinds of tracks feel like a combination of Arctic Monkeys, 5 Seconds of Summer and Jonas Brothers. The standouts in this respect are the tracks “Lucid” and “Dark to Light”. From the very first listen, it is clear that the latter is about lost friend and former colleague Liam Payne.
The rawness in this track is a form of rawness not previously heard from Tomlinson. The lyrics hit harder than ever before, and, above all, the emotion is conveyed perfectly, making it a real tearjerker. The rocker that has always been hidden within Tomlinson makes one final strong impression at the end of the album with “Jump The Gun”. A perfect track for mosh pits, headbanging, air guitars and lots of jumping.
The overall picture of the album is what makes it so strong. It is clear that Louis has gained a great deal of confidence while producing this album, and it pays off. By far his best work to date. (9/10) (BMG)
