★★★★★
Louis Tomlinson is back with his third studio album ‘How Did I Get Here?’ and fans are already obsessed. Returning to his heritage, while taking influence from previous albums ‘Walls’ (2020) and ‘Faith In the Future’ (2022), ‘How Did I Get Here?’ paves a new path for Tomlinson, with psychedelic sounds and '80’s synths - what isn't there to love?
Leading track ‘Lemonade’ has a hazy feeling that is reciprocated throughout the whole album. With a gritty, electric guitar, it’s a match made in heaven for Tomlinson fans. This track details his desperation to be with a particular woman, describing her as “bittersweet” and implying a little bit of her attention would do him just fine: “a little taste is all I need”.
‘On Fire’ matches the haziness of the opening track. It’s upbeat and fun, showing the influence of his pop background. This feeling continues on ‘Sunflowers’ with its slow, groovy vibe, ideal for hot summer nights.
The standout track is 'Lazy'. It has a deep bass mixed with muffled vocals in the chorus (“Summer blaze / Got me feelin’ lazy”) and is reminiscent of his 2022 album.
‘Palaces’ keeps the running theme of strong, electric guitars, combining them with upbeat, easy-going lyrics which explore relationships and how discovering the way someone's head works can really benefit them if they stay around long enough to recognise it.
‘Last Night’ and 'Broken Bones' bring us into the melancholy section with more emotional words which mainly focus on the idea of being with this one girl for the rest of his life. Musically, it’s dominant on the drums. However, the soft, electric riffs tie it together.
‘Dark To Light’ s poignant lyrics explore the heartbreak in wondering if he could have done more (“I wish you could see how you look in my eyes”). Fans have looked heavily into this track and believe it's an emotional tribute to former bandmate Liam Payne, although this hasn't been confirmed by Tomlinson.
‘Imposter’ is heavier and lyrically akin to Tomlinson's previous album ‘Faith In the Future’, however it steers away from the theme of relationships. It's confrontational and discusses feelings of self doubt and imposter syndrome, something that Tomlinson has been open about in the past.
Love and confusion are etched throughout ‘Jump The Gun’ as he talks about the fear of falling head first into a relationship too quickly, no matter how much he wants to. It's clean and sleek, especially on the guitar solo.
Final track ‘Lucid’ is gentle and closes this album on a melancholy, acoustic note. Focusing on the end of a relationship, it creates a full circle moment for the album. Going from ‘Lemonade’ being upbeat, and how most people feel when they first meet a partner, to ‘Lucid’ symbolising the ending of the coupling and learning to get over that person. This is emphasised through the words “I'll be okay” which are repeated as the track ends.
Overall, ‘How Did I Get Here?’ shows Louis Tomlinson paying tribute to his pop beginnings while incorporating his own brit-pop, indie-rock sound - showing the growth from his boyband days. As well as an album, Tomlinson is embarking on a world tour, commencing in March 2026 and concluding in late July 2026.
Lottie Webber
Image: ‘How Did I Get Here?’ Official Album Cover