#28.01.26

Tomlinson tells NME about new album ‘How Did I Get Here?’, overcoming feeling "utterly intimidated” at going solo, wanting to work with Yungblud to support new talent, Harry Styles' new stuff, why fans will see less One Direction material on the upcoming tour, and being "a glass-half-full guy, regardless of what life throws at me”

By Liberty Dunworth 28th January 2026

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.