Louis Tomlinson found fame in the world’s biggest band, but in recent years, he’s had to fight to prove himself as a soloist, and this shouldn’t have been the case, writes Daniel Bird
Louis Tomlinson has proved time and time again he’s worthy of solo success, so why is he only just being recognised? His life completely changed when he was put into One Direction, becoming a household name across the globe.
Since leaving The X Factor in 2010, the five lads —Louis, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, and Zayn Malik —went on to sell an eye-watering 70 million records worldwide. What many may not know is that Louis wrote a significant number of One Direction’s songs.
This is something he’s honed in over the years and has truly become perfect at. Now, I’m not going to lie, I spent years following 1D up and down the country, possibly spending thousands (and also skipping a lot of sixth-form and uni), so I’ve seen first-hand just what a genuine person Louis is.
He’s never shied away from his Doncaster roots or being outspoken, something which I can only praise him for. The group disbanded in 2016, and four years later, Louis dropped his debut solo album, Walls, which, im my opinion, was a masterpiece. I was shocked to see it chart at Number 4 on the Official UK Charts.
This changed, though, with the release of Faith in the Future, which Louis released two years later, debuting at Number 1 – which is where it deserved to be. It’s fair to say that Louis hasn’t always been perceived in the best way, which is a shame.
I’ve met him several times over the years, as have my friends, and he’s always been such an incredibly down-to-earth person. The first time I met him, was very accidental, I was walking through Manchester and he just happened to be on the other side of the road. So you bet I ran across that road, myself and friends probably spent about five minutes with him, and it was as though we were with an old pal.
The second time, I purposely went to his radio tour in Liverpool, although there were hundreds of fans waiting, he made sure to take time to say hello to each and every person, happily posed for pictures and chatted about things with people.
The genuineness in him is probably the South Yorkshire spirit which has been instilled in him. His late mum, Johannah, was also the most caring person I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.
Whether it be at a 1D gig or outside (sometimes inside) a hotel, she had a natural warmth about her; it didn’t matter that her son was about to perform to 80,000 people, she was always happy to talk. This is something Louis has about him, he’s always the first to meet fans, check they’re ok and spend time with them – he doesn’t have to do this, but he does, proving that despite the fame and wealth, he’s still the same grounded lad who auditioned for The X Factor all those years ago.
Tonight, Louis appeared on the Diary of a CEO Podcast, which I was extremely pleased about. He rarely gives interviews, and I cannot blame him. Over the years, he’s suffered extreme heartache, so it must be tough for him to open up. But in this interview, I have to applaud Louis for taking part.
Opening up about the death of a loved one is never easy, so to see Louis speak so openly about his incredible mother, Johannah, filled me with such joy. It really brought home just how much of a wonderful woman Johannah was, instilling such positive memories and a bright influence on Louis’ life, which still echoes to this day.
I remember the day Louis performed his debut single, Just Hold On, live on The X Factor, just days after Johannah’s death. I was blown away. Despite that heartbreak, he got up there and performed such a powerful song, and it broke me. I have no idea how Louis managed it, but does that just not prove my point? He’s a phenomenal artist and put his heart and soul into that gig.
Hearing him talking about Donny just reminded me that, after all, he’s a South Yorkshire lad. I’ve been lucky enough to call South Yorkshire my home for the past eight years, and spent the majority of my teens in my beloved county, and Louis has never turned his back on his hometown, which could have been easy for somebody who’s rumoured to have homes in Los Angeles, as well as a pad in London.
Louis spoke about grief to Steven Bartlett, following the death of Johannah and his younger sister, Felicity, and it hit home for me. It’s such a weird feeling, and to hear somebody you admire and respect, essentially saying: “Hey, it’s alright to feel angry and hit out at the world for what you’ve been through,” just allows fans to have a closer relationship with that musician, something Louis has always shown he’s happy to do.
His next album, How Did I Get Here?, which is set to be released next year, is already proving to be Louis’ most honest and open record. In the past, he’s experimented with different sounds (for what it’s worth, they all worked…), but listening to the tune of Lemonade, the first single from the record, was just something else.
I can’t put my finger on it; it has so many different elements to the track, but it has Louis’ distinct sound woven into it and somehow still stands out from his previous bodies of work. It has such a feel good sound to it, so I’m excited to hear the rest of the album.
“On this record, it feels like the palette is a lot deeper, there is a lot more to say, but there’s a lot more colour on there as well,” he told Steven, which is particularly interesting. Louis admits his success is very different to what other people may think when they hear that word – and has he achieved what he’s set out to do? Probably not but do I believe he’s on the right path? Absolutely.
It baffles me how it has taken so long for Louis to be recognised for his music, his Away From Home Festival, which provides such an incredible opportunity for fans and musicians, and his philanthropic achievements.
Am I excited for Louis’ future? Yes, I absolutely am. Will I be seeing him on tour (his biggest tour…) next year? I wouldn’t miss it. Am I happy he’s finally being recognised by the industry and gaining more fans? One hundred per cent.
