Why Louis Tomlinson Is One Direction’s Underappreciated Solo Star

With the first quarter of the 21st century coming to an end, Billboard has been looking back on the 25 Greatest Pop Stars of the Past 25 Years. Below, we take a deeper look into the solo career of Louis Tomlinson — one of the members of our No. 22 pop stars, One Direction — and how his songwriting, originally honed in 1D, has helped him develop into one of the group’s strongest breakout artists.

When One Direction officially went on hiatus in 2015, Zayn Malik dropped “Mind of Mine” in 2016, Harry Styles’ eponymous LP followed in 2017, Niall Horan released “Flicker” later that year, and Liam Payne’s “First Time” EP arrived in 2018. Louis Tomlinson, however, took his time with releasing a full project, entering an era of healing and self-discovery that saw him realizing his potential as one of 1D’s most self-actualized artists, even if not necessarily the starriest.

Even before going solo, Tomlinson showed he was meant for breakthrough success while in One Direction. Longtime Directioners know that Tomlinson wrote more songs in One Direction than any other member, penning long-standing hits like “Perfect,” “History,” and “Fool’s Gold.” These songs demonstrated his skill in lyrical cleverness and crafting unforgettably catchy refrains necessary for producing arena-ready hits. Beyond his musical abilities, Tomlinson’s sense of humor and friendship with fellow 1D members also endeared him to fans.

However, when he did embark on his solo journey, the road was initially slippery. Teaming up with Steve Aoki, Tomlinson released “Just Hold On” in December 2016, just three days before his mother passed away from leukemia. Despite the personal tragedy, he took the stage to perform the song on The X Factor, showing his strength and dedication to his musical craft.

Tomlinson’s resilience amid adversity continued as he navigated the music industry. Signing with Epic Records in 2017, he released singles like “Miss You” and the Bebe Rexha-assisted “Back to You.” Though both tracks had infectious hooks, they did not perform as well as hoped. “Just Hold On” peaked at No. 52 on the Billboard Hot 100, “Back to You” hit No. 40, and “Miss You” did not chart at all. Consequently, a full-length album never materialized with Epic Records.

Nevertheless, Tomlinson quickly found his footing again, signing with Arista Records in 2019. Here, he honed his talent as a songwriter, this time feeling comfortable enough to tackle more vulnerable topics. His first release under the label was “Two of Us,” a heart-wrenching tribute to his late mother. “I know you’ll be looking down/ Swear I’m gonna make you proud/ I’ll be living one life for the two of us,” he sang, offering a glimpse into a musical career rich in honesty and vulnerability.

Unfortunately, shortly after the release of “Two of Us,” another hardship struck when his 18-year-old sister Fizzy died of an accidental overdose. The release of “Two of Us” and the tragedy that followed showed how close Tomlinson’s community of fans is, as they showered him with online support in the ensuing months.

After taking time to heal, Tomlinson announced in August of that year that his debut solo album was on its way, followed by the release of “Kill My Mind.” In a conversation with Hits Radio Breakfast, he admitted that he had finally found his stride: “I’m actually really proud and relieved to finally find my place, find my lane musically.”

His debut solo album, “Walls,” arrived in January 2020. While it reached the Billboard 200’s top 10, it received mixed reviews from critics, who felt the heart Tomlinson intended to portray wasn’t quite there. However, his personal growth outside of commercial success told a different story. He established a solid identity not only as an artist but also as a person. Unlike some of his 1D bandmates still finding their solo sounds, Tomlinson grew confidently into an instrumentation-focused pop-rock artist with lyrics that went beyond expected sentiments.

Tomlinson’s hard work eventually paid off. His 2022 sophomore solo album, “Faith in the Future,” debuted at No. 1 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart. In the U.S., it debuted at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart and No. 5 on the all-genre Billboard 200, his highest-charting set on both tallies. The album’s success and his sold-out live shows on the accompanying tour underscored the steadfast devotion of Directioners and gained him new fans.

The album’s lead single, “Bigger Than Me,” revealed his self-awareness: “When somebody told me I would change/ I was afraid, I don’t know why/ ’Cause so does the world outside, I’ve realized/ It’s bigger than me.” This indicated that the key to solo success was being himself and letting go of the pressures brought by fame.

Although Tomlinson has yet to achieve major chart hits stateside like some of his bandmates, his focus on personal projects like his 28 clothing line suggests he’s not solely driven by traditional pop crossover success. With a couple more albums and tours, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him making the jump to arenas in the near future. Louis Tomlinson’s solo career may have had a rocky start, but it’s shaping up to be perfectly suited for him in the long run.

Source: Billboard