Louis Tomlinson, known for being a former member of the iconic boy band One Direction, recently opened up about his least favourite song to perform from his time in the group. In a fan Q&A session with Capital FM to promote his upcoming album “How Did I Get Here?” set to be released in early 2026, the 33-year-old singer revealed that he had a particular aversion to singing the band’s debut single, “What Makes You Beautiful.”
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Despite the massive success of “What Makes You Beautiful,” which catapulted One Direction to international stardom back in 2010, Tomlinson confessed that he found performing the song to be quite challenging. He expressed, “Maybe some people wouldn’t answer this, but I’m not sure there was a single time I performed One Direction’s ‘What Makes You Beautiful’ and enjoyed it. That always felt like a bit of a challenge.”
Alongside sharing his dislike for performing certain hits, Tomlinson also shed light on an unreleased track from his One Direction era that he held dear. The singer reminisced about a song titled ‘Where We Are,’ which he revealed was intended for one of the band’s final albums. Unfortunately, the song was leaked and did not make it onto any official releases, despite Tomlinson’s efforts to have it included.
After the disbandment of One Direction in 2015, each member went on to pursue their solo careers, with the group reuniting in a somber occasion in November 2024 for the funeral of their late bandmate, Liam Payne, who tragically passed away at the age of 31 in October of the same year. Tomlinson shared that he will be collaborating with Zayn Malik on a Netflix series where they embark on a journey across America together.
“How Did I Get Here?” marks Tomlinson’s third studio album following the success of his previous works, “Walls” released in 2020, and “Faith in the Future” in 2022. The album, scheduled for release on January 23, 2026, is anticipated to showcase a more confident and upbeat side of the artist, as seen in the lead single “Lemonade.”
In an interview with Rolling Stone UK, Tomlinson expressed his hopes for the album, stating, “I hope it feels like a reflection of how confident I am, but breezy is a real nice way of putting it. It’s been a long time since, professionally and personally, I’ve been able to have a little spring in my step, so hopefully that comes across in the record.”
Looking towards the future, Tomlinson shared his interest in exploring music management and label assistance later in his career, alongside his passion for supporting artists in their developmental stages. The artist expressed his enthusiasm for this new career path, indicating that it may coincide with his love for golf in his fifties.
As Tomlinson continues to evolve as a solo artist and explore new avenues within the music industry, fans eagerly anticipate the release of his upcoming album and future projects that showcase his growth and versatility as an artist.