The people said that 2016 is back, and Louis Tomlinson gave them what they wanted with an album that echoes his 2010s boy band origins while maturing his solo portfolio.
Released on Friday, “How Did I Get Here?” is the third solo project by the English singer-songwriter, who rose to fame as a member of pop group One Direction.
Tomlinson has openly struggled with imposter syndrome throughout his career. “How Did I Get Here?” is clearly a step forward, with lyrics, vocals and instrumentals coming together in a more confident, realized sound.
This renewed self-assurance is evident from the moment you hit play. Along with adding to the theme of One Direction stars naming songs after fruits, “Lemonade” is an upbeat, guitar-heavy song with echoed backing vocals underlying Tomlinson’s voice. The pop-rock number excellently sets the tone for the album.
The album adopts somewhat of a boy band feel, with most songs including catchy choruses, upbeat accompaniments and fairly simple lyrics. It’s clear that Tomlinson has nearly perfected this formula — the tracks fit together cohesively rather than coming across as copy-pasted versions of each other.
The mix on every song also sounds well-balanced, giving both instrumentals and vocals space to shine, which only adds to the cohesion.
Amplified bass lines add funk to the rough “Imposter” and groove to the laid-back “Sunflowers.” Meanwhile, “Last Night” lets drums and percussion take center stage, even featuring what sounds like a tambourine.
The instruments not only complement Tomlinson’s songwriting, but add dimension to the album’s genres. Guitar parts on “Palaces” and “Broken Bones” create an alternative vibe that differentiates itself from the strictly-pop tracks.
Accompaniments slowly build to amplify “Dark To Light,” a song exploring grief. Some speculate that this song is a tribute to Tomlinson’s former bandmate Liam Payne, with lyrics like “I wish you could see how you look in my eyes / One more time.” Tomlinson chooses to leave the song’s meaning ambiguous, allowing the powerful words and backtracks to speak for themselves.
In addition to being talented producers, Tomlinson and “How Did I Get Here?” co-creators know when to end a song. Most tracks on the album run between 2:30 and 3:00 minutes, getting listeners hooked on the catchy lyrics and riffs without letting the choruses overstay their welcome.
The album as a whole also ends on a beautiful note. Tomlinson reflects on his musical journey and battles with imposter syndrome in “Lucid,” repeating “I’m okay, I know” as the outro dies down.
“How Did I Get Here?” combines Tomlinson’s boy band talent with a more mature, elevated sound. For those missing 2016 but stuck in the present, it’s the perfect listen.
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