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Sleepy from 3rd STREET in 1975. Use the hashtag for more photos of this varrio.

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Louis Tomlinson releases single and promises to return to South America: "I want to return to that chaos, in the best of the senses"

The former One Direction star is about to release How did I get here, his third studio album, recorded in Costa Rica. The first single, Lemonade, is already on the platforms, surprising with a psychedelic rhythm that moves a little away from the characteristic britpop and rock to which he was used. In a press conference attended by Culto, the singer explained what is coming.

by Emilia Macías | OCTOBER 6, 2025

Louis Tomlinson has just released Lemonade, the first single from what will be his third solo album. In an extravagant and psychedelic bet, accompanied by funky guitars and organic percussion, the Brit launches with force to How Did I Get Here, a new project that arrives to refresh his successful career.

In a recent press conference with Latin America attended by Culto, the former One Direction star discussed his tour through the countries of the Southern Hemisphere during 2024, the personal and musical challenges that this new album meant, and sowed expectations regarding the next release scheduled for January 23, 2026.

"There was a time on the last tour when I was very excited to make the new album. Of course it always excites me, but at that time it was different, it was another kind of emotion because I felt and still feel comfortable with this sound. That helped me have the level of ambition that I think this album needed. Bigger and better from here, which is great," says Tomlinson from Zoom.

Latin inspiration and global projection

To the surprise of many, this album was conceived in Latin American lands. The singer spent time in Costa Rica, a Caribbean country where he worked with Nicolas Rebscher (Aurora, Alice Merton) to compose the first songs and record most of them; from those sessions also emerged Lemonade.

The views and landscapes, along with the Caribbean atmosphere, were an important source of inspiration for the project that Tomlinson had in mind: "There are many countries that I have visited while touring, but at that time there is not much time to walk around. Obviously I have incredible memories of the shows but I never really get to see enough of the place. Costa Rica was on that tourist list, although a long time ago I had the dream of recording something tropical, immersing with the atmosphere and the vibe of the place. Santa Teresa was really perfect for that," he said.

This tropical vibe is reminiscent, in a way, of the Puerto Rican rhythms of the urban genre. It is not far-fetched to think then that there is probably some influence of the globally successful Bad Bunny in this new bet; mixing, of course, the bases of the britpop that characterize his previous albums - with Oasis at the head.

This would also be indicated by the graphic materials: the cover of the single shows the singer in a white plastic chair in the middle of a tropical area, very much like I should have taken more photos. The cover of How did I get here is not far from the concept: Tomlinson walking near an old car, on the left a palm tree, a clear sky and a wild vegetation that stands out in strong orange tones.

Regarding this change of tones, musical and visual, Tomlinson commented that it corresponds to a necessary filter. "I care about the little details. I think of this aesthetic as everything I want it to be. My favorites are always black and red, but I've done that, more than once. It was time then to do something more colorful, bright. I also feel very good about myself right now so I guess it's a reflection of that," he said.

How did I get here: ambition and courage

The third album in a musical career is quite an event. He is no longer an artist with little repertoire, and in Tomlinson's case, he came with a paved road.

Starting his career at the age of 18 with One Direction in X Factor, he continued to explore his own sound, giving himself time and space after the separation in 2015: Walls, his solo debut appeared in 2020 and Faith in the future in 2022.

Now, the experience weighs him down and the challenge is greater, according to his own words: "For this project I wanted everything to feel a step higher, beyond. With the same Lemonade video clip, for example, I wanted it to feel like a level up, expensive, luxurious."

In the midst of the promotion of his second album, in April 2024, Tomlinson talked to Culto about his career. At that moment he commented that he was starting to plan the next launch and that, in very early steps, he wanted him to be braver and more daring.

In this new opportunity, he was asked if he thought he had achieved the task: "I am very proud of that, yes. This album has much more confidence, in me, in my music. Of course, the credit also goes to the producer (Rebscher) and the songwriters who accompanied me."

"I really like my previous albums but, without a doubt, they are trial and error. I was learning and understanding what my own sound was, my place within the industry as a soloist. This was the time to take risks, and I did. I think part of the frustration I felt at some point has to do with not having taken risks," he adds.

About the composition of How Did I Get Here, he assures that it was a more collective process, unlike his previous projects. “We write the songs like a band would. It felt very good and it was refreshing," he said.

Next step: the tour

How Did I Get Here will have its premiere on January 23 next year, but Louis Tomlinson does not rest. Along with the announcement of the new album, the dates of the first presentations of the tour were launched, which already has more than 50 events.

So far this only includes Europe and North America, however, during the press meeting he confirmed that the dates for Latin America will soon be announced: "I love the energy they have. They will not be left out of the tour. I can't wait to return to that chaos, in the best way," he said after recalling some anecdotes from his last tour. The promotion, on the other hand, also played an important role, betting on countries where his music was not used to be advertised on public roads.

His fans, through social networks, deciphered in these spots some messages and glances: "We ventured into this Easter eggs thing. I know that my fans love that and it also makes this period more entertaining. Usually when you are about to release an album there is a lot of pressure, a lot of press and criticism, but I like to give myself time to play, I want all this to be fun."

Less than four months before the release, the singer is confident. He believes in his project and seeks to aim high.

He says that he still feels that he has a lot to give and that these albums always feel like new beginnings and that, of course, he is excited about everything that is coming: "I learned that I always like to be improving and that I need it. It's very easy to stay in comfort and I don't want that for my life or for my career so I keep entering the spaces that serve me," he said.

"I joined TikTok recently. I like to see there and in X the immediate feedback, there is a very beautiful community; when there are no haters, of course," he concluded with a laugh.

LINK TO ARTICLE ON LATERCERA

[missladym1981]

The 5th Pedro was from the 2017 issue of La Tercera newspaper in Santiago, Chile.

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Homeboys from 3rd STREET. Be sure to check the hashtag for more photos of this varrio.

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