Louis Tomlinson credits Costa Rica for his breezy new album

Louis Tomlinson has shared that a writing trip to Costa Rica played a major role in shaping his “breezy” third solo album How Did I Get Here?.

The former One Direction singer will release the follow-up to 2022’s “mildly dark” Faith in Nature on January 23, 2026, and explained how the warm and vibrant surroundings of Costa Rica helped guide the record’s sound.

Speaking in a cover feature for Rolling Stone UK, Louis described the album by saying: “I want it to feel like a snapshot of the confidence I have now, but breezy really is the perfect way to say it.

“It has been such a long time since, both in work and in life, I have been able to carry myself with a little more lightness. Hopefully you can hear that in the music.”

During the process, Louis slowed down and spent meaningful time building his connections with collaborators Nico Rebscher, David Sneddon and Theo Hutchcraft. He explained that for the first time, he feels supported by a creative circle that lifts him up.

He said: “What that does for me is give me real trust and belief in the people around me. It is not about – and I have had so many sessions like this in the past – being stuck in a room where the main goal is to force out a hit single. Of course, everyone needs to make a living, but those moments can leave you feeling like just a cog in a machine rather than working with someone who truly wants the best for the record.”

He added: “Since my days in One Direction, I have been trying to find this kind of team feeling.

“It is the same with my live band when we tour – everything we do is as a group, and that unity means the world to me.”

Louis admitted that several songs from the upcoming record would not exist without the trip to Costa Rica.

He explained: “As I have got older, I have started leaning into more free-spirited ideas. I loved the thought of soaking up that environment and letting it guide the music. I honestly do not think songs like Lemonade, Sunflowers and Lazy would have been written without being in Costa Rica.”