Singer and songwriter Louis Tomlinson released a documentary titled “All of Those Voices” on March 22. The former One Direction bandmate showed all his cards when discussing his struggles as a solo artist. The film is nostalgic, heartfelt and inspiring, all while making the audience feel as if they are at one of his concerts.
The “history” of it all
Tomlinson auditioned for the British singing competition The X Factor in 2010 when he was 18. When he failed to make it on the show as a solo artist, judge Simon Cowell took him and four other contestants and made them a group. They went on to place third in the competition under Cowell’s guidance. One of the greatest boy bands in history was born that day: One Direction.
Tomlinson and his bandmates Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Liam Payne took the world by storm with One Direction. In their time together, they released five studio albums: “Up All Night,” “Take Me Home,” “Midnight Memories,” “FOUR” and “Made In The A.M.” They sold out almost all their shows during their world tours, topped charts and won 242 awards.
After five years filled with screaming fans and catchy albums, One Direction announced they would be breaking up. Malik had left six months prior to this and set the scene for them to start solo careers. Their last performance was on The X Factor stage on Dec. 13, 2015. Ending their journey together where it first began.
All by himself
The “All of Those Voices” documentary begins right after One Direction went their separate ways and they are beginning their solo careers. While the rest of his bandmates had released singles and/or albums, Tomlinson struggled to find his voice. Soon after the band took their hiatus, Tomlinson’s mother and younger sister passed away. Their deaths added to the feeling that his life was falling apart and he didn’t know how to fix it. Songwriting was the aspect of music he prided himself on. Now nothing was the same as it was.
“I felt like, from that moment, for years I couldn’t win. Life was just against me, and it didn’t want me to succeed. I kept having all of these difficult things to deal with,” said Tomlinson.
He went on to say that he never saw himself as a solo artist. He never wanted to leave One Direction, but everyone else thought it was time to let it go. One Direction made him feel like he was on top of the world, and now he was at the bottom of the pyramid.
Breaking down the “Walls”
Five long years later, on Jan. 31, 2020, Tomlinson released his debut album, “Walls.” The album features hit songs like “Fearless,” “Perfect Now,” “Walls” and “Always You.” The fans quickly fell in love with his new indie-rock sound, and the album debuted at number nine on the US Billboard 200. It received five stars from audience reviews, and Rolling Stone rated it a three out of five.
As the album’s success continued, Tomlinson was busy preparing for his first solo tour. The nerves were settling in and he began doubting his ability to entertain a crowd on his own. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic postponed the tour after the first two shows. The tour did not resume until Feb. 1, 2022.
At the end of “All of Those Voices,” Tomlinson reflects on his musical journey. The constant support from his fans blew him away. He was out of the music industry for so long that he didn’t expect this kind of reaction to his music. People would camp outside the concert location for days to see him. He sold out almost all of his shows. He had found his voice and that meant everything to him.
“I do just feel, like, blessed. Yeah. I do feel like I deserve this. And that’s probably the first time I’ve actually said that out loud,” said Tomlinson.
Mental health matters
The main idea behind “All of Those Voices” was to show the fans a side of Tomlinson they have not seen before. His struggles with becoming a solo act in the music industry after the success of One Direction and grappling with the loss of his mother and sister tore him apart. He lost his voice and didn’t know how to get it back.
It’s refreshing to see a person who has been in the spotlight for so long be so vulnerable with his fans. No one would have known what was happening to him if he hadn’t released this documentary. That is the price of fame: keeping a brave face even when at their lowest. Few celebrities open up about their personal lives, but Tomlinson put it all on the table.
Mental health is a serious issue that most people struggle with. Assuming celebrities don’t have difficult times because of their status is unrealistic. But they are always expected to keep this image of perfection, so they can’t open up about their problems. This narrative needs to change. If more people in the spotlight discussed this subject, there might not be a stigma around mental health.
Where is he now?
“All of Those Voices” is still available in select movie theaters but will most likely leave soon. There have not been any announcements if it will be available on streaming services afterward.
Tomlinson released his second studio album – “Faith in the Future”– on Nov. 11, 2022. Composed of 16 songs, the album debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200 and it is now available on all music streaming platforms.
The Faith in the Future World Tour starts on April 17, 2023, in Osaka, Japan. There are a total of 86 shows across the globe, with the tour ending on Nov. 18, 2023, in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Tickets for the tour are on sale now.
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