#musicweek22

[dailytomlinson]

I could have had a meet and greet for the seven months I’ve just been on tour and it would have been amazing money… but the bottom line is, whoever’s got the richest parents or the most money gets a better experience, and that’s not fair.

Louis about doing Meet & Greets to Music Week.

[dailytomlinson]

MusicWeek: ICYMI @Louis_Tomlinson on his solo career, Syco, new BMG deal, album collaborators, One Direction and fair prices for fans #FaithinTheFuture

[dailytomlinson]

Definitely, yeah, and it's a good point. Around halfway through making Walls, I had a conversation with my manager at the time, because I [was thinking about] a number of things, the sessions I was going into and the natural perception and judgement around coming out of a band like One Direction... I had this plan in my mind that was, not quite like a Gorillaz kind of vibe, but something where I could hide who I am, and maybe people like the song first, and then be surprised that it's me. I definitely went through that process in my head. I mean, I might still do it one day, I do like the idea. [I.: Where did that idea come from?]  From the fact that I felt frustrated about the perception and the judgement I'm always going to be up against. I understand that I've lived long enough now, that's why I have to play the long game, but it’s about chipping away at this idea of me as a solo artist and someone coming out of a band.

Faith In The Future sounds in parts like a record made by a band rather than a solo act. Have you ever thought about doing something like that, rather than under your own name?, Music Week

[dailytomlinson]

Louis Tomlinson doesn’t want your pity, but he does want recognition

MusicWeek on Louis

[dailytomlinson]

I’m sure Syco would have been over the moon if I was willing to make a more commercial, down the middle record. There have been times in my career where I’ve thought that maybe I deserve a bit of credit for following what I want to do.

Louis for MusicWeek

[dailytomlinson]

Touring was stressful, we moved the American tour five times throughout the pandemic and we were one of the first world tours to go out early this year. But it was more what we had to put in place because Covid was flying at that point. It was the bubbling, we also had musicians trained up across America ready to fly in and out of shows. At one point in the tour, we had members of the party in isolation in three different states. So it was testament to our touring party and all the agents that we were able to complete the tour without dropping a show. I saw a lot of other tours go down so we were very grateful.

Matt Vines on LTWT for MusicWeek

[dailytomlinson]

It sounds wet, like, I wish it didn’t, but even just meeting Liam [Gallagher] the other day [helped]. Historically he has been such an asshole to so many people – and I love him for it – but he was really, really fucking nice and considerate. And it just meant a lot to me, because there have been times in my career where I’ve been swimming against the tide.

Louis on meeting Liam Gallagher for MusicWeek

[dailytomlinson]

I fell in love with the phrase before lockdown, and before l'd written any of the songs. It's actually a lyric in Mind Games by John Lennon. I love the song, but every time I heard it, that phrase just said something to me.

Louis on picking up the name FITF for MusicWeek

[dailytomlinson]

Louis for Music Week (clean)

[dailytomlinson]

Louis for Music Week.

[dailytomlinson]

I think it probably made sense for both me and Syco to go opposite ways. I had my own frustrations, I’m sure they had their own frustrations with me to a degree. I wasn’t really the traditional Syco artist. So it was a bit of a no-brainer for me really, and I did feel relieved when I was out of that.

Louis on ending with SYCO, via MusicWeek

[dailytomlinson]

Where Louis came from was dominated by airplay, commercial radio and record sales. Now, as an artist on his own, he's been so successful in terms of ticket sales and with the support of the fans, I think he'll continue down that route. People are constantly surprised by the demand. He's got an incredibly successful merchandise business and that's something we're going to look to expand. We're looking to launch some things at some point in the next year, on the clothing side.

Matt Vines on Louis for MusicWeek

[dailytomlinson]

In terms of One Direction, it’s often easy to stereotype these big evil managers or big evil label heads who demanded that we did this [or that]. It wasn’t really like that, I will say that everyone did their best by us, and I’m talking specifically about our mental health. However, being an artist is very individual and the pressures that you have day-to-day, no manager or record boss understands that. Until you experience it, you don’t understand it. Sometimes words are powerful, it can be a little throwaway phrase that comes from this suited label boss and you think about that for the next couple of months.”

Louis on mental health, via MusicWeek

[dailytomlinson]

In terms of what I think could be better, honestly, there’s too many fucking greedy fuckers. As artists, we can all do a little bit more to help out, with things like ticket prices, merch prices, everything that we put any kind of price on… Those things are really important to me. I could have had a meet and greet for the seven months I’ve just been on tour, and it would have been amazing fucking money. But the bottom line is, whoever’s got the richest parents or the most money gets a better experience, and that’s not fucking fair.”

Louis on making things more affordable for fans, via MusicWeek

[dailytomlinson]

I always knew that I wanted to go solo, but the question was, could I?

Louis to Music Week.

[dailytomlinson]

It's hard to think like that... I don't really compare myself to others. Look, the most important thing for me is that I can keep making the music I love and touring it to the extent I have been. So, in terms of what a dream might be, if I can still be touring in 10 years, I'll be buzzing.

Louis on artists he looks up to in terms of career, Music Week