Louis William Tomlinson ( LOO-ee TOM-lin-sən; born Louis Troy Austin; 24 December 1991) is an English singer-songwriter. Born and raised in Doncaster, England, Tomlinson auditioned for British singing competition The X Factor as a solo artist in 2010, where he and four rejected solo contestants were placed into a group which became the British-Irish band One Direction, one of the best-selling boy bands of all time. Following the group's hiatus in 2016, Tomlinson released "Just Hold On" with Steve Aoki as his debut solo single in December 2016. It peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart and was certified platinum in the UK. In 2017, he released "Back to You" with American singer Bebe Rexha and "Miss You". He appeared on Debrett's 2017 list of the most influential people in the UK. In 2018, he appeared on the fifteenth series of The X Factor as a judge and a mentor of the "Boys" category. Tomlinson's debut solo studio album, Walls, was released in January 2020, where it debuted at number 4 in the UK and number 9 on the US Billboard 200. Tomlinson's second studio album, Faith in the Future, was released in November 2022, where it debuted at number 1 in the UK and number 5 on the US Billboard 200. Tomlinson commenced his Faith in the Future World Tour in May 2023, which received critical acclaim and earned a nomination for best Live Act from Rolling Stone at their inaugural Rolling Stone UK Awards. His documentary film, All of Those Voices (2022), gained positive reviews from critics. Tomlinson's third album, How Did I Get Here?, also debuted at number 1 in the UK and received generally positive reviews. Praised for his lyricism, Tomlinson's musical style has been described as indie pop, Britpop, and indie rock, among others. Tomlinson has been involved in philanthropy since 2010, donating millions of pounds towards charities and participating in causes such as Soccer Aid. Tomlinson launched streetwear brand "28" in August 2023, incorporating his native White Rose of York into branding. He is the curator of the Away From Home Festival, an indie music festival.
