Optimism, Overcoming Hardships, And Timing: Louis Tomlinson Is At His Most Confident On ‘Faith In The Future’

Posted On November 11, 2022

Samantha Colleran, November 2022 

I consider Louis Tomlinson to be the underdog of One Direction, and an underdog in the industry in general. Always fighting for creative control, overcoming some of the most intense obstacles in life for someone considerably young, and simply waiting for his time to truly be able to shine. His 2020 debut Walls solidified his solo career, and his 2022 world tour that was postponed a number of times finally allowed him the opportunity to get out on the road and show people just how special of a performer he is. On Faith In The Future, we see Louis truly come into his own and find his footing in his solo career. His confidence oozes out of every lyric, every instrument pushes the album forward, and it’s clear he knows this is where he’s meant to be musically. 

Faith In The Future has been a phrase Louis has shared with fans for some time now, and it’s a phrase that best sums up the overall message Louis wanted to get out to an audience. It’s being stuck in a tough situation but knowing there are bigger and better things to come. It’s letting go of expectations and allowing the universe to work in mysterious ways to bring you to the path you’re meant to follow. Between very public personal struggles and behind the scenes industry battles we may never know the full details of, Louis has persevered through so much hardship, it’s incredible to see him in a position where he can still trust that things will work out the way they’re meant to; the message rings clear throughout all sixteen tracks of Faith In The Future. 

If you’re unfamiliar with Louis’ songwriting style, it’s very straightforward storytelling. We get a clear picture of what he’s singing about, but as someone who came from a very humble beginning it’s easy to put yourself in his shoes and relate to his music. The first single off of the album released in early September, “Bigger Than Me”, establishes the message of letting go of self doubt and taking initiative to become the person you’re meant to be. Resistance to change is something anyone can relate to, but seeing the way Louis learns to embrace the change is really powerful. “Out Of My System” is a fast paced track reminiscent of an old Arctic Monkeys deep cut where Louis finds his footing, realizes just how much he still has to offer as a musician, and he takes control. “I am only half of what/ I think I could be/ Gotta get it out of my system/ Gotta get it off of my chest”. 

“Silver Tongues” was the final single released before the album came out today, and it immediately became a fan favorite. Starting off with a ballad-like intro, Louis sets up the story of being with someone who understands him in ways no one else does. It quickly picks up, the piano becoming bouncier as the drums sneak in and make your heart race. It’s an upbeat moment on the album and will certainly be a highlight during his live shows. Once again, the confidence is evident, “We stand up tall and beat our chest/ We shout some things that we’ll regret/ Sit down with a master plan”. This is a song you want to scream with friends on wild nights out where you know you’re making memories that you’ll talk about for ages. 

The album opens up with “The Greatest”, which is very fitting for the tone of Future. It’s very gritty and almost industrial sounding, but so sure of itself. Whether he’s singing about a partner or to fans, it’s a strong statement about who Louis has become through the years. Ups and downs, highs and lows, Louis and his person, or his dedicated fanbase (“It’s you and me until the end” immediately reminded me of his “I need you, you need me” speech he makes during his live shows), are the greatest together. He’s worked through the hard stuff to get to this point in his career, and it’s so relieving to see someone who has fought so hard in life to come out on top for a change. 

“Written All Over Your Face” can only be described as sexy! Louis’ vocals are ultimately at their best on this track as the sultry “Hey, babe/ It’s written all over your face, say it” fills your ears. The instrumentals are punky, the tension between Louis and the person of interest builds up perfectly during the verses. If you’re a fan of Wet Leg’s “Wet Dream”, this song has a similar vibe. “When we’re finished saying nothing/ Can we please get back to loving?/ When it’s good, it’s really something/ Can we please get back to us?” Louis sings on the second verse. It’s smooth in its delivery, and it’s been stuck in my head since I first heard it.

“Lucky Again” is a softer track that lets Louis’s songwriting abilities to truly shine. It’s hopeful; in life he’s been lucky, and it’s a reminder that good things are always on the horizon, he’ll be lucky again soon. He lost himself in the shuffle of life but found his way back to who he’s meant to be, and it encourages others who are in tough situations to find things that get them through the darkest night. It’s lost time, finding your way back to yourself, and finding comfort in that journey. “All This Time” follows a similar path, and Louis’ voice is at its most vulnerable on this track. Sometimes things can get tough and you lose hope, but finding friends and true relationships in life make hardships worth getting through. A personal note, this song reminds me a lot of “World, Hold On” by Bob Sinclair; I’ve talked about this song in a post for my Uncle Timmy, but something about the instrumentals and the hopefulness of the lyrics really stuck with me. I found “All This Time” to be familiar and comforting for that reason. 

“Chicago” highlights a relationship that “just wasn’t meant to be”, but Louis looks back on it in a positive light. He wonders what this person is up to now, if they think about him, and emphasizes that although things didn’t work out between the two he’s grateful for the time they shared together, “Just because it didn’t work doesn’t mean it’s meaningless to me/ It just wasn’t meant to be”. “Face The Music” packs a powerful punch right off the bat “Good and bad and right and wrong/ A story’s made up when we’re young to scare us/ Love and hate are in-between/ Depends on your reality to see them”. Louis wants to stay in this moment, he puts himself first and decides to take a risk and do what he wants in life, “I don’t wanna face the music, but I still wanna dance with you”. The drums are heavy on this track, it’s meant to rock stadiums. 

“Headline” sees the end of a relationship because the other person read Louis like a headline, “So fast to judge in error, you thought you knew me better”. Louis once again looks back on this relationship with the shortest forever in a thankful way. Although things didn’t work out because they didn’t get to know each other well enough, Louis finds himself waking up and hoping this person was still beside him. The instrumentals are so unique on this track, it’s upbeat and a bit groovier than Louis’ usual style. On the topic of straying away from typical styles, “She Is Beauty, We Are World Class” feels like a song you’d hear on a night out. The lyrics are a bit more abstract compared to Louis’ typical writing style, but it’s amazing to see just how free he’s become when writing; “Fabricated fairytales/ Bring a new world to life/ Sit down, sit down in the space and time”. 

“Saturdays” is a pivotal moment on the album where we see Louis really shine. It starts off slow as Louis sets up the scenario; he’s out late and sees someone wearing the same trainers the person of interest wore when they walked out the door. Much like “Chicago”, he’s wondering what this person has been up to, and highlights the fact that change is inevitable. It’s haunting in its delivery, but so deep and beautiful as the chorus of “We always used to say/ “Saturdays take the pain away”” fills your ears. Optimistic as always, Louis chants “My heart might be broken/ But I won’t be broken down”, which feel like a callback to tracks on Walls such as “Don’t Let It Break Your Heart”. Louis rises like a phoenix through the ashes and accepts that “some things change”, and change is okay. 

“Common People” is an acoustic song that pays homage to Louis’ hometown, Doncaster. He’s always prided himself on his upbringing, and it’s so sweet to see him show some love to his roots. Strangers with “no deep pockets, but big hearts” sing your name, a small town where Louis learned from heartbreaks and mistakes, Doncaster is where he goes whenever he needs to remind himself of who he is. It circles back to the theme of coming back into yourself, and it’s such a lovely song anyone who grew up in a small town can relate to. “Angels Fly” is a song that feels like being wrapped up in a big hug. It’s about putting pain behind you and growing from the hardships. “If every star is an eye in the sky/ You’ll see, angels fly”, is a sweet sentiment, and it’s a reminder there’s always someone looking out for you. 

We come to the end of the album with “Holding Onto Heartache” and “That’s the Way Love Goes”. “Holding Onto Heartache” is one of the best songs lyrically on the album which sees Louis clinging to a past relationship. You can feel the raw emotion in his voice on the bridge, which contains some of the most vivid imagery I’ve ever heard in a song. Hearing the lines “You know the party’s over/ When you’re standin’ in an empty space alone/ And time can always heal you/ If you let it make its way into your bones” for the first time left me in complete shock, something about the way he delivers these lines cuts so deep. It’s so vulnerable, but there’s still so much confidence in his voice. “That’s the Way Love Goes” rounds out the album, where we see Louis talking to a friend who’s going through a tough breakup. It’s conversational and so personal; it feels as if Louis is talking directly to you as he dishes out advice about moving on despite the fact it may be hard. It’s another acoustic song that shows growth on Louis’ part; he’s come to recognize that some things in life are inevitable such as heartbreak, but having a solid group of people to pull you through the rough patches will always make things a little easier to navigate. 

Sam’s Song Selection

It feels impossible to choose among all of these songs. Every track on this album is so unique and can stand alone, but together it’s a cohesive body of work that feels so good to listen to. For the sake of this post, I’m choosing three, but please know this decision was a challenge and I encourage you to listen to this entire album top to bottom. 

1. “Written All Over Your Face”: I love the chorus so much, the lyrics are so catchy and the instrumentals are top tier. It’s the song that best shows the musical direction Louis is following, and I know this song will be absolutely incredible live. 

2. “All This Time”: Simply because it reminded me of “World, Hold On”. The lyrics are simple but effective, and Louis’ voice sounds heavenly on this track. 

3. “Saturdays”: I think this song showcases so much of Louis’ talent; the instrumental buildup is absolutely stunning and you can feel the emotion in Louis’ voice. 

This album is already in my top two favorite releases of 2022, and I know it’ll move up on my list of favorite albums relatively quickly. Louis has never sounded more sure of himself, he’s grown so much in the time since Walls was released and it’s evident he’s proud of that growth. 

If you’ve listened to Faith In The Future, let me know your thoughts in the comments! If you haven’t listened yet, run to your favorite streaming service and give it some time, then come back and let me know your favorite song! The biggest congratulations to Louis on the release of such a bold, confident album, I can’t wait to see these songs live in 2023!