Louis Tomlinson says new song about late One Direction bandmate Liam Payne will be 'challenging to sing live' as he details how grief influenced his new album

Louis Tomlinson said his new song about his late One Direction bandmate Liam Payne will be 'challenging to sing live.' 

As he detailed how grief influenced his latest album, the singer, 34, admitted there 'aren't enough words' to describe how it feels but hopes that certain songs will 'have the power to heal.'

Louis returned with a third LP, How Did I Get Here?, last week, and said it was 'really difficult to write anything else' after Liam tragically died aged just 31 in October 2024, after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina.

Joining Apple Music's Zane Lowe at Apple Music Studios in Los Angeles, he said: 'When something like that happens in your life, it's really difficult to write anything else. I remember the first time that I experienced grief. 

'How can you write a love song when you're feeling the feelings that you're feeling? It feels so unimportant to everything that's going around in your head. 

'So, yeah, there are definitely moments where I've written about him kind of directly and then other moments that are a bit more subconscious.'

Louis added: 'But it's also not something I want to over-explain because, it won't be too hard for people to join the dots. 

'Those type of songs, that should be completely open to interpretation because I do think they have power to heal.

'So I wouldn't want to over-explain anything like that. People will find what they need in that kind of feeling, you know.

Zane said he was 'deeply moved' by Louis' new song Dark To Light, in which the heartbreaking lyrics explore if he could have done more to help someone in need.

Louis said: 'I really appreciate that because it's a really intimidating concept to entertain. Definitely because there aren't enough words really to explain love like that. 

'But it certainly is one of the songs on the record that, pretty much every time I hear it, there'll be a moment where I get goosebumps and drift off in my head and have a little think about it. 

'It'll probably be a challenging one to do live, but it is still one that I want to do live. It feels it that feels like a very authentic snapshot to my love.' 

In the track, Louis emotionally sings: 'It's over before it ends. No phoenix in the flames. There's only empty photographs.'

He continues: 'Is there anything that I can do? I wish you could see how you look in my eyes, one more time. Would it make a difference? Would it make you smile? Could it bring you from dark to light?

'And I can't carry this weight for long. But I'm not over it already.'

Fans also said how, 'phoenix in the flames' could be a nod to Liam's appearance on Rita Ora's 2018 Phoenix Tour as they performed their duet 'For You' together.

The Sun reports that the track's title is thought to be a subtle reference to a tattoo Liam got in 2023, which read 'here dark meets light'. 

The publication added that Liam's family were made aware of the track's lyrics before it was released on Friday.

Speaking about the track, Louis recently said: 'That's one I don't want to go into like proper, proper detail about really, but it definitely came from a very sentimental and heartfelt place. But also sonically the album really needed a song like that.

'The album reflects my past few years and my attempt to maintain a positive outlook despite everything.'

He previously opened up about the moment he was told of Liam's death during a podcast appearance on Steven Bartlett's The Diary Of A CEO.

Louis said: 'I was in the car in LA and I just dropped my son Freddie off for school and I was just pulling up back home. 

'I actually found out through Niall, and he told me and yeah, he said something like, "Lads have you seen the news?" and I think I knew what he meant.  

So far, Louis, whose 2022 album Faith In The Future secured number one in the UK, has released three singles for his new album How Did I Get Here?, titled Imposter, Palaces and Lemonade.