Walls is the debut studio album by English singer and songwriter Louis Tomlinson, released on 31 January 2020 through Syco Music and Arista Records. It has spawned five singles: "Two of Us", "Kill My Mind", "We Made It", "Don't Let It Break Your Heart" and "Walls". The album was met with mixed reviews, but was moderately successful commercially. It sold 35,000 copies upon its release. The album debuted at number one in Argentina, Portugal, Mexico and Scotland. It reached the top ten in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Poland, Spain, and the UK, and also debuted and peaked at number nine on the US Billboard 200 chart.
Background
In making the album, Tomlinson stated he had spent "so long on this album" as he "couldn't help but crave a 'hit' single" after a career of "straight down the middle pop". While he started his solo career with the electro-influenced singles "Just Hold On" and "Back to You", after the deaths of both his mother and sister and reflecting on what he wanted, Tomlinson decided that "maybe I should start with what I love and work from there". After finally finding his sound, he managed to come up with an honest album of his thoughts and feelings and release it.
In an interview with Billboard, Tomlinson said that the album is him "just wearing [his] heart on his sleeve, and being honest, reflecting on a breakup", and that "once fans have heard the album, they will see a slightly different side" of him.
Tomlinson announced the album in a video posted to social media, saying he was "really relieved to finally be here" and thanking fans for their patience.
Music and themes
In an interview with Far Out Magazine Tomlinson stated that his album was influenced by such indie rock and britpop bands as Oasis and Arctic Monkeys that he grew up listening to. Lyrically Tomlinson took his inspiration from acts like Alex Turner, Amy Winehouse, Mike Skinner and Sam Fender. The themes of the album range from relationships and family to the folly of Tomlinson's youth and days of self-doubt, go back to his 1D days, recall relationship ups and downs and relate the life lessons learnt on the way to his present life.
The album opens with an indie pop, Britpop track "Kill My Mind", a song written as a "statement of intent. 'This is where I want to be, this is the space I want to move into.'" Guitar-based "Don't Let It Break Your Heart" is "a touching anthem about moving forward in the face of hardship" with "a surging, singalong chorus about losing someone, or perhaps the break-up of a relationship". "Two of Us" is a balladic ode to Tomlinson's late mother Johannah Deakin and the impact her death had on him. "Britpop-tinged" "We Made It" with a strummed acoustic guitar intro describes Tomlinson' pre-fame days, hanging out with his on-and-off girlfriend during his time in One Direction and their teen dreams for the future, while the chorus of the song references Tomlinson's fans and his struggle to find his place in the early days of One Direction. Acoustic guitar driven ballad "Too Young" as well as Oasis-inspired title track "Walls" are written about Tomlinson's temporary breakup with his girlfriend "that ultimately made the pair's relationship stronger." Tomlinson described "Too Young" as the song "about meeting 'the one' aged 18 and, like a lot of blokes that age, not being equipped for it. I found it hard to look that far ahead. I had to make a few mistakes and go down the wrong path to realise what I had and what I thought I’d lost." Tomlinson called "Walls" "more specific" and a song "about coming home having been on tour, soon after we'd split. I found some of my girlfriend’s clothes in the cupboard and it hit me what I’d done." He said that he loves "the indie sound of the song and its circular nature – it opens and closes with the same lyric."