Louis Tomlinson Opens Up About His ‘In Love’ Relationship with Zara McDermott Inspiring New Music

Louis Tomlinson has spoken for the first time about his relationship with girlfriend Zara McDermott.

The former One Direction star, 33, revealed the couple’s romance is so intense that it inspired his new album, How Did I Get Here?, set for release in January.

Following her split from Sam Thompson last year, BBC documentary maker Zara, 28, and Louis began dating, and they were first spotted together at a Suffolk hotel in March.

Now, the singer has described himself as a ‘deeply, deeply romantic person’ and says his upcoming record would have had a ‘different feel’ had it not been for his strong connection with Zara.

The pair have tried to keep their relationship private, but this summer Zara shared their first Instagram picture together, showing them passionately kissing and Louis made his feelings clear on the post, writing ‘I love you’ under the image. 

This weekend, the former Love Island contestant also supported her partner at New York’s Away From Home Festival, where he headlined. 

Speaking about his life on Steven Bartlett’s The Diary Of A CEO podcast, Louis said: ‘I’m a deeply, deeply romantic person. It’s also easy to be romantic when you are a creative… I really struggle to write in a fictional sense, I really struggle.

‘For me, I have to have been living it, it has to be real to me. So, if I wasn’t feeling so good, like right now, I wasn’t feeling so in love… the record probably would have a slightly different feel to it.’

He added: ‘One thing I was thinking about with this record, my intention is just to maybe feel good. 

‘I know that’s a really cliché and obvious thing to say, but I’m not sure some of my other music did that. It made you feel, it was honest, it was painful at times, but it didn’t feel good.

‘So, I think now I’ve got this almost new sense of life, a new sense of happiness, and purpose, and fulfilment, all those things.’ 

Louis also reflected on becoming a father for the first time at 24, in an interview set to premiere at select Cineworld cinemas including London’s Leicester Square on Wednesday night. 

The star, who previously dated Eleanor Calder and Danielle Campbell, shares his nine-year-old son, Freddie, with American stylist Briana Jungwirth. 

He said: ‘I was 24 when I had Freddie… I never was intimidated by the idea, I’ve always been excited about it, even from being a young lad.

‘A lot of the emotions that people go through when they’ve become a new parent, some of those will be different for me because I was so excited about the day, but also truthfully, I felt utterly confident.

‘I felt like I was going to be a good dad, I really, really wanted to play that role.’

He added: ‘I’d like to say I’m pretty good with fan photos, I’ll take them eight times out of 10. But whenever I’m with Freddie, there is a 1000 per cent no chance, that is just not happening.’

Louis rose to fame in the boy band One Direction, who were formed on talent show The X Factor in 2010.

His bandmates were Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, and Liam Payne, who tragically passed away last year after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina.

After the band went their separate ways in 2016, Louis embarked on his solo career and says he had to learn how to measure his success in a ‘different way.’

Describing his internal dialogue as a ‘constant battle,’ the singer revealed that overcoming those struggles was something he had been able to share with Liam, as they often had ’emotional’ conversations together.

Speaking to Steven, he said: ‘To be honest, that would only happen between me and Liam. 

‘Between me and the other boys, not that it’s not emotional because it is, and it’s definitely deeper than surface level, but I would struggle to text the other boys as much… it’s just all a bit small talk. Which is lovely, and it’s nice to catch up like that, but me and Liam would always speak on a much deeper level.

‘I feel bad saying this because I feel arrogant, but I shouldn’t, but I wanted to look after him. That was a role I felt like I was there to play.’

Reminiscing on their close friendship, Louis said: ‘I would say he was the closest to being my brother. 

‘Love him deeply, could spend hours and hours and hours with him, but there was an element of always checking in and just making sure that he was cool like that.’ 

Louis says that after years of struggling with ‘imposter syndrome’ following One Direction’s overnight fame, he has finally learned to accept his strengths.

Ahead of his 2026 album, he credits his newfound happiness with allowing him to fully embrace his success as a musician.

He said: ‘I now feel worthy for the success I’ve earned. For a long time, I just didn’t know If I’d ever get there. 

‘And I would say this album is the album that I always deserved to make. I just had to be brave enough to say ‘Yes, I’m an artist. Yes, I’m a recording artist, I’m a touring artist, and I’m a songwriter.’ 

‘These things that sometimes just felt a bit cringe to say out loud, weirdly, I think part of the imposter syndrome maybe, but the picture that was forever quite blurry looks a little bit more sharp now.’

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