Louis Tomlinson has finally opened up about his romance with Zara McDermott — and it turns out love has changed everything for him. The former One Direction singer, 33, revealed that his deep connection with the 28-year-old BBC documentary maker not only healed parts of his heart but also inspired his entire new album How Did I Get Here?, due out in January.
Speaking on Steven Bartlett’s The Diary Of A CEO podcast, Louis confessed he’s “a deeply, deeply romantic person” who can’t write fictionally. “For me, I have to be living it, it has to be real. If I wasn’t feeling so in love right now, the record would have a totally different feel.”
Louis and Zara began dating after her breakup with Made In Chelsea star Sam Thompson last year. They were first spotted together at a Suffolk hotel in March, but only made things public this summer when Zara posted a passionate kissing photo on Instagram — with Louis boldly commenting, “I love you.”
Since then, the couple have been inseparable. Zara was recently seen supporting Louis at his Away From Home Festival in New York, and the pair also attended Glastonbury together before going official online. Louis said this period of love and fulfilment gave him a “new sense of happiness and purpose,” something his past records hadn’t captured.
Reflecting on fatherhood, Louis spoke tenderly about raising his nine-year-old son Freddie with ex Briana Jungwirth. “I was never intimidated by the idea,” he shared. “Even when I was young, I was excited about being a dad — and I felt utterly confident I’d be good at it.”
The singer also reminisced about his bond with late bandmate Liam Payne, calling him “the closest thing to a brother.” He admitted he often checked in on Liam and felt protective over him. “I loved him deeply and always wanted to make sure he was okay.”
After years of battling imposter syndrome following One Direction’s massive fame, Louis now feels deserving of his success. “This is the album I always deserved to make,” he said. “I finally feel worthy — I’m an artist, a songwriter, and a touring musician. The picture’s a lot clearer now.”
