Kill My Mind Explained

Kill My Mind
Type:single
Cover:Kill My Mind.png
Artist:Louis Tomlinson
Album:Walls
Genre:
Length:3:40
Producer:Jamie Hartman
Prev Title:Two of Us
Prev Year:2019
Next Title:We Made It
Next Year:2019

"Kill My Mind" is a song by English singer-songwriter Louis Tomlinson. It was released on 5 September 2019, as the second single from his debut album, Walls. It is the second single released by Tomlinson on Arista Records since signing with them in early 2019.

Promotion

In June 2019, Louis Tomlinson announced his plans to release music more frequently, stating "At the moment it's three or four months in between, so I think I'm going to do two or three at once and get myself back on the road". On 29 August 2019, he posted the artwork for "Kill My Mind", writing "So happy to finally announce my new single #KillMyMind will be out a week today! Soooooo excited for you all to hear what I've been working on!".[3] It was released a week later, premiering on Hits Radio Manchester.[4]

Background

Tomlinson described "Kill My Mind" as, "a song about having fun and doing silly things when you’re younger," and, "going through an experimental phase in your youth, and doing things that might not be good for you, but they are exciting."[5] He said that "this single is the closest I’ve got in all of my singles to where I feel comfortable. It's the kind of influences that I have and stuff that I listened to growing up. Where I’m at with this single I’m actually really proud and relieved to finally find my place, find my lane musically".[6]

Reception

Rob Copsey of the Official Charts Company wrote that Tomlinson "sounds at his most confident and comfortable yet" on "Kill My Mind", and added that there is "something very turn-of-the-noughties-indie-pop about" it.[7] iHeartRadio's Lindsey Smith described the song as a "punk-influenced track with heavy guitars and drums", and thought that it "really showcases his talent and ability to perform different genres effortlessly".[8] Jason Lipshutz of Billboard described the track as "the song that lets a pop star rock out" and called it "brash, swaggering and catchy as all hell".[9] Writing for MTV, Patrick Hosken said that on "Kill My Mind" Tomlinson "sounds bigger, more stadium-ready, and more like himself than he ever has", described the track as being "bigger, slicker and rockier than anything he [Louis]'s ever done" and called Louis "the Britpop star he was born to be".[10]

Music video

The music video was directed by Charlie Lightening and released on 13 September 2019. It features Tomlinson singing in front of a crowd of fans intercut with scenes of a loved-up couple. Tomlinson said that "conceptually, for “Kill My Mind,” I wanted it to be like all the Oasis videos I love. I wanted it to be more about the performance. Not focusing too much on a narrative and just being lit really well. I think we pulled it off".[11]

Live performances

Tomlinson premiered the track for the first time live at Coca Cola Music Experience in Madrid on 14 September 2019.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: First Impressions: A track-by-track review of Louis Tomlinson's debut solo album 'Walls'. Entertainment.ie. 28 January 2020. 28 January 2020.
  2. Web site: Louis Tomlinson on Starting Over and Life After One Direction. Rolling Stone. Sheffield. Rob. 29 January 2020. 29 January 2020.
  3. Web site: Kaufman . Gil . Louis Tomlinson Announces 'Kill My Mind' Single . . 5 September 2019 . 30 August 2019.
  4. Web site: Dodds . Emma . Louis Tomlinson's brand new single 'Kill My Mind' to have first play on Hits Radio! . . 5 September 2019 . 5 September 2019.
  5. Web site: Louis Returns With Kill My Mind'. 5 September 2019. Simon Jones PR. 26 November 2019.
  6. Web site: EXCLUSIVE: Louis Tomlinson reveals how things are with the One Direction boys now. Dodds . Emma. 5 September 2019. Hits Radio Manchester. 26 November 2019.
  7. Web site: Copsey . Rob . Louis Tomlinson delivers '90s indie-pop nostalgia on new single Kill My Mind: First listen preview . . 5 September 2019 . 4 September 2019.
  8. Web site: Smith . Lindsey . Louis Tomlinson Releases Rock-Inspired Single 'Kill My Mind' . . 5 September 2019 . 5 September 2019.
  9. Web site: First Stream: New Music From Post Malone, Camila Cabello, Louis Tomlinson & More. Billboard. Lipshutz. Jason. 6 September 2019. 26 November 2019.
  10. Web site: Louis Tomlinson sounds like the Britpop star he was born to be on 'Kill My Mind'. https://web.archive.org/web/20190909013835/http://www.mtv.com/news/3138170/louis-tomlinson-kill-my-mind/. dead. September 9, 2019. MTV. Hosken. Patrick. 5 September 2019. 26 November 2019.
  11. Web site: Interview: Louis Tomlinson Talks "Kill My Mind" & Debut Album. Idolator. Hosken. Patrick. 9 September 2019. 26 November 2019.
  12. Web site: Louis Tomlinson Chart History (Sweden Digital Song Sales). Billboard. 14 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191217015735/https://www.billboard.com/music/Louis-Tomlinson/chart-history/SWE. December 17, 2019. January 2, 2022.