Harry Styles' Disco Era Arrives
Harry Styles dropped *Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.* today to major fanfare, with critics praising his blend of existential lyricism and danceable, disco-tinged pop. Standout tracks include "Are You Listening Yet?" and "The Mirrorball in My Head" — reviewers are calling it "funky," "playful," and "deeply personal." The album is already sparking Billboard polls for favorite tracks and climbing US Apple Music with "American Girls" at #4 (+27) and "AYLY?" at #19 (+79).
This new album marks Styles' first full-length project in four years, following the critically acclaimed *Harry's House* (2022). That album, which took home the Grammy for Album of the Year, was a blend of synth-pop, new wave, and pop-funk inspired by 1970s Japanese city pop. The disco direction is a notable evolution from his earlier solo work. His self-titled 2017 debut was rooted in 70s-influenced soft rock and Britpop, while 2019's *Fine Line* leaned into a pop-rock sound with elements of funk and soul. For *Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.*, Styles re-teamed with longtime collaborators Kid Harpoon and Tyler Johnson, who have worked with him on all of his solo albums. The 12-track album also features fresh collaborations, including background vocals from Ellie Rowsell of the rock band Wolf Alice and members of the House Gospel Choir. The album's sound is reportedly propelled by synthesizers, gospel choirs, and orchestral arrangements, with some reviews noting influences from Prince and the early 2000s New York rock scene, including The Strokes and LCD Soundsystem. Styles himself said the lead single "Aperture" was influenced by his time in nightclubs and losing himself in electronic music. Styles' pivot to disco aligns with a broader revival of the genre in pop music over the past several years. Artists like Dua Lipa with *Future Nostalgia* (2020) and Beyoncé with *Renaissance* (2022) have successfully infused disco and house elements into their recent chart-topping projects. To support the album, Styles has announced "Together, Together," a series of concert residencies planned for seven cities. The music video for the track "American Girls" premiered on the album's release date. In a recent interview, Styles described the album as coming from a "place of pure freedom" and an attempt to create the music he would want to dance to himself.
