Never before have we been able to link pop boy band, teenage girl heart throb Harry Styles with such a mash of genres resulting in a beautifully alternative disco funk sound, bringing in a whole new host of unlikely fans to this greatly deserving music sensation. The individuality convulsing from this album is infectious with its experimental electronic beats and mix of styles and themes.
On 6th March ‘Kiss All The Time, Disco Occationally’ was released featuring 12 funk filled tracks guiding listeners through, what could be accurately described as, a play on 80s new wave disco that causes a reflex of body boogying, to a sweet juxtaposition of simple yet powerful tunes outlining the abundance of imposter syndrome felt by our 16 year old One Direction sensation.
Before the drop of the album, Harry released his lead single “Aperture” which received mixed reviews from fans, unsure of his direction with this first piece of music. The song is confusing and alternative in a way fans perhaps were not expecting and seemed harsh and outlandish without the support of the rest of the album. I, as a fan myself, can relate in that feeling of insecurity in what the new album may have brought, but can happily say I’ve been blown away by the way the album supports this new direction Harry’s career seems to be developing in.
Styles performed this lead single at the Brits 2026, producing a visually stunning performance, beginning with Harry’s abstract dancing in a group of young men, capturing interest and some questions about the progression of the piece. Harry is then seen moving to the beat of the music, much like the song encourages at home listeners to, creating a sense of solidarity between the artist and his audience. Styles not only performs, but understands and feels the music in a way that is relatable to the people that love him and his work. In a way, he becomes one of us, lost in the waves of the music. He is then joined by a chorus of singers, further pushing the narrative that he is in fact just as any other music lover, lost in a crowd of faces smiling and bodies grooving. His involvement with the mass of people sharing the stage supports the notion of the album as a whole, that he feels like one small person in the sea of his passions and is, on occasion overcome with the sense of imposter syndrome his widespread popularity has brought him. It’s a perfect visual representation of the message Harry is attempting to resemble to us, as an audience.
This album is the perfect answer to Styles’ almost two year break after 12 years of non stop music making, and his last musical appearance at his 2023 Love On Tour. As Harry took his final bow in Italy, fans were mixed with feelings of both rejoice and despondency at the sudden break from the relentless work Harry Styles has been producing ever since his teenage years. While this music has been incredibly influential and absolutely art to bring generations of people together, it would be almost silly to consider the velocity in which this art has been produced not to be burnout fuel. Almost two years after Styles’ “career break” began, out he comes with, what a lot of fans are considering, the best album of his to date. The long break in which Harry Styles has been somewhat ‘MIA’ seems to have payed off a great deal, as now, Styles’ worldwide scope of fans can drown in the rejoice of Harry’s flip in styles from the mass success of his pop boy band and three similar sell out pop albums to his new found dizzying, rhythmic, electronica genre.
Tracklist:
- Aperture
- American Girls
- Ready, Steady, Go!
- Are You Listening Yet?
- Taste Back
- The Waiting Game
- Season 2 Weight Loss
- Coming Up Roses
- Pop
- Dance No More
- Paint By Numbers
- Carla’s Song
In special mention, Styles’ apparent feelings of ‘imposter syndrome’ are heavily felt in his second to final song ‘Paint By Numbers,’ a raw yet beautifully vivid representation of the harsh feelings being thrust into the industry with little prior warning he experienced in his young adulthood. As proved, Harry is an extinguished hard worker and puts his entire being into the music he creates, this song puts this into perspective and tells us how lucky he feels to be able to produce the music he does, but how he feels he is still learning and the pressure is a lot to have to cope with.
“Oh what a gift it is to be noticed, but it’s nothing to do with me…”
Amelia is a passionate writer who has an all round passion for music, from journalism to photography and creating music herself. She is excited by new opportunity and aims to bring a new aspect and perspective to Pop Scoops take on the music scene.
