Photo: Getty Images
Harry Styles is opening up about his return to music and the meaning behind his new single "Aperture."
The musician, 31, spoke with Sisanie and Tanya Rad for a new interview with On Air with Ryan Seacrest where he shared the inspiration behind "Aperture," the lead single from his upcoming album Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally., out March 6. After the hosts pointed out the theme of light on the track as well as the album cover, which features a disco ball, Styles explained that he wanted "Aperture" to be the first song fans heard from the record because it is a good representation of where he is in life.
"To me, the first song — and the a lot of the album in general, but 'Aperture' in particular — the reason why it's called 'Aperture' is like you control how much light you let into your life," he said. "The start of this year, I just decided to say 'yes' to everything and the momentum of that has brought so many positive things in a lot of different ways into my life. It's been a really beautiful time in my life for that. That's kind of why this song was the one I wanted to start with because it was a big time change for me."
He added, "There's nothing more fulfilling as a musician than putting out a song that you feel like represents where you're at in your life."
Styles, who recently announced his upcoming album Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally., also explained why he felt now was the right time for him to come back with new music, four years after his last album Harry's House.
"Honestly, the last two years, in particular, of my life has been a lot about being on the other side of the audience experience," he said. "So many years of my life has been spent touring, where it's been me on the stage, and I think the last couple years I had a really nice opportunity to be a true audience member and remind myself how special it is to be experiencing live music with strangers and dancing and singing with them and what that feeling is about."
He continued, "I think for me, wanting to play the music and feeling ready to do that, like I'm ready to play this in a room and play it loud and dance with people, that kind of was the catalyst to say I'm ready to start thinking about putting this out in the world."
Styles, who has taken a break from music since wrapping up his Love On Tour in 2023, doesn't take for granted the love he has been getting from fans since confirming his return and supporting him "wherever I'm at in the moment."
"I think when you go away for a long time, I don't assume there's people waiting when you come back, necessarily. I think even since announcing the album and stuff, I've felt so loved by them and it's made me feel like really wonderful and full and that I'm coming back for the right reason because there's a group of amazing people that I want to play music for."
The "As It Was" singer hopes his music strikes a chord with listeners and that the safety found through vulnerability that he weaves in his lyrics can "[encourage] you to have your own experiences."
"I've been really excited about the music since I finished the album," he said. "I'm kind of coming to this at the best place in my life so I feel ready to do and ready to put it out and excited share it with everyone."
Listen to "Aperture" on iHeartRadio.