Harry Styles is back and better than ever, having just dropped his new single 'Aperture' and announced his highly anticipated global residency tour, 'Together, Together'. To celebrate the news, Styles chatted with BBC Radio 1's Greg James in an exclusive interview that revealed a lot about what's been on his mind during the recording process.
At the heart of it all is the playful title of his new album, 'Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally', which Styles likens to "drink water all the time, but you're gonna have to pee occasionally." He jokingly suggests that just as we can take a break from drinking water when nature calls, we can also step away from kissing to disco and enjoy its occasional delights.
The inspiration behind 'Aperture' is no laughing matter. Styles says it was influenced by classic pop songwriting but drew on the likes of LCD Soundsystem and English post-punk band The Durutti Column for a sonic departure that feels both joyous and immersive. He recounts having been immersed in these experiences himself, watching LCD Soundsystem perform at festivals and feeling the energy they brought to their stage.
This newfound appreciation for live performances is what led Styles to take a step back from touring after 169 dates on 'Love On Tour' in 2023. Instead of being on stage, he found solace in being an audience member – "the most important thing was about getting on the other side of the audience experience." This newfound appreciation for the live show and its emotional highs has inspired him to create music that feels more authentic than ever.
When asked if it's easy to blend into a crowd when you're used to being in one, Styles quips that "when it's dark enough and music is loud enough it's quite easy actually." This reminds us that sometimes the best moments come from stepping outside our comfort zones.
As for how 'Aperture' came together, Styles reveals that the song was the last track completed for the LP. He credits the recording process with being a time of "exploring the themes" and feeling "the freest and having a lot of fun," which culminated in creating something that felt like the mission statement of what the album is about.
And speaking of albums, Styles has revealed that he's been on quite the adventure since his last tour ended. He's popped up unexpectedly at festivals, helped out with fan encounters, and even found himself in the midst of history when Pope Leo XIV was revealed to the world in May 2025. As he recounts, "I was getting a haircut in Rome and then I heard all these people start shouting 'Habemus Papam!'... it was wild."
The anticipation is building for Styles' 'Together, Together' tour, which kicks off on May 17 at Amsterdam's Johan Cruyff Arena before making its way to Wembley Stadium, São Paulo, Mexico City, and more. With new music in the works and a newfound sense of purpose behind his creative endeavors, Harry Styles is back and better than ever.
At the heart of it all is the playful title of his new album, 'Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally', which Styles likens to "drink water all the time, but you're gonna have to pee occasionally." He jokingly suggests that just as we can take a break from drinking water when nature calls, we can also step away from kissing to disco and enjoy its occasional delights.
The inspiration behind 'Aperture' is no laughing matter. Styles says it was influenced by classic pop songwriting but drew on the likes of LCD Soundsystem and English post-punk band The Durutti Column for a sonic departure that feels both joyous and immersive. He recounts having been immersed in these experiences himself, watching LCD Soundsystem perform at festivals and feeling the energy they brought to their stage.
This newfound appreciation for live performances is what led Styles to take a step back from touring after 169 dates on 'Love On Tour' in 2023. Instead of being on stage, he found solace in being an audience member – "the most important thing was about getting on the other side of the audience experience." This newfound appreciation for the live show and its emotional highs has inspired him to create music that feels more authentic than ever.
When asked if it's easy to blend into a crowd when you're used to being in one, Styles quips that "when it's dark enough and music is loud enough it's quite easy actually." This reminds us that sometimes the best moments come from stepping outside our comfort zones.
As for how 'Aperture' came together, Styles reveals that the song was the last track completed for the LP. He credits the recording process with being a time of "exploring the themes" and feeling "the freest and having a lot of fun," which culminated in creating something that felt like the mission statement of what the album is about.
And speaking of albums, Styles has revealed that he's been on quite the adventure since his last tour ended. He's popped up unexpectedly at festivals, helped out with fan encounters, and even found himself in the midst of history when Pope Leo XIV was revealed to the world in May 2025. As he recounts, "I was getting a haircut in Rome and then I heard all these people start shouting 'Habemus Papam!'... it was wild."
The anticipation is building for Styles' 'Together, Together' tour, which kicks off on May 17 at Amsterdam's Johan Cruyff Arena before making its way to Wembley Stadium, São Paulo, Mexico City, and more. With new music in the works and a newfound sense of purpose behind his creative endeavors, Harry Styles is back and better than ever.
it's like he's finally found his vibe after that 169 date tour last year 
seriously tho the title of his album 'kiss all the time. disco, occasionally' is so on point lol its like drinking water but you gotta pee sometimes, u feel? 
anyway harry's been super open about what inspired him and i love how he talks about feeling the energy at lcd soundsystem shows 
and now he's using that inspiration to create music that feels more true to himself... it's all about being authentic and having fun with his new album 
it's like he's tapping into this whole other vibe that's so infectious! i love how he's drawing inspiration from classic pop songwriting, lcd soundsystem, and the durutti column - it's clear he's on a roll. I'm also loving his approach to music creation now - it feels super authentic and heartfelt. And can we talk about how charming he is when talking about his creative process? 
he's got this effortless way of making you want to dive into his world. and let's be real, the fact that he stepped back from touring to just enjoy live performances and then came out with a new album is just a testament to how passionate he is about what he does. I'm so ready for the 'Together, Together' tour - May 17 can't come soon enough 
and now i'm thinking about getting a cut like harry styles' 
pope leo xiv being revealed was wild lol 
who is habemus papam again tho? 
"aperture" sounds kinda cool tho, might check it out 
this whole residency tour thing is gonna be lit though, can't wait to see him perform live 
! i love how he's talking about taking breaks from being 'on' all the time, just like we do with drinking water 
. it makes sense that after touring nonstop, he'd want to recharge and appreciate live shows from a different perspective.
anyway, glad he's back with a new tour, can't wait to see him slay the stage again 
I'm also loving the idea that he's taking a step back to appreciate the live show more - as someone who's been to a few concerts, it's crazy how much energy you can get from just watching the performers 
... it sounds like he was burned out or something. Now he's finding solace in watching live performances instead of doing them, which is kinda interesting 
idk what it is but its like he took all these influences from lcd soundsystem and the durutti column and mashed them into one track that just gets u movin 
can't wait for the tour to start btw 
i'm also low-key freaking out about his live show, he's always been my fave performer, now it sounds like he's even more invested in creating this immersive experience for us... what a dream come true! 
the way he talks about stepping away from touring to appreciate the audience experience is so relatable 
can't wait to see him live on tour 