Harry Styles' 'Aperture' Review: Not Trying So Hard Pays Off on Giddy New Single
Pop superstar Harry Styles has made a triumphant return with his latest single, 'Aperture', a sprawling house and dance-influenced track that yearns for adventure and captures the mood of new beginnings. Released as the first preview of his upcoming album Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally, due in March 2026, the song marks his first major musical offering in four years since Harry's House.
A Journey from Liminal Spaces to Roman Streets
In the time since his last album, Styles has kept remarkably busy, embarking on a globe-spanning tour, shooting films, winning Grammy awards, and immersing himself in la dolce vita in Italy. He has been spotted strolling Rome's black cobblestones and even visiting the Vatican after a haircut, embracing a Roman Holiday-esque spontaneity. This period of exploration has clearly influenced his new work.
In interviews promoting the single, Styles explained that his fourth album draws inspiration from a desire to escape the liminal spaces – airport lounges and hotel rooms – that had become grimly familiar. 'Aperture' perfectly encapsulates this spirit of adventure, simmering with a barely contained curiosity that feels like stepping into a strange city or entering a club full of strangers.
Musical Influences and Production
Produced with longtime collaborator Kid Harpoon, the track owes a debt to Swedish pop icon Robyn – who will open for Styles during his Amsterdam residency later this year – and to LCD Soundsystem, both masters of the delayed-gratification slow build. The opening features funereal, organ-like synth notes that create a bittersweet backdrop as Styles enters with a vocoded murmur, so intimate it feels as though he's resting his head on your shoulder.
A stronger beat eventually kicks in, becoming the heart of the song and sending currents of energy into the dark. "Go forth, ask questions later," Styles instructs, urging listeners to embrace the unknown. The lyrics, typical of his post-One Direction style, deal in vignettes and half-phrases, leaving room for personal interpretation. Lines like "I've no more tricks up my sleeve/ Game called review the player" and "Time codes and Tokyo scenes/ Bad boys, it's complicated" are delivered in layered harmonies.
A Sprawling Five-Minute Evolution
At five minutes long, 'Aperture' is a sprawling track that shifts and evolves, mirroring the heady unpredictability of a night out with no plans. The final syllable loops into a refrain, pulling listeners into a sudden, dizzying synth flurry that bursts into clarity in the chorus: "We belong together/ It finally appears it's only love." It's a giddy rush that feels over as soon as it begins, yet leaves a lasting impression.
In an industry often insistent on giving fans more of the same, artists like Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, and Rosalía have been pushing back with songs that stray from traditional structures. Styles appears intent on joining them, as 'Aperture' challenges norms with its evolving form and thematic depth.
Sincere Without Being Soppy
Perhaps most importantly, the track doesn't feel as though it's trying as hard as some songs on Harry's House, which occasionally leaned into funk and soul bombast that seemed to beg for approval. 'Aperture' is sincere without being soppy, playful but not annoyingly so. It suggests Styles is off on another adventure, inviting listeners to come along if they wish.
With its blend of romance, dancing, and curiosity, 'Aperture' stands as a compelling preview of Styles' upcoming album, promising more innovative and adventurous music to come.
