“We belong together”: Harry Styles’ sonically unconventional new album

On March 6 2026, Harry Styles released his fourth studio album – Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally. Announced on January 15, Styles sparked excitement from fans across the globe, making his return to music after the success of his critically acclaimed Harry’s House, released in 2022. Taking a two-year hiatus following the conclusion of Love On Tour in July 2023, Styles focused on his personal life and, in an interview with Zane Lowe from Apple Music, revealed, “the key thing was, while I was away from it all, I missed it”.

The introspective lyrics offer a vulnerability and intimacy as Styles reveals an awareness of his own temporality

Produced by regular collaborators Kid Harpoon and Tyler Johnson, the album has received favourable reviews online, dubbed by Joe Levy from Rolling Stone as “subvert [ ing ] expectations and get [ ting ] weird in delightful ways”. That is exactly what this album does. Unlike anything Styles has ever released before, Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally. creates a sense of nostalgia through the dance-pop, techno style of production, emphasising the importance of togetherness, evident through his ‘One Night Only’ show at Manchester’s Co-op Live played on release day.

The album opens with the lead single ‘Aperture’, released on January 23, its electronic, synth-driven sound immediately evidencing Styles’ shift from his previous work. Debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, the introspective lyrics offer a vulnerability and intimacy as Styles reveals an awareness of his own temporality. “Time won’t wait on me / I wanna know what safe is” highlights this knowledge of life’s relentless pace and a desire to feel safe with someone knowing who he is entirely, not wanting to hide who he is any longer – “I’ve no more tricks up my sleeve”.

The final “It’s only me and you” echoes the idea of ephemerality and the importance of living in the moment

Facing fears of exposure and vulnerability, Styles’ lead single sets the tone for the rest of the album, demonstrating his willingness to step outside of his comfort zone and produce something thoroughly unexpected. The accompanying music video, directed and written by Aube Perrie, supports Style’s desire to step away from conventionality, blurring the lines between reality and the surreal. ‘Aperture’ is, both visually and sonically, a representation of the human desire for connection, to be completely seen and understood.

The second single, ‘American Girls’, was released alongside the album on March 6th, further exploring themes of community through its lyrics, highlighting the growing pressure to settle down which comes with age. The reflective piano chord progression creates an almost hypnotic feeling as Styles looks back on his life and reflects on his future desires. Revealing how “My friends are in love with American girls”, Styles muses on how he sees his life, and his desire for connection with someone, sharing similar themes with ‘Aperture’. The ambiguity and lack of clarity surrounding “A face that knows” suggest that, while he knows what he wants, Styles doesn’t quite know who that person is yet, working cohesively with the lead single to create a unified opening to Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.

It is cohesive and unconventional, adopting a maturer sound as Styles explores themes of togetherness, ageing, and love

Despite the predominantly techno, dance-pop feel to the album, with the electronic baseline of ‘Ready, Steady Go!’ and the funky lyricism of ‘Dance No More’, Styles includes some slower, thoughtful ballads such as ‘Paint by Numbers’ and ‘Coming Up Roses’. These songs take us back to something more familiar to Styles, like the ballads from his debut self-titled album. The romantic ‘Coming Up Roses’ explores the desire for connection, with the lyrics “See out the night with your head on my chest, me and you,” mirroring the sense of togetherness the album seeks. The song concludes with a beautiful instrumental passage, reminiscent of classic love songs, featuring violins and string instruments that create an orchestral sound. The final “It’s only me and you” echoes the idea of ephemerality and the importance of living in the moment, appreciating connection when you have it.

Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally. does exactly what it says on the tin – containing songs concerned with love, with disco and dance tracks sprinkled in. A four-star album, it is cohesive and unconventional, adopting a more mature sound as Styles explores themes of togetherness, ageing, and love. Demonstrating his artistic freedom, Styles’ fourth album is sonically and thematically adventurous, giving his fans an album which is both unexpected yet nostalgic.

★★★★