Currently in the limelight for his role in the war drama, Dunkirk, Harry Styles is a British singer, songwriter, and actor. Born in Worcestershire in February 1994, Styles first came onto the music scene when he entered the "X Factor" as a solo artist in 2010. He was grouped with Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik to form the pop sensation that was One Direction, selling over 7.6 million albums in the U.S alone. Following the split of the band in 2016, all members have gone on to pursue solo careers.
Styles is the fourth band member to have released a solo single - "Sign of the Times," followed by his Debut Album, "Harry Styles."
The album: 'Harry Styles'
Solo careers of former band members are generally haphazard, so is Harry Styles' debut album a sign of good or bad times in his musical career? Styles is a lover of classic rock and he really wants his audience to know this. Critics have noticed nods throughout his debut to artists such as; The Rolling Stones, Queen, Elton John, David Bowie and Mick Jagger, although ultimately divided whether this is a commendable move or not.
He opens the album with the psychedelic ballad "Meet Me in the Hallway" followed by his UK number one debut single, "Sign of the Times." Despite the current political storm, he told NME magazine that what concerns him the most at the moment is in fact, fundamentals - inspiring "Sign of the Times." He elaborates that the song is the voice of a young mother who, recently given birth, has minutes to live.
It's a touching representation of the mother telling her new-born child not to worry and to go on and conquer the world.
Lyrically, the rest of his tracks are drenched with; heartbreak, relationships and lost love. Because of this, "Sign of the Times" perhaps isn't a fair representation of the rest of the album. Musically, there is an element of experimentation throughout; from rockier tunes such as "Kiwi" and "Carolina" to the slow acoustic ballad, "Sweet Creature." In this sense, we can accept Harry Styles as a new solo artist on the scene, attempting to find his footing.
Harry Styles: Live on Tour
Nonetheless, there is no doubt that the soft-rock, Brit-pop album is cleverly written and sung effortlessly, with so much resonance. Most importantly it is clear that Styles loves what he does, evident through his raw and authentic live performances on "James Corden: The Late Late Show," setting high standards for his live tour later in the year.
Selling out in just seconds, "Harry Styles: Live on Tour," will commence on 19th September and run into 2018 due to extra dates added because of high demand. This is definitely a sign of good times for Harry Styles.
