The lights rise as the stage is illuminated with boa feathers and iridescent sparkles. A dance floor that has been barren is now ready for a new song and dance: a disco. From a British boy band to a residency in the Big Apple, Harry Styles is back with his fourth album, “Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.” Running back from Berlin and Tokyo to the music studio, Styles released his first single off the album “Aperture” on Jan. 22, along with a corresponding music video on Jan. 23. “Aperture” marks his first song launch in about three years.
Despite its upbeat nature, the song “Aperture” reveals a deeper depth of field. The term aperture is a photography term that refers to the camera setting that controls an image’s brightness. The song is inspired by his time off from touring and the spotlight, stated in an interview he had with Capital Breakfast.
Styles’ upcoming album includes 12 songs such as “Aperture,” “American Girls,” “Ready, Steady, Go!,” “Are You Listening Yet?,” “Taste Back,” “The Waiting Game, Season 2 Weight Loss,” “Coming Up Roses,” “Pop,” “Dance No More,” “Paint By Numbers” and “Carla’s Song.”
Junior Anna Neyestani believes “The album will definitely have some disco sounds (assuming from the title) as well as his classic synthy, electronic pop we’ve heard before in ‘Harry’s House’ and ‘Fine Line.’ I really like the song titles and they seem very unique and classically Harry. They also seem to fit the vibe of the album overall. I think my favorites will be ‘Coming Up Roses’ and ‘Paint By Numbers.’”
Beginning on May 16 in Amsterdam, Harry Styles will be beginning his seven-city residency called “Together, Together,” a nod to his Aperture lyric “we belong together.” These three words were featured on posters around cities worldwide, like Manchester, Berlin and Palermo, in the middle of January.
Styles will be hosting a 30-night residency at Madison Square Garden in New York City starting on Aug. 26 and ending on Oct. 31 or rather, “Harryween.” Harry made MSG history in 2022 during his 15-night residency from Aug. 20 through Sept. 21. His 15 consecutive nights brought the Garden the most lucrative engagement in the venue’s history. By curating a vibe of belonging and community with his next tour, Styles marks a new legacy.
Sophomore Emily Flynn had a positive experience with the first release for Madison Square Garden tickets on Jan. 27, but acknowledges the issues with the application. “It seems like a lot of people are running into really high ticket prices or ending up behind hundreds of thousands of people in the queue. The way he set up the tour is interesting with only going to a few cities around the world and doing a 30 show residency at Madison Square Garden. I could definitely see him going to more cities next year based on how the shows this year go, unless he decides to run more marathons!”
For those who are planning to fight in the great war of Ticketmaster throughout these next few days, good luck! Alternative third-party websites like StubHub, VividSeats and SeatGeek are other options to look for tickets. Fairfield University students are fortunate to be just a “Satellite” away from Harry Styles’ only U.S. tour location.
Although Harry’s new album may not be “the same as it was” in the past, Styles will make “History” in our “Sign of the Times.”