Harry Styles’ ‘Aperture’ debuted at number 1 on the UK Singles Chart and US Billboard Hot 100, despite its marked shift in genre. I think this was the perfect single to drop after his 4-year hiatus and the influence of his various stints in Berlin are deeply felt.
To me, ‘Aperture’ feels like long summer days, like carelessly dancing in a sweaty underground club accompanied by reverberating bass, like a round of cocktails with cheek-aching smiles on sunburnt skin and the never-fading lilt of laughter, like the overwhelming feeling of fulfilment when you never want a moment to end. All fitting for the album title, Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.
Despite some criticism on the genre shift, the single is undeniably Harry Styles, and when you really listen to it, is not all that different from his past albums. People do yearn for the slow ballads that littered his debut self-titled album, but I believe this album has the potential to do that in a different way. Fans singing ‘Aperture’ acoustically across social media has made people realise the actual depth to its lyrics. When you listen past the synth-pop, you notice the lyrics speak of time passing, vulnerability, and letting positivity back into your life. The bridge itself, ‘Time won’t wait on me / I wanna know what safe is’, is the perfect mantra: stop running way from what feels good and allow yourself to be happy, and you will achieve ultimate freedom and joy.
The repeated lyrics and techno vibe of the song is addictive and makes the listening experience feel almost hedonistic. Even the title of the song, ‘Aperture’, means an opening to let light in, it is an invitation to let in new experiences and live in the moment. We can only hope that the rest of the album continues with this message and is up to the mark of this lead single.
