Harry Styles’ new album explores influences from rock ‘n’ roll.
At just 16 years old, Harry Styles burst onto the music scene as a contestant on The X Factor, forming part of One Direction, a quintet that quickly rose to fame, drawing comparisons to Beatlemania. Transitioning to a solo career shortly after, Styles released his debut album in 2017, followed by three more albums, with the most recent being Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally, which was released on March 6, 2026. Styles shared that this latest album was heavily influenced by his experiences at clubs in Berlin and other international locations he has visited recently, aiming to recreate the immersive and magnetic feeling he felt on the dance floor while performing.
An avid runner who has completed two marathons, Styles expressed his desire for his music to be a shared experience with his audience, rather than a one-sided performance. Drawing inspiration from musical legends like Prince, David Bowie, Mick Jagger, and Queen, Styles has formed friendships with icons like Stevie Nicks, Joni Mitchell, and Elton John. His latest album, Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally, exhibits hints of rock ‘n’ roll that run throughout its tracks.
Among the notable connections to the rock world in Styles’ album are the studios in which it was recorded. The primary locations for the album were Abbey Road Studios in London, famously associated with The Beatles, and Hansa Studios in Berlin, where David Bowie and Iggy Pop recorded seminal albums in the ’70s. Additionally, Tom Skinner, a member of Radiohead offshoot the Smile, played drums on six tracks of the album, contributing a unique energy to the record.
Styles enlisted the talents of the Duke Quartet, a string group from Europe, for the album. Known for their work with various rock bands, including the Pretenders, Blur, Simple Minds, the Cranberries, and Pete Doherty, members of the Duke Quartet brought a lush string arrangement to the song “Coming Up Roses” on Styles’ album. Notably, engineer Brian Rajaratnam, mixer Mark “Spike” Stent, and masterer Emily Lazar, who have impressive resumes working with renowned artists across the rock genre, were also crucial contributors to the album’s production process.
Brian Rajaratnam, at just 34 years old, has already worked with well-known rock bands like Slipknot, Avenged Sevenfold, Kings of Leon, and David Byrne. Mark “Spike” Stent, a seasoned mixer who began his career as a teenager, has collaborated with numerous international artists, spanning from U2 and Depeche Mode to Madonna and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Emily Lazar, an experienced masterer, boasts an extensive list of artists she has worked with, including David Bowie, the Killers, Morrissey, and John Mayer, to name just a few.
By incorporating these rock ‘n’ roll threads into his latest album, Harry Styles pays homage to his musical influences while infusing his distinctive style and energy, creating a compelling listening experience for fans and critics alike.