Unpacking Harry Styles New Album Secrets

Harry Styles is back with his fourth record Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally - KISSCO to his fans - after a three year hiatus out of the spotlight.

Unlike who is known to fill her songs with  Eggs for fans to spot and theorise, Harry's record is a lot more retrospective, reflecting on his experiences and feelings. 

Ahead of the album's release, Harry revealed the inspiration behind each track, recalling the moment he burst into tears on a dancefloor in Berlin while feeling 'unbelievably free' and explaining why he has decided to no longer shave his moustache. 

With many fans left wondering who Carla in the track Carla's Song could refer to, Harry confirmed she is just a friend, but said it was her discovery of Paul Simon that triggered 'the most important part of the record'.  

After three years out the spotlight Harry has been busy embracing his 'yes era', travelling to and , running marathons, lime biking around London and dancing at .

Speaking about how important normality is for him and valuing the human experience the new record explores Harry grappling with his identity as both an ordinary human and a celebrity. 

'I think the thing that makes someone an artist is letting them watch you be an ordinary person,' said  in his latest interview with Zane Lowe.  

The album's single Aperture is the opening track, however it was also the last track Harry made for the record. 

Speaking to Zane Lowe in his recent Apple Music interview, Harry explained: 'Aperture felt like the perfect start for me because it is so about the moment of realising "No I was in the wrong for something."

'You can move forward when you acknowledge the things that you don't know and therefore give yourself the space to let the light come in, that is what that song is about.'

Following Aperture, the track list is as follows: 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.

Crying on the dancefloor 

After being used to being the headline act, Harry has explained he has used his time off to get back on the other side and be in the audience, especially exploring the clubbing scene in Berlin. 

Speaking previously on BBC Radio 2 he said: 'I think being with people and being on the other side of the audience experience than I'm used to being on has been the most important thing for me. 

'It's been a massive reminder of how special it is to be in a crowd experiencing live music, or be in a dark pit with people dancing. 

'It's been a really beautiful reminder for me that that you know at shows whether I'm on stage or off the stage, we're all here for the same thing.'

Dance No More took inspiration from his experience on a dancefloor listening to music after it was inspired by one particular night out in Berlin where the star found himself crying on the dancefloor. 

'I remember going out for the first time in Berlin and standing in the middle of the dancefloor and feeling so unbelievably free and safe,' he explained.

'I just stood with my arms in the air with my eyes closed and I just felt these tears streaming down my face and just feeling so alive.'

Who is Fox? 

At one point in Dance No More he is heard saying 'Fox' at the end of a lyric and Harry explained it is in tribute to his producer Kid Harpoon's son who is called Fox. 

Harry explained: 'He has always been jealous that we put his mum's name Jenny in Canyon Moon, so he was playing football and he was like "If I hit the cross bar, will you put my name in the song?"'

'And he hit the crossbar so then I was like we have got to put his name in his song.' 

The moustache is here to stay 

While some fans have joked that Season 2 Weight Loss could be a reference in the rise of Ozempic and Mounjaro users within the celebrity world, Harry explained it is rather a metaphor for his own return, and the return of his moustache. 

While Harry has been snapped out and about with his facial hair, back in the Love On Tour days the singer appeared fresh faced as he donned his range of eye-catching looks.  

Explaining the inspiration behind the song he began: 'It is like the mission statement of the record in a lot of ways. 

'It's like when there is a Netflix show and it blows up and everyone comes back in the second season and everyone has a nutritionist and a trainer and looks amazing - Season 2 Weight Loss.

'It's this idea of just returning as the same character but suddenly he has cheekbones, but that is what it was like for me I felt like I was coming back as a stronger version of myself.'

And this stronger version includes his moustache.  

Reflecting on how his own appearance has changed, he continued: 'Whenever I had a break from touring I would always grow my tash and then when I went back on tour I would shave it off and there would be this feeling of like this isn't the version of me that people expect. 

'So I think the idea was less in a facial hair thought but more in the idea that if I go away and grow and change my relationship with this idea of feeling like I have to show up as this version of myself will you take me as that, or are you taking me because I show up as this version of myself that you've desired from me in some way.' 

Who is Carla? 

The final track of the album is Carla's Song. 

And while fans may have been expecting another Matilda-esque track, Carla's Song represents something much deeper for Harry and is a nod to the Simon And Garfunkel track Cathy's Song. 

Musing on the track Harry said: 'Carla kind of just became the most important part of the record to me. It is a song that answered so many questions.'

Carla is a friend of the singer's and the song was born after she mentioned she had discovered Paul Simon while they were at a friend's house waiting to go to an afterparty. 

Harry then played her Bridge Over Troubled Water, with Harry recounting: 'It felt like I was watching someone see in technicolour or discover magic. 

'There was something in that moment that reminded me that by making music what you are investing in and it is songs that go beyond our lifetime. 

'I then played her Cathy's Song which is my favourite Simon and Garfunkel song and that's why it's called Carla's Song.' 

Revealing it summed up what the point of making music is he added: 'The ability to be able to add something and maybe someone hears a song of yours and thinks "this song is going to be in my life forever" that is kind of it and that is enough. I don't ask for more than that really.'