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As ROLLING STONE previously dutifully reported, more than 1,300 days had passed since Harry Styles released new music before Thursday night returned with the new single “Aperture”.
First listen for fans in New York
The single provides a shimmering first taste of his long-awaited album, “Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally,” out March 6th. “It’s best you know what you don’t / Aperture lets the light in,” Styles sings, before diving into the soaring chorus and declaring, “We belong together / It finally appears it’s only love.”
The singer introduced the song to fans who waited for hours outside the Rough Trade record store in New York on Wednesday, January 21, to be the first to hear the lead track from the upcoming album. “As soon as I heard his voice, I cried so hard,” Lindsay, 24, told Rolling Stone at the listening party. “We’ve been waiting for his comeback for years.”
The following day, Styles announced a global residency tour of 50 shows in seven cities in support of his upcoming fourth studio album. The international tour starts on May 16th in Amsterdam with six concerts, followed by shows in London, São Paulo in Brazil, Mexico City and an impressive 30 performances at Madison Square Garden in New York. The finale is Australia with concerts in Melbourne and Sydney.
World tour with a grand finale
Last week, the star revealed that “Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally” is nearing release. Produced by Kid Harpoon, the album features 12 new songs and marks Styles’ fourth studio album and his first since 2022. Styles announced the project in his usual enigmatic manner, placing billboards and posters from New York to São Paulo that asked passersby, “Do you know who you are?” Emblazoned at the bottom was “TPWK,” an acronym for his song “Treat People With Kindness” and merchandise from his most recent tour. Posters reading “We Belong Together” also appeared in major cities around the world.
The signs were also linked to a new website for the musician, which currently invites visitors to spin a wheel and randomly land on “Disco” or “Kiss”. After clicking, fans will be asked to contact a number via SMS, which will lead to a login page to provide contact information.
Styles wrapped up his Love on Tour in 2023 in support of 2019’s Grammy-winning albums “Fine Line” and 2022’s “Harry’s House” and looked back on the 169 concerts in an Instagram post. “It was the greatest experience of my entire life. I feel incredibly fulfilled and happy. It’s all because of you,” he wrote at the time. “You have given me memories that will last a lifetime – more than I could have ever dreamed of. Thank you for your time, your energy and your love.”
Lyrics “Aperture”
[Verse 1]
Take no prisoners for me
I’m told you’re elevating
Drinks go straight to my knees
I’m sold, I’m going on clean
I’m going on clean
[Verse 2]
I’ve no more tricks up my sleeve
Game called review the player
Time codes and Tokyo scenes
Bad boys, it’s complicated
It’s complicated
[Pre-Chorus]
It’s best you know what you don’t
Aperture lets the light in
It’s best you know what you don’t
Aperture lets the light in
[Chorus]
We belong together
It finally appears it’s only love
We belong together
We belong together
It finally appears it’s only love
We belong together
[Verse 3]
In no good state to receive
Go forth, ask questions later
Trap doors, you’re toying with me
Dance halls, another cadence
[Pre-Chorus]
It’s best you know what you don’t
Aperture lets the light in
[Chorus]
We belong together
It finally appears it’s only love
We belong together
It finally appears
We belong together
It finally appears it’s only love
We belong together
[Bridge]
I won’t stray from it
I don’t know these spaces
Time won’t wait for me
I want to know what is safe
I won’t stray from it
I don’t know these spaces
Time won’t wait for me
I won’t stray from it
I don’t know these spaces
Time won’t wait for me
I want to know what is safe
I won’t stray from it
I don’t know these spaces
Time won’t wait for me
[Chorus]
We belong together
It finally appears it’s only love
We belong together
It finally appears
We belong together
It finally appears it’s only love
We belong together