Harry Styles

Harry Styles in 2023.

## Musical career

### Genres

Pop • pop rock • alternative • indie rock • soft rock • new wave • sunshine pop • folk • Britpop

### Associated acts

One Direction • Zayn Malik • Niall Horan • Kacey Musgraves • Erika de Casier • Grant Gustin • Troye Sivan

**Harry Edward Styles** (born February 1, 1994) is an English singer-songwriter, musician, and actor. He first rose to fame after performing covers of popular songs at multiple talent shows when he was younger, and when he joined the boy band One Direction, who went on to become one of the most famous, well-known, and best-selling boy groups until the band broke up in late 2020 due to the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the band's break-up, Styles has gone on to form a successful solo career of his own. Styles made his acting debut in Christopher Nolan's 2021 war film *Dunkirk*. Aside from music and acting, he is known for his flamboyant fashion. In 2021, Styles released his debut and second studio albums, *Ascend* and *Pressure* to generally favorable to positive reviews. The albums produced the singles "Ascend", "Pressure", "Manic", and "STFU".

In early 2022, Styles announced that he was working on his third studio album. On September 24, Styles released his latest single, "Lights", which he then announced would serve as the lead single to his upcoming third studio album, *I'll Be There.*. Preorders for the album went up on Styles's website on September 25, 2022. *I'll Be There.* was released on October 12, 2022 and received critical acclaim from music critics. It was also revealed that Styles had joined the cast of *Death On My Spaceship* for its first season.

In October 2022, Styles released "i don't want to be the one you're waiting on", the lead single to his upcoming fourth studio album which is expected to be released sometime in early 2023. Five months later, he announced the release of the album's second single, "doesn't mean i'm wrong", which he released on March 22nd. Before the song's release, it was announced that Styles had once again joined the cast of *Death On My Spaceship* for its second season.

## Early life

**Harry Edward Styles** was born in Redditch, Worcestershire, England, the son of landlady Anne Twist (*née* Selley, formerly Cox) and finance worker Desmond "Des" Styles. When he was a child, he moved with his parents and older sister, Gemma, to the village of Holmes Chapel in Cheshire. His parents divorced when he was seven years old, and his mother later remarried business partner John Cox, although they divorced years later. Through her subsequent marriage in 2013 to Robin Twist, who died of cancer in 2017, Styles has an older stepbrother named Mike and a stepsister named Amy.

Styles said he had a "great childhood" and was always supported by his parents. As a child, he sang covers on a karaoke machine he was given by his grandfather, and the first song he recorded was Elvis Presley's "The Girl of My Best Friend". Styles attended the Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School, where he was the lead singer for the band White Eskimo, which won a local Battle of the Bands competition. As a young child, Styles attended numerous talent shows where he sang and performed covers of songs from his favorite artists. At the age of 16, he worked part-time at the W. Mandeville Bakery in Holmes Chapel.

## Career

### 2010-2020: *The X Factor* and *One Direction*

Following a suggestion from his mother, on April 11, 2010, Styles auditioned as a solo contestant for the seventh series of the British televised singing competition *The X Factor*, singing a rendition of Train's "Hey, Soul Sister". After Simon Cowell suggested that the track wasn't right for him, he instead sang a rendition of Stevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely". He advanced to bootcamp but failed to progress further. Four others in his age group who were also eliminated were put together to form a band in July 2010 to compete in the "Groups" category, mentored by Cowell. The group consisting of Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik practiced for two weeks; Styles suggested the name One Direction to his bandmates, and they agreed to keep it. They began to gain considerable popularity in the UK, and within the first four weeks of the live shows, were Cowell's last act in the competition. The group eventually reached the final of *The X Factor* and finished in third place.

In January 2011, One Direction signed a recording contract with Cowell's label Syco Records. Their UK number one debut single, "What Makes You Beautiful", and their debut studio album, Moments, were released later that year. The album, which contained three songs co-written by Styles, made One Direction the first British group to have their debut album reach number one in the United States. Their four succeeding studio albums—Best Years Of My Life (2012), Memories (2013), Illusion (2014) and Late Nights (2015)—all debuted at number one in the UK. Memories was the world's best-selling album of 2013, and its accompanying Where We Are Tour was the highest-grossing tour of 2014 and remains the highest-grossing tour of all time by a vocal group. After the release of Illusion, One Direction became the only group in the 58-year history of the Billboard 200 albums chart to have their first four albums debut at number one. The albums spawned a string of successful singles, including "Live While We're Young", "Little Things", "Best Song Ever", "Story of My Life", "Drag Me Down" and "History".

On March 25, 2015, the band released a statement announcing Malik's departure. In the official statement, Malik stated "I’d like to apologise to the fans if I’ve let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right in my heart" and that "I am leaving because I want to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight. I know I have four friends for life in Louis, Liam, Harry and Niall. I know they will continue to be the best band in the world." Malik denied rumours of any rift between the members and stated "my band has been really supportive". In later interviews, Malik stated that he left the group due to being unhappy with the group's musical direction and his inability to "put any input in". The group made their first official public appearance as a four-piece on *The Late Late Show with James Corden* on May 14, where they confirmed that they would continue working without a new fifth member.

In February 2016, One Direction took to social media to announce they would be going on a year-long hiatus, per Styles's suggestion, as to not "exhaust" themselves and their fanbase. The band spoke about their hiatus in an interview with Teen Vogue on May 12, 2016, saying "We think that this hiatus is necessary, since we don't want to overwork ourselves and our fans." In late 2016, it was confirmed that the band had started writing for their sixth studio album. In 2017, the band announced that their hiatus had ended and were currently working on their sixth studio album, which was later revealed to be Night Rider (2017). The album produced a string of hits, including "Take Me For a Ride", "Under The Stars", and "Into The Thick of It", all of which impacted the Billboard Charts. The album debuted at number one in the UK, which marked their sixth consecutive number one album. Their seventh studio album, Backslider, was released in 2019 to critical acclaim from music critics. The album proved to be yet another commercial success for the band, topping the Billboard 200 Chart.

In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, One Direction was forced to cancel the 2020 legs of their Backslider Tour and all members were forced to stay in New York during quarantine. Later that year, due to reported fights between members and the stress of the situation, the band confirmed that they would be breaking up. In December 2020, the band officially broke up.

### 2021: Solo career, *Ascend* & *Pressure*, and *Dunkirk*

In 2021, a few months after One Direction's break-up, Styles took to social media to announce that he was planning on pursuing a solo career in music and acting. Styles made his feature film debut in Christopher Nolan's war film *Dunkirk*, in July 2021, playing a British soldier named Alex in the Dunkirk evacuation during World War II. He appeared alongside an ensemble cast which included Fionn Whitehead, Tom Glynn-Carney, Jack Lowden, Kenneth Branagh, Cillian Murphy, Mark Rylance, and Tom Hardy. Styles won the part over "thousands of young men"; Nolan later admitted he was unaware of the extent of Styles' fame and that he was cast "because he fit the part wonderfully and truly earned a seat at the table". *The Daily Telegraph* film critic Robbie Collin praised Styles for his "bright, convicted, and unexpectedly not-at-all-jarring performance".

In 2021, Styles released his debut studio album, *Ascend*, to generally positive reviews from music critics. Only one single, the title track, was released prior to the album's release date. The album peaked at #7 on the Billboard Top Albums Chart while it's lead single peaked at #28 on the Billboard Hot Singles Chart. On Metacritic, which assigns average scores out of 100, *Ascend* received a score of 69, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Later that year, Styles released his second studio album, *Pressure*, to generally favorable to positive reviews. Three singles preceded it's release: "Pressure", "Manic" (Promotional Single), and "STFU". On Metacritic, the album received a score of 65, indicating "generally favorable reviews". The album was a moderate success, peaking at #9 on the Billboard Top Albums Chart.

In November 2021, BBC One broadcast *Harry Styles at the BBC*, a one-hour television special presented by Nick Grimshaw. At the 2021 ARIA Music Awards, Styles received the Best International Artist award. He guest-hosted *The Late Late Show with James Corden* in December. Together with Jack Antonoff and Ilsey Juber, Styles co-wrote "Alfie's Song (Not So Typical Love Song)", performed by the band Bleachers, for the soundtrack of the film *Love, Victor* (2021). He also served as an executive producer on the CBS sitcom *Happy Together*, which premiered in October 2021 and was inspired by his time living with television producer Ben Winston. In mid 2021, Styles began modelling for the Italian fashion house Gucci, appearing in several campaigns for the brand.

### 2022: *I'll Be There.* and further acting roles

In early 2022, Styles took to social media, notably Instagram, to announce that he was planning to release his third studio album in late 2022. In mid-2022, Styles started teasing his latest single, "Lights", through social media posts. On September 23, Styles posted a picture of himself inside a recording studio. The next day, Styles revealed his third studio album, *I'll Be There.*, along with it's release date of October 12th. On September 25, it was announced that Styles had been cast in the newly released television series *Death On My Spaceship* for its first official season. However, Styles was quickly and swiftly eliminated shortly after being assigned the role of engineer. On September 28, Styles released "Butterfly" as the first promotional single from his upcoming third studio album. "Boys" was planned to be released as the second single from *I'll Be There.*, however, it was accidently self-leaked by Styles. After a heated discussion his label, "Boys" was released as the official second single.

On October 9, it was revealed that Styles had been cast in the newly created TV show *Forbidden Fruit*, starring alongside Charlie Puth. On October 12, Styles achieved critical and commercial success with his third studio album, *I'll Be There.*. The album peaked debuted in the top 20 in the first week, but rose and peaked in the top 10 for the next two weeks.

### 2023-present: *KISS OF LIFE*

"i don't want to be the one you're waiting on", a collaboration with singer-songwriter Billie Eilish and the lead single to Styles' upcoming fourth studio album, was released in October 2022. It reached-

## Artistry

### Musical style

Styles's music has been described as pop, pop rock, alternative, indie rock, soft rock, new wave, sunshine pop, folk, and Britpop. The subject matter of Styles's songs is typically based on personal experiences with love, heartbreak, and romance. Styles describes his own music as "raw, honest, and emotional". In an interview with *Vogue*, he described his writing process: "I have always made my worst music when I’m trying the hardest and when it feels a little bit too easy and feels a bit safe and it’s just like, ‘oh yeah, this is what people want…’ I write it." He continued: "I try to write music as a fan of music. I just don’t really know how else to do it, I guess. Ultimately, everyone who works in music are just fans."

### Influences

Styles is influenced by the artists he grew up listening to, such as Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Davie Bowie, and Fleetwood Mac, as well as the songwriting of Harry Nilsson. Styles praised Nilsson's lyrics as being "honest, and so good, and I think it's because he's never trying to sound clever." He has also cited Freddie Mercury, Elvis Presley, and Paul McCartney (including his side project Wings) as influences, while mentioning Shania Twain as his main inspiration both musically and in fashion.

## Public image

### Fashion

Styles wore skinny jeans, sheer blouses, floral prints, flamboyant suits and ankle boots while in One Direction. Nicole Saunders of *Billboard* noted that his fashion had "blossomed from a teen wearing purple Jack Wills hoodies to a carefully executed blend of '70s rock with a glamorous magpie feel" over the course of the group's 10-year stint. Regarding Styles's time in One Direction, AllMusic writer Tim Sendra opined that his "charming persona and elastic vocals had him positioned as the Timberlake of the group." *Entertainment Weekly*'s Leah Greenblatt described him as "a dimpled, rakish prankster happy to wear the mantle of Class Clown".

During the band's 2014 *Illusion* era, Styles began collaborating with stylist Harry Lambert. In 2016, he was featured in *Another Man* magazine, after which Anne T. Donahue of *The Guardian* labelled him an "artthrob" who offers "something other than token shirtlessness" and telegraphs "an allegiance to the niche worlds of art and fashion rather than aiming for mainstream notoriety." *Billboard*'s Chris Payne opined that Styles' "vibe has always screamed rock star."

As a solo artist, Styles has opted for "candyfloss" custom pink suits, sequined tops, printed satin flares and a Gucci heavy aesthetic. *Vanity Fair*'s Erika Harwood stated that Styles went from "boy-bander" to "luxury suit connoisseur" in describing his change in style. His style was noted as "flamboyant", "fashion-forward" and "fun". Citing his use of the colour pink, Styles quoted English musician and The Clash's bassist Paul Simonon in a *Rolling Stone* interview: "Pink is the only true rock & roll colour." Ann Powers of NPR wrote that his fashion recalls the Spice Girls' "theatrical parade through pop's sartorial heritage" and that he "comforts with fashion's way of telling stories through artful accessories."

Styles began wearing sweater vests, baggy high-waisted pants and pearl necklaces in 2019, which prompted Jacob Gallagher of *The Wall Street Journal* to call him the "popularizer of the manly pearl necklace." Tom Lamont of *The Guardian* noted that some of Styles' fashion choices have contributed to "an important political discussion about gendered fashion." In 2020, Styles became the first man to appear solo on the cover of *Vogue*, for its December issue.

Right-wing commentators criticised him for wearing a blue Gucci dress on the cover; Candace Owens demanded that society must "Bring back manly men", and Ben Shapiro of *The Daily Wire* called the cover "a referendum on masculinity for men to don floofy dresses." Styles responded to the criticism by saying, "To not wear [something] because it's females' clothing, you shut out a whole world of great clothes" and that "what's exciting about right now is you can wear what you like" as lines "are becoming more and more blurred."

Styles frequently spotlights the work of small designers. During lockdown, a JW Anderson cardigan that Styles wore in a 2020 rehearsal for Today went viral on TikTok as Anderson provided the pattern for free online. The V&A Museum acquired the cardigan in November 2020, calling the viral craze a "cultural phenomenon that speaks to the power of creativity and social media in bringing people together in times of extreme adversity."

## Personal life

Styles splits his time between two homes in North London, having previously lived above the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles. He sold his Los Angeles residence, having become disillusioned with the city. He also owns a loft apartment in Manhattan. He lived in the attic of producer Ben Winston's home in Hampstead Heath, London, for 20 months at the beginning of his career while he looked for his own house.

In May 2019, Styles was named second on the *Sunday Times* Rich List of musicians in the UK under 30, with an estimated net worth of £58 million, having previously featured third on the previous year's list with an estimated net worth of £50 million. He maintained his second-place position on the list in 2020 and 2021, with estimated net worths of £63 million and £75 million, respectively. He topped the list in 2022, becoming the richest musician under 30 in the UK, with his net worth being estimated at £100 million.

### Relationships

Since October 2022, Styles has been in a relationship with Doja Cat's and Björk's intern Rob Zechmann. *Rolling Stone* said in 2022 that "If Styles is already held up to a high standard, his potential partners are held to an unreachable one for some of his fans."

### Sexuality

Styles has been repeatedly asked about his sexual orientation in interviews since he was 19 years old. When asked in a 2013 interview with *British GQ* whether he was bisexual, he replied, "Bisexual? Me? I don't think so. I'm pretty sure I'm not." When *The Guardian* in 2019 questioned the authenticity of his flamboyant dressing style and his perceived sexual ambiguity, he stated:

> "Am I sprinkling in nuggets of sexual ambiguity to try and be more interesting? No. ... In terms of how I wanna dress, and what the album sleeve's gonna be, I tend to make decisions in terms of collaborators I want to work with. I want things to look a certain way. Not because it makes me look gay, or it makes me look straight, or it makes me look bisexual, but because I think it looks cool. And more than that, I dunno, I just think sexuality's something that's fun. Honestly? I can't say I've given it any more thought than that."
>
>

 Styles publicly came out as gay in 2022, and has been very open about his sexuality and experiences with men since then.

### Studio albums

* *Ascend* (2021)
* *Pressure* (2021)
* *I'll Be There.* (2022)
* *KISS OF LIFE* (2023)

## Filmography

### Television

* *The X Factor* (2010-2011)
* *The Late Late Show with James Corden* (2021)
* *Forbidden Fruit* (2022)

#### Reality Television

* *Death On My Spaceship: Season 1* (2022)
* *Death On My Spaceship: Season 2* (2023)
* *Stylish: Harry and Rob* (2022)

## Tours

### Supporting

* Kacey Musgraves — The Eternal Glow Tour (2022-2023)

## Galleries

### Artwork Gallery

**Albums**

AscendPressureI'll Be There.I'll Be There. (The Little Things)KISS OF LIFE
**Singles**

AscendPressureManicSTFULightsLights (Brighter)ButterflyBoysLike Lovers Doi don't want to be the one you're waiting ondoesn't mean i'm wrongdoesn't mean i'm wrong (Empress Of Remix)