Harry Styles – Aperture (Single Review)

After a four-year hiatus, Harry Styles has finally reemerged with a new song — and fans are celebrating the bold new musical era he’s ushering in. Released on January 22, 2026, “Aperture” is the lead single from his fourth solo album, Kiss All the Time, Disco Occasionally, due out March 6th. The track marks a sharp and surprising departure from any of Styles’ previous work, including with One Direction, and introduces a sleek electronic disco sound that may catch longtime fans off guard.

With executive Producer Kid Harpoon at the helm, “Aperture” pulses with the hypnotic energy of a late-night rave or EDM festival, driven by heavy bassline beats and airy, minimal lyrics. Styles found inspiration in LCD Soundsystem, which he saw at a festival in Madrid, and states that his aim for this project was to create a sense of being on the dance floor with fans.

Opening with a slow-burning synth instrumental and thudding bass, Styles’ soft, tender vocals gradually draw the listener in and up.  Lyrically simple and centered on coming together, love, and belonging, the track feels less like a statement and more like an invitation, setting expectations for an album unafraid to experiment.

On first listen, the song’s sonic shift may feel alienating to some. Still, Styles quickly wins ground with a distinctive dance-floor appeal and an undeniably catchy chorus—“We belong together. It finally appears. It’s only love. We belong together.” His melodic lines, “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” float above the production, adding to the track’s grooving, almost trance-like quality. The track leans into a softer, crooner-like delivery that feels trippier and more restrained than before, with Styles’ unmistakably calm, effortless, and confident vocals. Built around a recurring chorus and repetitive sounds, “Aperture” is light, playful, and emotionally open, which heightens atmosphere over narrative depth. 

With repeated listens, the track reveals its strengths and moves to its own rhythm. What may initially seem understated grows increasingly infectious, proving itself club and festival-ready. Styles has also just announced a seven-city global residency tour called Together Together, with an ambitious 30 dates at New York’s Madison Square Garden this Fall.

The music video for “Aperture” was just released.  More of a high-action, choreographed dance from the seminal 1999 Sci-Fi Action film The Matrix, the footage showcases Styles’ precise dance techniques in a bizarre encounter with a stranger at a hotel.  Fans are already planning to learn the dance and perform it at his upcoming shows.

While “Aperture” may feel slightly anticlimactic given the high anticipation surrounding Styles’ return, its charm ultimately pays off as he carves out his new niche in electronic music. Styles does not just reinvent himself—he makes it clear that he is comfortable going in a new direction and creating a style uniquely his own. That is why Cryptic Rock gives the single “Aperture” 5 out of 5 stars. 

HARRY STYLES: TOGETHER, TOGETHER 2026 TOUR DATES:
Sun Dec 13 – Sydney, AU – Accor Stadium ! @
Sat Dec 12 – Sydney, AU – Accor Stadium ! @
Sat Nov 28 – Melbourne, AU – Marvel Stadium ^^ @
Fri Nov 27 – Melbourne, AU – Marvel Stadium ^^ @
Sat Oct 31 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden +
Fri Oct 30 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden +
Wed Oct 28 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden +
Sat Oct 24 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden +
Fri Oct 23 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden +
Wed Oct 21 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden +
Sat Oct 17 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden +
Fri Oct 16 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden +
Wed Oct 14 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden +
Sat Oct 10 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden +
Fri Oct 09 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden +
Wed Oct 07 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden +
Sat Oct 03 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden +
Fri Oct 02 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden +
Wed Sep 30 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden +
Sat Sep 26 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden +
Fri Sep 25 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden +
Wed Sep 23 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden +
Sat Sep 19 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden +
Fri Sep 18 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden +
Wed Sep 16 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden +
Sat Sep 12 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden +
Fri Sep 11 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden +
Wed Sep 09 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden +
Sat Sep 05 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden +
Fri Sep 04 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden +
Wed Sep 02 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden +
Sat Aug 29 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden +
Fri Aug 28 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden +
Wed Aug 26 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden +
Sat Aug 01 – Mexico City, MX – Estadio GNP Seguros #
Fri Jul 31 – Mexico City, MX – Estadio GNP Seguros #
Sat Jul 18 – São Paulo, BR – Estadio MorumBIS ~
Fri Jul 17 – São Paulo, BR – Estadio MorumBIS ~
Tue Jun 23 – London, UK – Wembley Stadium Connected by EE *
Sat Jun 20 – London, UK – Wembley Stadium Connected by EE *
Fri Jun 19 – London, UK – Wembley Stadium Connected by EE *
Wed Jun 17 – London, UK – Wembley Stadium Connected by EE *
Sat Jun 13 – London, UK – Wembley Stadium Connected by EE *
Fri Jun 12 – London, UK – Wembley Stadium Connected by EE *
Tue May 26 – Amsterdam, NL – Johan Cruijff ArenA ^
Sat May 23 – Amsterdam, NL – Johan Cruijff ArenA ^
Fri May 22 – Amsterdam, NL – Johan Cruijff ArenA ^
Wed May 20 – Amsterdam, NL – Johan Cruijff ArenA ^
Sun May 17 – Amsterdam, NL – Johan Cruijff ArenA ^
Sat May 16 – Amsterdam, NL – Johan Cruijff ArenA ^

Support Key
@ Baby J
! Skye Newman
^^ Fousheé
+ Jamie xx
# Jorja Smith
~ Fcukers
* Shania Twain
^ Robyn

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