#louis tomlinson vogue covers

[mr-styles]

Harry Styles' Sonic Evolution: How He Grew From Teen Pop Idol To Ever-Evolving Superstar

Harry's House' not only gives Harry Styles his most GRAMMY recognition yet — it serves as a testament to how much he's expanded his sound over his already storied career.

GABRIEL AIKINS | GRAMMYS/JAN 25, 2023 - 12:02 PM

Watching 16 year-old Harry Styles walk onto the stage for his "The X Factor" audition in 2010, it's remarkable how little some things have changed in the following 13 years. Though his rendition of Stevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely" was rather unpolished — even receiving a "no" from judge Louis Walsh — his magnetic charisma and natural talent were more than evident. And at just 16, Styles clearly knew he was on the right path.

"Singing is what I want to do," Styles said in an interview before his audition. "And if the people who can make that happen for me don't think that I should be doing that, then it's a major setback in my plans."

Of course, so much else has changed in the ensuing decade. Styles was tabbed alongside other contestants Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik to form the group One Direction. As the band stormed the charts and captured the love of fans globally, Styles grew into his abilities — and now, he's achieved a rarified level of fame. 

Even after being part of one of the most successful boy bands of all time, Styles has reached new heights of superstardom in his own right. In addition to selling millions of albums and selling out arenas around the world, he's starred in four feature films and became the first male cover star of Vogue magazine. The depth of Styles' charisma and drive he's shown from that first audition have made him an all-encompassing star like few before him.

While Styles was a solo star as soon as he emerged in 2017 — selling out his first-ever solo tour and debuting his self-titled first album atop the Billboard 200 — he has dominated the 2020s. His second album, 2019's Fine Line, spawned his first No. 1 hit in the U.S. in 2020 with "Watermelon Sugar," which also earned him his first GRAMMY in 2021 for Best Pop Solo Performance. But 2022 was the year he took his stardom to the next level — and it all began with an invitation to Harry's House. 

The lead single of Styles' third album, "As It Was," became undeniable, debuting atop the Billboard Hot 100 and spending 15 weeks there — the most in history for a British act. And when Harry's House arrived less than two months after "As It Was," it was clear that 2022 was the year of Harry. 

The album, featuring smooth electronic beats and funky bass riffs, went platinum in the UK and US, put four songs into the Billboard Top 10 at the same time, and earned Styles the most GRAMMY nominations of his career. His six nominations for the 2023 GRAMMYs include his first in the coveted Album Of The Year, Song Of The Year and Record Of The Year categories; Harry's House also earned a nod for Best Pop Vocal Album and "As It Was" is up for Best Pop Solo Performance and Best Music Video.

If you ask Tyler Johnson — who has co-written and co-produced the majority of Styles' three solo albums — the GRAMMY nominations may just be Styles' biggest validation yet. "It's really the music community recognizing him as Harry Styles — [his time in the band] is just another part of his resume, it no longer defines him. And that's really exciting."

In reality, Styles hardly ever let his past define him. Even Johnson sensed Styles' star power upon meeting the singer in 2015. "When I first met him, I knew a lot about him from the band, but it was obvious he was a star," he recalls. "Especially how he performed in the vocal booth, it was very brave. I was like, 'Wow, this person has no barriers.'"

With no barriers comes a willingness to always try something new — which is why the Harry Styles of Harry's House sounds much different than Harry Styles of One Direction. The change was heard immediately back in 2017 on his first solo single "Sign of the Times," released ahead of his self-titled debut LP later that year. It's a rock track to its core, starting with hearty piano chords and building to a crescendo of wailing electric guitar and crashing drums. This initial offering was a sign of what was to come, as Harry Styles is built on these rock sounds from beginning to end. 

Even if reviews weren't outright surprised by this sound, they noted the seemingly brand new, well, direction. "Few people probably predicted the 23-year-old ex-One Direction superstar to drop the kind of album that makes your uncle or your mom perk up," read Variety's review. Pitchfork mused, "If you only know one thing about Harry Styles, it's probably that the album bucks the established trends governing bids for young male solo pop stardom." Styles becoming a rock star was something new, but looking back at the totality of his work, it's not quite as surprising as it might be at first glance.

When assessing the music of One Direction, the singles will of course stand out. Tracks like "What Makes You Beautiful," "Live While We're Young," and "Best Song Ever" are big and boisterous, with infectiously fun hooks. And while each of the group's five albums had rock influences — queue the Clash-like electric guitar opening of "Live While We're Young" — they're all pop projects at their core. And the writers and producers behind them were pop masterminds, too, including Rami Yacoub, Steve Mac, Ed Sheeran, and Ryan Tedder.

By nature of an essentially constant touring schedule and working with so many other people — especially the four other members of the group — there was simply less opportunity to write. Across the 86 songs in the band's discography, Styles has writing credits on only 21 of them, whereas he serves as lead writer on every track on each of his three solo albums. 

"I think it was tough to really delve in and find out who you are as a writer when you're just kind of dipping your toe each time," Styles told Rolling Stonein 2017, recalling some of the struggles of being in a band. "We didn't get the six months to see what kind of s— you can work with."

Listening to the songs Styles did have a hand in writing for One Direction, though, the throughline of his career becomes clearer. Even the earliest tracks he co-wrote include key elements to his later songs.

The chorus of Up All Night's "Same Mistakes" takes his penchant for lyrical repetition, creating a folksy call-and-response feeling and pairing it with powerful guitar chords; he uses a similar pattern on Harry Styles' opening track "Meet Me in the Hallway." Made In The A.M. ballad "If I Could Fly" is strikingly vulnerable lyrically and melodically minimalistic; this combination is seen on Styles' solo ballads, like Fine Line's "Falling" or Harry's House's "Matilda."

Styles' solo success also stems from his versatility. Alongside folksy ballads, he has an ear for rock songs to fill a stadium (and after completely selling out his 2021 and 2022 Love On Tour stretches, stadiums may be where he's headed next). "Where Do Broken Hearts Go?" is one of One Direction's most anthemic tracks, tailor made for karaoke or shouting alongside a crowd. It's no surprise Styles is the sole One Direction member on the writing credits for it, and you can hear that same exuberance on his solo rock anthems, from Fine Line’s ultra cool smash "Watermelon Sugar" to the funk rock-infused "Late Night Talking" on Harry's House. 

In a 2017 New York Times interview, Styles explained his rock influence — and really, his musicality as a whole — stems from his own musical tastes. "I really wanted to make an album that I wanted to listen to," he said of Harry Styles. "That was the only way I knew I wouldn't look back on it and regret it. It was more, 'What do I want to sit and listen to?' rather than, 'How do I shake up compared to what's on radio right now?'"

Judging by the elevated sounds on Harry's House, Styles' musical interests have grown as he has evolved as an artist. While there are hints of his previous writing and growth on the album, Styles incorporated so many new elements, and that's what makes Harry's House so interesting and so refreshing. 

Funk pervades the record, with synths and stylized loops fleshing out tracks like "Music For A Sushi Restaurant" and "Keep Driving." There's a constant sense of playfulness throughout all 13 tracks — something that was apparent to Styles' collaborators long before the world got to hear it. 

"Harry just said that he's never been more proud of anything, and Tom [Hull, better known as producer Kid Harpoon] and I are just there for the ride," Johnson says. "We didn't feel too caught up in the kind of reality of who he is and having to put out an album very specific to the commerce side of it. It was a lot of having fun and just kind of burying our heads in the sand and enjoying doing it. That was very different from Fine Line."

Styles can seemingly feel his evolution himself, too. In a wide-ranging interview with Zane Lowe upon the album's release in May 2022, Styles revealed that he tried not to take direct sonic influences on this record like he had in the past. "I kinda felt like you can reference things by the emotions that they evoke," he said.

The same interview points out how much more comfortable Styles has become with being flexible and fluid, both in his own writing and his collaborators. And now that he's found his right-hand men in Johnson and Hull, he finds it easier to bring his ideas to life. This has allowed Styles to continue to expand his writing, and that resulted in an album that launched his superstardom to even greater heights — and showcased Harry Styles simply having fun.

Now 28 (almost 29!), Styles has been a beloved star for nearly half of his life. In that time, fans have watched his musical abilities mature, morph and expand; he has shown a willingness to always have an eye on what comes next — and that forward thinking paid off in a big way in 2022. However he evolves next, it seems Styles will never lose the drive and endearing charm the world first saw on the "X Factor" stage over a decade ago.

"He's a very similar person. He's a very consistent, loyal, kind person, very focused. That is all the same," Johnson insists. "He's just doing what people do when they do it more and more — he's focusing in on who he is more, he's gaining confidence, and he's becoming more and more himself — which is a very potent thing."

via Grammy.com

[zot3-flopped]

Troye Sivan exists and delusional hag larries think someone is closeting louis and forcing him to be a father lmfaoooo I wonder if they ever stop and think about how stupid they are. Same with thinking Harry is not allowed to do whatever he wants, when he already wore a dress on the cover of vogue and got a ton of backlash over it. The homophobes in charge sure are powerful!

Troye exists, Sam Smith exists, Lil Nas X exists, Frank Ocean exists, Adam Lambert exists and yet little Louis Tomlinson is still being forced to fake a 7-year-old child.

[disgruntledkittenface]

I posted 3,609 times in 2022

143 posts created (4%)

3,466 posts reblogged (96%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@disgruntledkittenface

@neondiamond

@lilacdreamland

@wabadabadaba

@kingsofeverything

I tagged 2,039 of my posts in 2022

Only 44% of my posts had no tags

#q - 256 posts

#to read - 180 posts

#fic rec - 172 posts

#wordplay - 112 posts

#grace kelly au - 64 posts

#girl direction - 43 posts

#wip - 33 posts

#fave fics - 32 posts

#thank you for including me 💕 - 28 posts

#28th appreciation recs - 22 posts

Longest Tag: 131 characters

#but if this ends is such an achievement i loved hearing that you read it a lot to make sure it all worked because that is very me!!

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

subverting expectations by @disgruntledkittenface​

Rating: Mature

Category: F/F

Relationship: Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson

Additional tags: American AU, Girl Direction, Met Gala, Strangers to Lovers, Smut, Semi-Public Sex, Nipple Play, Vaginal Fingering, Daddy Kink, Actor Louis Tomlinson, Model Harry Styles

“Do you have a cigarette?”

If Harry thought the question would shock Louis, she would've been wrong. Louis doesn’t even look startled, even though it’s the first time one of them has spoken. She smirks at Harry in the mirror.

“We’re not supposed to do that anymore,” she says, her raspy voice full of mirth. Like she’s amused at Harry or something. “It’s bad for the paintings or whatever.”

“And you’re not a bad girl,” Harry says, turning to face Louis. She leans her hip against the counter, determined to both gain the upper hand and not think about why she wants to. “Right?”

Harry goes to the ladies’ room at the Met Gala expecting a cigarette and a break from the boredom. Instead, she gets Louis.

An (early) birthday gift for @homosociallyyours​ // READ ON AO3

169 notes - Posted May 3, 2022

#4

306 notes - Posted April 30, 2022

#3

Darling, so it goes by disgruntledkittenface

Harry practically skips up the stairs to his office with Sophia, rejuvenated by the possibility of seeing his Vogue. It’s one thing to know which shot they picked for the cover, but it’s going to be a whole other thing to actually hold the glossy pages in his hands. The shoot had been long and exhausting, and Harry had hated being away from Louis but at the same time he’d loved every minute of it. Some of the choices are going to invite controversy, and Guy from the press office might have a coronary, but it was important to be himself. Trending topics be damned, Harry Styles – soon to be Harry of Monaco – doesn’t care what people think he should or shouldn’t wear, and marrying into a royal family isn’t going to change that.

When they walk into Harry’s office, Mitch is sitting at the small table in the corner looking at one with his coffee cup. His complete and utter lack of enthusiasm does nothing to put a damper on Harry and Sophia’s; Harry drums his fingers against the desk as she carefully opens the small package. A soft gasp escapes her lips when the cover is revealed; the stark black of the headlines that matches the fitted blazer Harry is wearing contrasts nicely with the soft blues and greens in the background. The editors had agreed when Harry requested a bit of whimsy for the cover, knowing how many official portraits would be in his near future, and they’d used a shot where he’s blowing up a small blue balloon. The pose shows off his engagement ring nicely. It’s not immediately evident that what Harry is wearing underneath the jacket is actually a gown, and he holds his breath as Sophia flips through the pages, waiting for her to see the full outfit.

“Mon dieu,” Sophia breathes, lifting the page to get a closer look when she finally gets there. “Harry, this is beautiful. I love this gown on you, so elegant. Is it Gucci?”

“Nice, man,” Mitch says, leaning over Sophia’s shoulder and holding his fist out for Harry to bump. Sophia elbows him without taking her eyes off the magazine. “Sir. That’s nice, sir.”

“Thanks, Mitchell,” Harry says, grinning as he bumps Mitch’s fist with his own. “And yeah, Gucci. It was even more gorgeous in person. You might see it sometime, I think Alessandro is going to give it to me for my archives.”

“Oh, Harry,” Louis says, holding the cover out to admire it. “This is gorgeous, darling. Fit for a prince, indeed.”

“I’m really happy they went with that one,” Harry says, pointing to the large headline on the cover that says just that. “They had a few other options, but none of them felt right.”

“It’s perfect,” Louis says, turning the pages until he reaches the editorial. “That gown is fit for a prince. My prince.”

“Harry, we should frame this,” Sophia suggests, pointing to one of the walls. “We could hang it right there, what do you think?”

“I think that’s perfect.” Harry gently takes the magazine from Louis and hands it back to Sophia. “Would you mind taking care of it? I need to go shower, actually get ready for the day. I’ll be back in like an hour.”

“Or two,” Louis says, taking Harry’s hand in his as he gives him a long once-over. “Let’s just say later.”

“You heard le patron,” Harry laughs, letting Louis drag him out of the office. “I’ll be back later!”

The Grace Kelly AU. 195k.

Coming soon as part of @onedirectionbigbang

314 notes - Posted March 16, 2022

#2

baby, you’re the end of june by @disgruntledkittenface​

��Up for it, Harold? We can go over the rundown when we get back. If you’re not busy then.”

“Yeah, sounds good,” Harry says, closing his laptop and setting it on Louis’ desk. “It’s just Harry, though.”

“You look like a Harold,” Louis says, standing up and brushing some brownie crumbs off his t-shirt. Harry briefly wonders how he’s still hungry for lunch after demolishing half the plate of brownies as he stands and moves into the hallway. “It’s the cardigan, I think.”

“You guys can flirt on the way,” Niall says over his shoulder, beckoning for them to follow him as he strides down the row of cubicles. “Come on, I’m starving.”

Harry looks at Louis, but he just laughs as they follow Niall. Oh. He thought he’d been picking up a vibe while they hung out, but apparently not. Well, it’s better to know how Louis feels now, so he can nip his growing crush in the bud. Louis is a great guy, at least they can be friends as well as coworkers.

In which Harry courts Louis. Entirely by accident.

Additional tags: American AU, Advertising AU, Friends to Lovers, Pining, Fluff, Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Alpha Harry Styles, Omega Louis Tomlinson, Courting, Accidental Courting, Scenting, Scent Marking, Protective Harry, Misogyny (see author’s note), Smut, Knotting, Oral Sex, Anal Sex, Barebacking, Power Bottom Louis Tomlinson, mentions of Mating Cycles/In Heat

13.6k // written for @1daboficfest​ // READ ON AO3

392 notes - Posted June 6, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Darling, so it goes by disgruntledkittenface (195k, E)

Harry Styles is a world-famous actor at the height of his career but a personal low point when he meets His Serene Highness Prince Louis of Monaco by chance. He doesn’t think they’ll ever see each other again, but after striking up a correspondence, it turns out they have more in common than he thought. Then they start to fall for each other. Louis is different from anyone Harry has dated before and their relationship moves fast as Harry realizes he’s ready for a change. Soon Harry finds himself adapting to an entirely new life, in a country where he doesn’t know the rules, the customs, even the language. Harry is used to people underestimating him, and he’s more determined than ever to prove them wrong.

He just needs Louis to meet him halfway.

Grace Kelly AU.

Additional tags: Royal AU, Actor Harry Styles, Prince Louis Tomlinson, Famous/Famous AU, Developing Relationship, Long-Distance Relationship, Moving In Together, Louis Tomlinson Calls Harry Styles Pet Names, Meet the Family, Family Dynamics, Communication, Lack of Communication, Conflict, Conflict Resolution, Light Angst, Fluff, Marriage Proposal, Engagement, Royal Wedding, Prince Harry Styles, Family Planning, Past Family Member Death, Original Characters, POV Harry Styles, Alcohol, Drinking, Smut, Dirty Talk, Phone Sex, Safe Sex, Barebacking, Anal Sex, Anal Fingering, Blow Jobs, Rimming, Riding, Anal Plug, Light Exhibitionism, Semi-Public Sex, D/s Undertones, Light Subspace, Light Bondage, Handcuffs, Blindfolds, Spanking, Overstimulation, Harry in Panties, they kind of share that, meaning they’re both verse

written for @onedirectionbigbang​ // featuring art by @hrrytomlinson​

READ ON AO3

951 notes - Posted May 20, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[silas-lehnsherr]

The issue with Harry is not that he chooses not to publicly address his sexuality. That is well within his right and forcing a person out of the closet is wrong. The issue is now and always has been that he gets lauded as a queer icon when there are actual out and proud queer artists who are being dismissed in favor of a man some people believe is queer. Unless he comes out (which again, I do not believe he should be forced to do) he is not a queer icon. And even him coming out would not solve the large issue: that he does nothing to address the issues in the lgbtq+ community while also profiting off of us. To someone outside of his fandom he comes off as performative similar to a corporation cone June when they want to profit off of Pride. He’ll wear a dress on the cover of Vogue but won’t discuss the violence faced by gnc and transgender people. He’ll wave a rainbow flag but not address the recent attacks on gay people. And maybe once upon a time a person vaguely hinting at queerness was enough to get brownie points within the community, but it is not anymore. Does he need to come out? No. But he can at least be expected to be a better ally to the community if his choice is to keep his sexuality private (or as a lot of people suspect is actually straight). Just because a group of people decided he was gay in 2010 does not mean he is gay nor that he can simply wave a rainbow flag and be accepted as a queer icon. In 2023 that is not enough. Harry is not being forced out of the closet. No matter his sexuality, he has the right to keep his private life to himself. But maybe we should be applauding people who have chosen to address their sexuality and are part of the community first and foremost before we start patting a man on the back his fans (but no one else) seem to think is gay.

Also, on the subject of being respectful of people and their private lives: Louis Tomlinson had said multiple times he is straight and continuing to push the narrative that he is in a secret gay relationship with a man he was in a band with 7 years ago is just as disrespectful as forcing Kit Connor out of the closet. Louis has addressed his sexuality, as was his right. Harry chooses not to address his, also his right. But if you want to still head cannon Harry as gay (which arguably is not your right, but whatever) you need to keep Louis out of it.

so you are using an example of a queer person who was forced to come out because of queerbaiting accusations even though real life actual people cannot queerbait which resulted in negatively impacting their mental health and then go on to explain why H/L should come out when they literally DO NOT PUBLICALLY HAVE TO AND DO NOT OWE US ANY EXPLAINATION AT ALL???????????

[ladychlo]

Magazine covers : Now (2020/2021) and Then (2012)

[larrylimericks]

10Dec21

While sightings of Louis abound On the outskirts of London Town, The other’s MIA But we’d bet the UK Is also where H could be found.

[1ddiscourseoftheday]

💙Sat 12 Dec ‘20💙

◟̽◞̽ LIVE FROM LONDON aka “5 TIMES LOUIS NEARLY GAVE US HEART ATTACKS AND THE ONE TIME HE RAISED OUR BODIES BACK TO LIFE” ◟̽◞̽

The hype leading up to the event was beautiful and nerve wracking, with Louis' Walls streams showing the largest gain since release week, new merch dropping (pink! So much pink! It is the color of rock n roll after all...plus it's available in sizes ranging from XS to 3XL fuck yeah, so nice), LTHQ and Veeps whipping everyone into a frenzy with a barrage of tweets, plus Louis tweeted “if you have a speaker round the house plug it in, if you're old enough get yourself a drink. This is going to be special!” (fan: if I do that my mom will kill me! Louis, basically- fuck that, do what you want!), and then he posted the set list which genuinely took my stress levels down like 90% THANK YOU LOUIS, I was able to simply enjoy the cool static-y countdown with its rainbow glitches for a few. But ofc any calm went completely down the toilet the second he walked out with a giant ass H on his chest (the first heart attack) and started singing maybe the best he's ever sung in his life?? My heart was still pounding three minutes later when he sang the softest, most gorgeous version of We Made It, standing in front of a giant rainbow wheel. The arrangements on every song were incredible (the string section? YES!). He did the best version of Through The Dark I've ever heard and that song is already my fucking favorite, That Version of Two Of Us, ACOUSTIC ONLY THE BRAVE, rock Always You, stadium rock Fearless, and we all know about his version of Beautiful War (WOW), listen do I need to list every song? I WILL DON'T TRY ME. But on top of all that-- the NEW SONG!! Copy of a Copy of a Copy is, uh, amazing?? It's just... so GOOD...so.. gestures vaguely at like... all of it. The sound! The lyrics! GORGEOUS, and he really gets into the figurative lyrical territory that he admires so much in others' songs and has said he wants to do more, I love seeing that so much and the results are just... sublime. Truly. Much chatter now about the similarity in sound to Sign of the Times, as if it wasn't terrific enough already. So much to love about it! And I even loved the inclusion of the fan videos on KMM-- they were just on the screens behind Louis, it totally worked with the general cool look of everything and didn't detract at all, and tbh Louis singing directly to the wall  of singing louies was actually so lovely and precious. In conclusion, his voice throughout was PHENOMENAL, the band were great, strings included (hire those women Louis take them on the road, please!), the sets and lighting design and direction were awesome, the whole aesthetic was just SO on point, Louis said it best-- “we smashed it”. YEAH. YOU DID.

Other things: you didn’t think I was done with THAT FUCKING H SHIRT did you? It doesn't just have a GIANT H in the middle, above that (like tags!) are five asterisks, *****. YEAH. Look familiar? Yeah to me also damnnn. So, “end it”, “Harry”, or both? Poll time! Hair update: in a combined “you always come thru for your louies” and “you fucking demon troll” moment that's perfectly Louis he DID take his hat off to show us the glorious mane but I'm pretty sure he also trimmed it before the show! And: Hot Oli is already in the rearview I guess; ah we barely knew ye, but a new photog has appeared on the scene: enter Josh Halling (prev worked with Sam Fender) taking show pics today, including a super cool one on Louis' insta. Welcome to the team? Being a better guy than Jordan is a low bar, so just try to clear that one sir? And keep feeding us those great Louis pics! And: WBK Louis likes his backstage vodka redbull (and onstage 'water' bottles), and he confirmed between songs- “the power of vodka for me mate I’m loving it!” (straight? no, gay!). And: was the CK hoodie Louis was wearing in the pre show publicity photo (thanks Hot Oli) Harry's CK hoodie? Or simply a Copy of a…. well you know. And: hey guess what-- I gotta hand it to Veeps, against all odds that stream was flawless! Plus they got rid of the chat which was probably to facilitate that but also I simply appreciated it, good call. The Genius lyrics page for Copy of a Copy of a Copy did crash after the show though so it's cool don't worry; we've still got it. And finally: lots of people are talking now about how cool the show was but do any of them matter except DMAs reposting the pic on insta with hearts?! LOVE that for Louis.

And for the aftershow we got Louis on twitter! He thanked everyone (us, the crew, the band, Charlie, the strings, veeps, “all my personal team”), and answered a Q about doing another one-- “potentially but I doubt it, wanted to make this one special so no plans at the moment to do another.” About Copy he said “it will remain in the set for the tour and live shows but not sure when/if it will be released yet” but also re inclusion on LT2 “Probably but I want to keep all my options open. Very early in the process. Enjoy the moment!”

The rest of the day was pretty slow thank god, just some prerecorded content from Liam (a wizarding world spot) and a tik tok that's just him in the dark, shirtless, reacting to a fan screaming (literally) about how he apparently got relationship advice from Liam via facetime last night. And today's daily alarm, which was actually pretty wild, Liam and Roman reading a whole long rhyming poem about waking up! Very impressive indeed, I especially like when they rhyme “santa” with “banter”, perfectly British! And then also a strange interlude of Roman talking about how to impersonate Keanu Reeves, okay.

[gayrockanthem]

Chapter 2. Becoming a louie

A little throwback to November 2020. I saw GayTimes posted a story about a guy in a dress on the Vogue cover. I was like, Oh, wow! I have no idea who he is but that's cool!

Now back to the timeline. March 2021. GayTimes posted about that same guy from the cover winning his Grammy. Now I was curious. I went to YouTube and put 'Harry Styles' in a search bar. I could have never guessed that moment to be a major turning point in my life.

I listened to a couple of his tunes. I watched Sign Of The Times mv. And it stuck. Over the weekend that was the song on repeat in my headphones.

Then YouTube recommended videos like 'Harry Styles being the best human' and 'Harry Styles being Aquarius that he is'. Yeah, that's how you know I fell down the rabbit hole.

I was captivated by the guy. Sweet and hot and charming and cheeky and all these things about Harry.

Soon I discovered that he was in a band called One Direction. In the years they were active I have never heard about them. My only memory of the band was when Zayn left coz that was the kind of news you can't escape even if you want. I also remember his Pillowtalk, it was a hit back then.

Around the time they formed as a band, the more or less stable Internet access only appeared in my life. Before, I had copied some pirated Linkin Park and now I could listen to more of similar music. After years of only mainstream pop from the television, I was very much into heavier stuff. No wonder a boyband marketed for teenage girls went past me. But now, all these years later I was open-minded and intrigued not only by the music but their story as well. And Larry, of course.

I've seen a lot of people share a similar experience of falling down the rabbit hole of hours upon hours online watching, researching, crying their eyes out.

So yeah, this is how I was acquainted with the existence of Louis Tomlinson.

If it wasn't for Louis, I greatly doubt I would go any further than a casual fan. Just as for the lots of others, Harry opened the door but it was Louis who pulled me in.

Chapter 1. Before becoming a louie

There were always ups and downs in my life. 2018-2019 were years when I was truly hopeful. I made a leap toward myself in terms of how I present, the people I surround myself with, and the things I do. It felt like I finally started to live MY life. It was not easy, no! But I was on a roll.

2020 was the beginning of an end.

I had a relationship that ended as fast as it started. I had a job I wanted to quit. And so I did when the quarantine started. But at that time I was already broke. I went back to live with my parent, my gratitude to them for the shelter.

in May 2020, I had what I call a spiritual breakdown. When my physical/material world fell apart, I doubted my beliefs. I figured my worldview, the things I used to believe in and rely on, they don't really work. I felt empty. What's the point of caring for the greater good when I struggle to survive. I went back to basics, pretty primitive for that matter. I downloaded Tinder and soon I went back to the mediocre office job.

In September 2020 I lost my friend. My first friend and my best friend. I didn't have friends at all growing up. We clicked together when I was already in my twenties. The part of me died with him. The significant part of me.

In December 2020 I started another relationship. But my health deteriorated. I generally have good health but then I was hit with one problem after another. Also, this was the coldest winter I have ever had, not in terms of the temperature outside but I was constantly cold which is also not typical for me.

In February 2021 the relationship ended. Just as fast as it started. Just the same as the one I had a year before.

So what do I do now? How do I move on now that I'm so very far from being hopeful as in, say, 2019?

[bravecreature]

well now you have.

[hide-your-pizza]

HE LOOKS LIKE A PAINTING KIIIIIINNNG AIJHFLUENRUGVBDKFJLA

[angeltxmlinson]

Louis Tomlinson for Vogue (my edit)

(Please do not repost or crop out watermark!)

[kenzys-lockscreens]

so vogue should hire me right?

[dreamings-free]

BRINGING THE LOVE Get to know the wildly adored British pop star Harry Styles before his concert tour hits San Diego. San Diego Union-Tribune  12 Nov 2021

full text under the cut >

By Nina Garin

IT’S HAPPENING. After two COVID-19 postponements, Harry Styles will finally bring his Love On Tour concert to San Diego. And we are ready. We’ve been ready. We can’t handle how ready we are. We have our best outfits (hopefully they still fit after lockdown). We’ve made signs to hold up during the show (hopefully he can see all the way up to the balcony). And we’ve memorized every single set list (hopefully he’ll do a San Diego-centric cover — Andra Day? Switchfoot?).

If you’re reading this and are confused by all the enthusiasm, perhaps you are not aware of the greatness that is Harry Styles. Here’s a bit of background: Born in 1994, Styles grew up in Holmes Chapel, England (not too far from Liverpool, actually). In 2010, he auditioned for Simon Cowell on the seventh season of “The X Factor,” performing Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely.” That’s when the world was introduced to the musician, songwriter and actor that consumes so many hours of our days.

If that isn’t enough to win you over to Team Harry, here are 12 more reasons why we love him:

1. He put in the work

Though Styles didn’t make it as a solo artist on “The X Factor,” he was placed in the boy band One Direction with fellow promising singers Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan. (At 16, Styles was the youngest). The band signed to Cowell’s Syco Music label and released five chart-topping albums: “Up All Night,” “Take Me Home,” “Midnight Memories,” “Four” and “Made in the A.M.”

2. He’s loyal

Styles stayed in One Direction even after Malik left in early 2015, continuing with the band until it officially went on hiatus in December 2015.

3. But he’s also independent

In 2017, Styles released “Harry Styles” — a record that Rolling Stone called “a superb solo debut.” His follow-up, 2019’s “Fine Line,” was a global success thanks to songs like “Watermelon Sugar” and “Adore You.” That Grammy-nominated album is essentially why the world is in its current state of Harrymania.

4. He’s a star of stage and screen

Along with being a full-time rock star, Styles also takes on unexpected movie roles, like playing a soldier in Christopher Nolan’s “Dunkirk,” and it was recently announced that he’s joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Eros, brother of Thanos.

5. He gives back

“Treat People With Kindness” is a song from “Fine Line,” but it’s also the slogan he uses to raise money for charity. Styles has raised over $1 million for local charities through merchandise and ticket sales;

causes around the world include the North Texas Food Bank, the Munich Refugee Council and the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund.

6. He’s funny

Styles has been doing skits on “The Late Late Show With James Corden” since his One Direction days, including some “Carpool Karaoke” drives and a “Crosswalk Concert.” He also did a memorable Mick Jagger impression on “Saturday Night Live” a few years ago. In 2019, Styles was both the host and musical guest on “SNL,” and — bonus to local fans — in the sketch “Airline Pilots,” he actually says “San Diego.” (Squee!!)

7. He’s fashionable

Styles made headlines in December 2020 for being the first man to be on the cover of Vogue, and he did it wearing a dress. But even before that cover, Styles has always dressed provocatively and androgynously, with looks that include a pearl necklace with a frilly collar, a pink pantsuit and a custom Gucci leather suit with accompanying feather boa. Yes, queer icons like Billy Porter have been dressing this way for ages without the same attention and adulation, but in mainstream circles Styles is helping to change the dialogue around what’s acceptable in men’s fashion.

8. He keeps good company

Which is your favorite friendship? Styles and Lizzo? The two have covered each other’s songs and famously flirted on camera at the 2020 Brit Awards. Styles and Stevie Nicks? Clearly inspired by her 1970s rock vibe, Styles befriended the Fleetwood Mac singer-songwriter, who has has referred to Styles as the son she never had. In 2020, Styles inducted Nicks into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. What about Styles and Ed Sheeran? The two British pop singers have been friends for ages and even have matching tattoos.

9. Speaking of tattoos ...

The 27-year-old musicians has over 50 of them — from the oversize butterfly just above his stomach to the tiny guitar on his shoulder.

10. The gift of ‘Sign of the Times’

This one’s very specific, but anyone who watches dance in real life or on TV has seen an interpretation of Styles’ intense and moving song “Sign of the Times” — it usually involves a lot of floor work and stomping. It’s a staple at dance competitions around the world and has been performed on “So You Think You Can Dance.” One of the best versions is by Korea’s G.NI Dance Company.

11. He appreciates his fans

Usually when you dress up for a concert, you don’t actually expect to get noticed by the performer. But Styles is extremely attentive, treating his fans more like friends and joking with them throughout his performances. He reads and reacts to homemade signs, offers relationship advice, and even did a baby gender reveal for fans during a show.

12. The spirit of Harryween

The best thing about Styles is the level of enthusiasm and commitment he brings to anything he does, exemplified recently over Halloween weekend. He threw not one, but two costume parties/concerts at New York’s Madison Square Garden. On Oct. 30, he and the band dressed up as characters from “The Wizard of Oz” (Styles as Dorothy, obviously) and sang “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” then on Halloween night he wore a vintageinspired clown costume and performed Britney Spears’ “Toxic.” We can’t wait to see what he’ll do in San Diego.

[hldailyupdate]

For British singer/songwriter Harry Styles, 2020 was a career-defining year, bolstered by the December 2019 release of his GRAMMY-nominated sophomore solo album, 'Fine Line'

Though many people might want to write off 2020 as a year that never existed, for others, it was a year of growth, change and even success. For Harry Styles, 2020 was a career-defining year, which is no easy feat when the entire world is shut down. The pandemic left him no choice but to put his world tour plans on pause and strategize a new way to not just promote his sophomore album, Fine Line, released in December 2019, but also keep fans' attention.

What followed was a bit of a phenomenon.

Styles, who has been a star since his One Direction days, became a bigger star with every passing day. His album went multi-platinum, he got his first Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 single with "Watermelon Sugar," he was named Variety's 2020 Hitmaker of the Year, he landed his first-ever GRAMMY nominations of his career (Best Pop Solo Performance for "Watermelon Sugar," Best Music Video for "Adore You" and Best Pop Vocal Album for Fine Line at the 2021 GRAMMY Awards show). And the list goes on.

While these accomplishments would add up to a banner year for any artist, what makes it so unique for the British singer is twofold. For one, he's been in the business for a decade already, gaining fame at just 17 as a member of the huge boy band One Direction. While in the group, which came together in 2010 as part of "The X-Factor," Styles and his bandmates Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik found global success, selling millions of records, performing in sold-out stadiums around the world and winning many awards.

However, despite how massive the band became, they didn't quite crossover to listeners of all ages—they had a hard time shaking the boy band label. While their music evolved into a more mature rock sound over the years, they never got to a place where they were wholly appreciated by the public in a way that their fans knew they deserved.

Once the band went on hiatus in 2015, Styles went to work creating his first solo album, Harry Styles. It was released in 2017 to much fanfare (it also debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200), but it wasn't until his second solo album that he really hit his stride. With Fine Line he found his musical voice and shared an album that not only resonated with his core fanbase but also brought him further into the mainstream.

From the first single released off the album ("Lights Up" in October 2019) all the way to the most recent video ("Treat People With Kindness" in January 2021), Fine Line has continued to grow. It was with this album that Styles became a household name, disconnected from his boy band roots in a way like never before. Gone are the days where people refer to him as "Harry Styles from One Direction." Now Styles stands alone, proud of where he came from but boldly moving forward on his own path.

The even more stunning part of Styles' year, though, and the second reason 2020 was so out of this world for him, he largely let his fanbase spread the good word about his art. Fans on social media hosted streaming parties for "Watermelon Sugar" to ensure it hit Billboard's No. 1 spot. They've created and sold their own merchandise to advertise his music. As only a dedicated stan army can do, they've made sure that every single thing he does goes viral. Even though Styles himself has a limited social media presence, he's still one of the most noteworthy internet personalities, simply because his fans have kept him there. In a world where social media reigns supreme, he lets his work speak for itself and trusts in his partnership with his fans to help him succeed.

The impact of Fine Line was substantial. Because of it, he is currently in the running for his first three GRAMMYs--Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Music Video for "Adore You" and Best Pop Solo Performance for "Watermelon Sugar." And the numbers also back up his work. Fine Line is RIAA certified double platinum, has over 4 billion worldwide streams and spawned six songs that cracked the Billboard Top 100 chart.

Before the album's release, to promote "Adore You," Styles and Columbia Records created a mysterious world called Eroda that trended before anyone even knew it was for a music video. "Watermelon Sugar" became one of the songs of the pandemic summer after the video dedicated to human touch—which has over 194 million views on YouTube—was released in May 2020.

Not one to ever let the album get stale, Styles continued to remind listeners of its existence throughout 2020, even though the world had shut down and in-person promo wasn't an option. Before that, though, Styles caused a buzz as he took double duty on "Saturday Night Live" in November 2019 as the host and musical guest, as well as performing in BBC Radio1's Live Lounge the following month. After a few shows in Los Angeles, London, and New York in late 2019 and early 2020, Styles hunkered down amid COVID and let his music videos do the talking. Aside from "Watermelon Sugar," he released a video for "Falling" in February and "Golden" in October. Fans may not have gotten to see Styles on the road in 2020, but he made sure to keep popping up on their screens, including a virtual appearance at iHeart Radio's Jingle Ball in December, one of his only in 2020.

But 2020 wasn't only a great year for Styles' music, he also graced multiple fashion magazine covers, continued his relationship with Gucci, and even landed a second major movie role, in Olivia Wilde's upcoming Don't Worry Darling. Not only was he Vogue's first man to pose on a cover alone, he did it wearing a dress. He's continued to quietly advocate for genderless fashion by wearing what makes him happy, whether it's fishnets for Beauty Papers or his everyday pearl necklace. Though many rock stars before him pushed similar gender-bending trends, he's become that person for his generation.

Styles even influenced countless people in lockdown to take up knitting, simply to recreate the J.W. Anderson rainbow patchwork cardigan he wore during a rehearsal for the "Today" show in February. After a few fans fumbled through knitting a copycat, the fashion house published a pattern that spread like wildfire. Suddenly TikTok was flooded with people knitting "The Sweater," and fans all over the world showed off their matching rainbow cardigans in their Instagram selfies from home.

As much as the phrase has been bandied about in recent months, it still holds true: It's Harry Styles' world and we're all just living in it. Despite all the setbacks and hardships, 2020 defined Styles as an artist—not just a musician, but a whole artist. It seems inevitable that Styles will only continue to grow his star power as he draws in more fans for this journey. For those devoted fans who have been there for him since he was just a teenager singing "What Makes You Beautiful," though, his meteoric rise in 2020 just made sense.

(11 March 2021)

[hlupdate]

Variety’s Grammy-nominated Hitmaker of the Year goes deep on the music industry, the great pause and finding his own muses.

“We’ll dance again,” Harry Styles coos, the Los Angeles sunshine peeking through his pandemic-shaggy hair just so. The singer, songwriter and actor — beloved and critically acclaimed thanks to his life-affirming year-old album, “Fine Line” — is lamenting that his Variety Hitmaker of the Year cover conversation has to be conducted over Zoom rather than in person. Even via videoconference, the Brit is effortlessly charming, as anyone who’s come within earshot of him would attest, but it quickly becomes clear that beneath that genial smile is a well-honed media strategy.

To wit: In an interview that appears a few days later announcing his investment in a new arena in his native Manchester (more on that in a bit), he repeats the refrain — “There will be a time we dance again”— referencing a much-needed return to live music and the promise of some 4,000 jobs for residents.

None of which is to suggest that Styles, 26, phones it in for interviews. Quite the opposite: He does very few, conceivably to give more of himself and not cheapen what is out there and also to use the publicity opportunity to indulge his other interests, like fashion. (Last month Styles became the first male to grace the cover of Vogue solo.) Still, it stings a little that a waltz with the former One Direction member may not come to pass on this album cycle — curse you, coronavirus.

Styles’ isolation has coincided with his maturation as an artist, a thespian and a person. With “Fine Line,” he’s proved himself a skilled lyricist with a tremendous ear for harmony and melody. In preparing for his role in Olivia Wilde’s period thriller “Don’t Worry Darling,” which is shooting outside Palm Springs, he found an outlet for expression in interpreting words on a page. And for the first time, he’s using his megaphone to speak out about social justice — inspired by the outpouring of support for Black people around the world following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police in May.

Styles has spent much of the past nine months at home in London, where life has slowed considerably. The time has allowed him to ponder such heady issues as his purpose on the earth. “It’s been a pause that I don’t know if I would have otherwise taken,” says Styles. “I think it’s been pretty good for me to have a kind of stop, to look and think about what it actually means to be an artist, what it means to do what we do and why we do it. I lean into moments like this — moments of uncertainty.”

In truth, while Styles has largely been keeping a low profile — his Love On Tour, due to kick off on April 15, was postponed in late March and is now scheduled to launch in February 2021 (whether it actually will remains to be seen) — his music has not. This is especially true in the U.S., where he’s notched two hit singles, “Adore You,” the second-most-played song at radio in 2020, and “Watermelon Sugar” (No. 22 on Variety’s year-end Hitmakers chart), with a third, “Golden,” already cresting the top 20 on the pop format. The massive cross-platform success of these songs means Styles has finally and decisively broken into the American market, maneuvering its web of gatekeepers to accumulate 6.2 million consumption units and rising.

Why do these particular songs resonate in 2020? Styles doesn’t have the faintest idea. While he acknowledges a “nursery rhyme” feel to “Watermelon Sugar” with its earwormy loop of a chorus, that’s about as much insight as he can offer. His longtime collaborator and friend Tom Hull, also known as the producer Kid Harpoon, offers this take: “There’s a lot of amazing things about that song, but what really stands out is the lyric. It’s not trying to hide or be clever. The simplicity of watermelon … there’s such a joy in it, [which] is a massive part of that song’s success.” Also, his kids love it. “I’ve never had a song connect with children in this way,” says Hull, whose credits include tunes by Shawn Mendes, Florence and the Machine and Calvin Harris. “I get sent videos all the time from friends of their kids singing. I have a 3-year-old and an 8-year-old, and they listen to it.”

Styles is quick to note that he doesn’t chase pop appeal when crafting songs. In fact, the times when he pondered or approved a purposeful tweak, like on his self-titled 2017 debut, still gnaw at him. “I love that album so much because it represents such a time in my life, but when I listen to it — sonically and lyrically, especially — I can hear places where I was playing it safe,” he says. “I was scared to get it wrong.”

Contemporary effects and on-trend beats hardly factor into Styles’ decision-making. He likes to focus on feelings — his own and his followers’ — and see himself on the other side of the velvet rope, an important distinction in his view. “People within [the industry] feel like they operate on a higher level of listening, and I like to make music from the point of being a fan of music,” Styles says. “Fans are the best A&R.”

This from someone who’s had free rein to pursue every musical whim, and hand in the album of his dreams in the form of “Fine Line.” Chart success makes it all the sweeter, but Styles insists that writing “for the right reasons” supersedes any commercial considerations. “There’s no part that feels, eh, icky — like it was made in the lab,” he says.

Styles has experience in this realm. As a graduate of the U.K. competition series “The X Factor,” where he and four other auditionees — Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson — were singled out by show creator and star judge Simon Cowell to conjoin as One Direction, he’s seen how the prefab pop machine works up close. The One Direction oeuvre, which counts some 42 million albums sold worldwide, includes songs written with such established hitmakers as Ryan Tedder, Savan Kotecha and Teddy Geiger. Being a studious, insatiable observer, Styles took it all in.

“I learned so much,” he says of the experience. “When we were in the band, I used to try and write with as many different people as I could. I wanted to practice — and I wrote a lot of bad shit.”

His bandmates also benefited from the pop star boot camp. The proof is in the relatively seamless solo transitions of at least three of its members — Payne, Malik and Horan in addition to Styles — each of whom has landed hit singles on charts in the U.K., the U.S. and beyond.

This departs from the typical trajectories of boy bands including New Kids on the Block and ’N Sync, which have all pro ered a star frontman. The thinking for decades was that a record company would be lucky to have one breakout solo career among the bunch.

Styles has plainly thought about this.

“When you look at the history of people coming out of bands and starting solo careers, they feel this need to apologize for being in the band. ‘Don’t worry, everyone, that wasn’t me! Now I get to do what I really want to do.’ But we loved being in the band,” he says. “I think there’s a wont to pit people against each other. And I think it’s never been about that for us. It’s about a next step in evolution. The fact that we’ve all achieved different things outside of the band says a lot about how hard we worked in it.”

Indeed, during the five-ish years that One Direction existed, Styles’ schedule involved the sort of nonstop international jet-setting that few get to see in a lifetime, never mind their teenage years. Between 2011 and 2015, One Direction’s tours pulled in north of $631 million in gross ticket sales, according to concert trade Pollstar, and the band was selling out stadiums worldwide by the time it entered its extended hiatus. Styles, too, had built up to playing arenas as a solo artist, engaging audiences with his colorful stage wear and banter and left-of-center choices for opening acts (a pre-Grammy-haul Kacey Musgraves in 2018; indie darlings King Princess and Jenny Lewis for his rescheduled 2021 run).

Stages of all sizes feel like home to Styles. He grew up in a suburb of Manchester, ground zero for some of the biggest British acts of the 1980s and ’90s, including Joy Division, New Order, the Smiths and Oasis, the latter of which broke the same year Styles was born. His parents were also music lovers. Styles’ father fed him a balanced diet of the Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, the Rolling Stones and Queen, while Mum was a fan of Shania Twain, Norah Jones and Savage Garden. “They’re all great melody writers,” says Styles of the acts’ musical throughline.

Stevie Nicks, who in the past has described “Fine Line” as Styles’ “Rumours,” referencing the Fleetwood Mac 1977 classic, sees him as a kindred spirit. “Harry writes and sings his songs about real experiences that seemingly happened yesterday,” she tells Variety. “He taps into real life. He doesn’t make up stories. He tells the truth, and that is what I do. ‘Fine Line’ has been my favorite record since it came out. It is his ‘Rumours.’ I told him that in a note on December 13, 2019 before he went on stage to play the ‘Fine Line’ album at the Forum. We cried. He sang those songs like he had sung them a thousand times. That’s a great songwriter and a great performer.”

“Harry’s playing and writing is instinctual,” adds Jonathan Wilson, a friend and peer who’s advised Styles on backing and session musicians. “He understands history and where to take the torch. You can see the thread of great British performers — from Bolan to Bowie — in his music.”

Also shaping his musical DNA was Manchester itself, the site of a 23,500-seat arena, dubbed Co-op Live, for which Styles is an investor and adviser. Oak View Group, a company specializing in live entertainment and global sports that was founded by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff in 2015 (Jeffrey Azoff, Irving’s son, represents Styles at Full Stop Management), is leading the effort to construct the venue. The project gained planning approval in September and is set to open in 2023, with its arrival representing a £350 million ($455 million) investment in the city. (Worth noting: Manchester is already home to an arena — the site of a 2017 bombing outside an Ariana Grande concert — and a football stadium, where One Love Manchester, an all-star benefit show to raise money for victims of the terrorist attack, took place.)

“I went to my first shows in Manchester,” Styles says of concerts paid for with money earned delivering newspapers for a supermarket called the Co-op. “My friends and I would go in on weekends. There’s so many amazing small venues, and music is such a massive part of the city. I think Manchester deserves it. It feels like a full-circle, coming-home thing to be doing this and to be able to give any kind of input. I’m incredibly proud. Hopefully they’ll let me play there at some point.”

Though Styles has owned properties in Los Angeles, his base for the foreseeable future is London. “I feel like my relationship with L.A. has changed a lot,” he explains. “I’ve kind of accepted that I don’t have to live here anymore; for a while I felt like I was supposed to. Like it meant things were going well. This happened, then you move to L.A.! But I don’t really want to.”

Is it any wonder? Between COVID and the turmoil in the U.S. spurred by the presidential election, Styles, like some 79 million American voters, is recovering from sticker shock over the bill of goods sold to them by the concept of democracy. “In general, as people, there’s a lack of empathy,” he observes. “We found this place that’s so divisive. We just don’t listen to each other anymore. And that’s quite scary.”

That belief prompted Styles to speak out publicly in the wake of George Floyd’s death. As protests in support of Black Lives Matter took to streets all over the world, for Styles, it triggered a period of introspection, as marked by an Instagram message (liked by 2.7 million users and counting) in which he declared: “I do things every day without fear, because I am privileged, and I am privileged every day because I am white. … Being not racist is not enough, we must be anti racist. Social change is enacted when a society mobilizes. I stand in solidarity with all of those protesting. I’m donating to help post bail for arrested organizers. Look inwards, educate yourself and others. LISTEN, READ, SHARE, DONATE and VOTE. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. BLACK LIVES MATTER.”

“Talking about race can be really uncomfortable for everyone,” Styles elaborates. “I had a realization that my own comfort in the conversation has nothing to do with the problem — like that’s not enough of a reason to not have a conversation. Looking back, I don’t think I’ve been outspoken enough in the past. Using that feeling has pushed me forward to being open and ready to learn. … How can I ensure from my side that in 20 years, the right things are still being done and the right people are getting the right opportunities? That it’s not a passing thing?”

His own record company — and corporate parent Sony Music Group, whose chairman, Rob Stringer, signed Styles in 2016 — has been grappling with these same questions as the industry has faced its own reckoning with race. At issue: inequality among the upper ranks (an oft-cited statistic: popular music is 80% Black, but the music business is 80% white); contracts rooted in a decades-old system that many say is set up to take advantage of artists, Black artists more unfairly than white; and the call for a return of master rights, an ownership model that is at the core of the business.

Styles acknowledges the fundamental imbalance in how a major label deal is structured — the record company takes on the financial risk while the artist is made to recoup money spent on the project before the act is considered profitable and earning royalties (typically at a 15% to 18% rate for the artist, while the label keeps and disburses the rest). “Historically, I can’t think of any industry that’s benefited more off of Black culture than music,” he says. “There are discussions that need to happen about this long history of not being paid fairly. It’s a time for listening, and hopefully, people will come out humbled, educated and willing to learn and change.”

By all accounts, Styles is a voracious reader, a movie lover and an aesthete. He stays in shape by adhering to a strict daily exercise routine. “I tried to keep up but didn’t last more than two weeks,” says Hull, Styles�� producer, with a laugh. “The discipline is terrifying.”

Of course, with the fashion world beckoning — Styles recently appeared in a film series for Gucci’s new collection that was co-directed by the fashion house’s creative director, Alessandro Michele, and Oscar winner Gus Van Sant — and a movie that’s set in the 1950s, maintaining that physique is part of the job. And he’s no stranger to visual continuity after appearing in Christopher Nolan’s epic “Dunkirk” and having to return to set for reshoots; his hair, which needed to be cut back to its circa 1940 form, is a constant topic of conversation among fans. This time, it’s the ink that poses a challenge. By Styles’ tally, he’s up to 60 tattoos, which require an hour in the makeup chair to cover up. “It’s the only time I really regret getting tattooed,” he says.

He shows no regret, however, when it comes to stylistic choices overall, and takes pride in his gender-agnostic portfolio, which includes wearing a Gucci dress on that Vogue cover— an image that incited conservative pundit Candace Owens to plead publicly to “bring back manly men.” In Styles’ view: “To not wear [something] because it’s females’ clothing, you shut out a whole world of great clothes. And I think what’s exciting about right now is you can wear what you like. It doesn’t have to be X or Y. Those lines are becoming more and more blurred.”

But acclaim, if you can believe it, is not top of mind for Styles. As far as the Grammys are concerned, Styles shrugs, “It’s never why I do anything.” His team and longtime label, however, had their hearts set on a showing at the Jan. 31 ceremony. Their investment in Styles has been substantial — not just monetarily but in carefully crafting his career in the wake of such icons as David Bowie, who released his final albums with the label. Hope at the company and in many fans’ hearts that Styles would receive an album of the year nomination did not come to pass. However, he was recognized in three categories, including best pop vocal album.

“It’s always nice to know that people like what you’re doing, but ultimately — and especially working in a subjective field — I don’t put too much weight on that stuff,” Styles says. “I think it’s important when making any kind of art to remove the ego from it.” Citing the painter Matisse, he adds: “It’s about the work that you do when you’re not expecting any applause.”

[larrylimericks]

9Dec21

Beach Edition South Beach will see Harry headlining A New Year’s Eve Eve college bowl thing, And move over, Chaucer, For a new published author: Lou foreword-ed Helene’s Just Sing.

Leech Edition On the coattails of Harry’s appeal, A new cover girl’s been revealed, With a Wilde press release Dressed up as a Vogue piece Purchased in a two-for-one deal.