After 3 years of waiting, Harry Styles fans excitedly listened to Harry’s House on May 20th. One of Styles’ early teasers for his third solo album included the release of the popular single “As It Was,” which quickly broke multiple streaming records in Spotify history.

While the world was enjoying the upbeat, 1980’s pop-inspired song and comparing it to his mellower songs, such as “Sign of the Times,” fans were eager to discover its meaning. The nostalgic lyrics have led some to believe that it is about his family, and others to theorize that it touches on his relationship with fame. In regards to the song’s true meaning, Styles told SiriusXM, “It’s about growing as a person, your kind of natural evolution, and losing yourself, finding yourself, that time when you look back.” Nonetheless, “As It Was” sets the scene for the rest of his album, which continues to shed light on his personal experiences and relationships, proving to be his most intimate and unique album so far.

While living briefly in Japan, Styles expressed in a recent Apple Music interview with Zane Lowe that the album name came from Japanese singer Haruomi Hosono’s album Hosono House. Styles explained the album’s intentions to Lowe, stating, “As I started making the album, I realized it was much more of an internal thing. When I took that title, put it to the songs we were making, it felt like it took on this whole new meaning. It was about, ‘OK, imagine, it’s a day in my house. A day in my mind?’”
From the first song, “Music For a Sushi Restaurant,” fans were shocked at the album’s different music style. Especially compared to “Harry Styles” and “Fine Line,” the scat-filled opener that Styles enjoyed creating certainly stood out to listeners. Transitioning to the similarly funky “Late Night Talking,” the song represents the early, exciting feelings of a relationship, hinting at his relationship with film director Olivia Wilde. “Grapejuice,” “Little Freak,” and “Satellite,” on the other hand, are reflections on past breakups.
The true tear-jerker on this album, however, is “Matilda.” Written anonymously for a friend, the song is inspired by the protagonist in Roald Dahl’s Matilda, who is emotionally abused by her parents. It is an extremely intimate and powerful song about dealing with family trauma and moving on, and truly shows changes in his artistic approach.
The final song on the album, “Love Of My Life,” is another meaningful song dedicated to his home in England and about his sadness surrounding it; which allows fans to further understand the album’s title, and completes the tour of Harry’s House. This album clearly demonstrates how Styles has matured and shifted his priorities to his “home,” and how he has begun to experiment with a wide range of sounds and styles. While some songs may not have succeeded, such as the more folksy song “Boyfriends,” there are certainly songs for anyone to enjoy, regardless of their typical music preferences. This album’s creativity has not disappointed fans, and the world is excited to see what’s next for Harry Styles.

This piece also appears in our September 2022 print edition.