Following a four-year hiatus, “Aperture” is the first single off the former One Direction star’s fourth album, Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally. Set to be released March 6, “Aperture” serves as the first glimpse into what we can expect from the artist’s highly anticipated new project.
“Aperture” is unlike anything Styles has previously put out. While his earlier works have been characterized as a blend of indie pop, psychedelic pop and soft rock, this track subverts expectations by introducing a more synth-heavy, electronic pop sound more typical of the house music genre. Coming in at just over five minutes, the track is one of Styles’ longest yet, breaking his pattern of upbeat, three-minute-long radio hits. However, even with a longer run time, there is no wasted space to be found.
The track begins with a slow-building 45-second introduction, featuring low synths that stretch over the track’s duration, grounding listeners in the buzzy, club-like atmosphere the song’s story evokes. With the lyrics “I’m told you’re elevating / drinks go straight to my knees,” Styles captures the dizzying experience of clouded judgment, his somber vocals only solidifying the song’s subdued nature.
Yet while the track finds its roots in a soft, moody sound, it’s juxtaposed by a seemingly brighter, hopeful melody. “It’s best you know what you don’t / aperture lets the light in,” Styles sings. An aperture is an adjustable opening in a camera lens that controls how much light passes through in a shot – likely Styles’ way of conveying the choice to remain optimistic despite tough circumstances. As the melody is repeated throughout the track, this message is reinforced, cementing Styles’ wishful perspective on life’s highs and lows. In the track’s final line, “We belong together,” a chorus of background vocals accompanies Styles, ending the song on a full-sounding, gospel-esque note that’s reminiscent of his 2019 track “Lights Up.” The statement is short and succinct. It’s simple enough in nature that it leaves space for the rest of the album to either expand upon or contrast the song’s premise.
“Aperture” is a surprising but promising first single for Styles’s upcoming release. With an experimental new sound, Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally. is sure to shed insight on Styles’ last four years and how the artist is navigating life and love.