Harry Styles opens up about why he burst into tears after going solo
He was in One Direction for six years
Harry Styles has carved a pretty impressive career as both singer as part of One Direction and more recently an actor and solo artist, but six years after One Direction started their hiatus, the 'As It Was' singer has opened up in a new interview about his time in the band and how he felt when he went solo.
Speaking to Better Homes & Gardens, Harry reflected on his time in The X Factor runners up band. "In lockdown, I started processing a lot of stuff that happened when I was in the band," Harry explained, going on to say how he was encouraged to give so much of himself away, "to get people to engage with you, to like you."
He went on to reveal that there are no baby photos of him that don't exist online. Giving an X Factor producer a load of baby photos so they could do a backstory, he didn't think about how now his childhood is online for all to see.
The BRIT Award winner then went on to reveal how he "felt free" after going solo, as he didn't have to worry about clauses in the contracts he used to sign, meaning he was worried about saying the wrong thing in interviews. He told how he had even burst into tears when he signed his solo contract.
Since going solo, Harry has released two Top 2 albums and had huge success with hits such as his debut solo song 'Sign of the Times', followed by 'Lights Up', 'Adore You', and most recently 'As It Was'.
He is also set to release his third, highly-anticipated album 'Harry's House' on 20th May, having announced it in March, simply telling his fans: 'Harry’s House. May 20th.'
However, he admitted to Better Homes & Gardens that: "Finally, it doesn't feel like my life is over if this album isn't a commercial success." When asked if he's ever felt that way before, he replied: "Honestly, I don't think I have."
Admitting that when he was working on his first solo album he was scared to make fun music saying: "Because I'd come out of the band, and it was like, if I want to be taken seriously as a musician, then I can't make fun music."
When it came to his second album, 'Fine Line' he revealed he felt "freer" wanting to make "really big songs".
Now, with his third album 'Harry's House' on the horizon he explained: "I just want to make stuff that is right, that is fun, in terms of the process, that I can be proud of for a long time, that my friends can be proud of, that my family can be proud of, that my kids will be proud of one day."
Harry's House is out on 20th May and you can hear songs by Harry Styles on Forth 1.
Check out some of Harry Styles' best looks:
2010: One Direction
After initially auditioning as solo candidates, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and the late Liam Payne were put together by Simon Cowell as One Direction. On stage, the teenagers were heavily styled by The X Factor producers but off stage, 16-year-old Harry joined his bandmates in wearing typically teen-friendly tracksuits, hoodies and gilets.
2010: Harry's animal hat
Harry sent teens around the UK crazy when he rocked an adorable fluffy animal hat outside The X Factor. Of course, sales for the hat went through the roof when it was discovered to be from River Island!
2011: Blazers and jeans
The One Direction revolution swept the globe and the boys' popularity skyrocketed. They signed to Simon Cowell's Syco label, embarked on The X Factor tour and released their debut single 'What Makes You Beautiful'. In 2011, Harry Styles tended to stick to the blazer and jeans combination and of course, always matching his fellow bandmates.
2012: More blazers
In 2012, Harry's signature curls remained and so did his love for a blazer. The One Direction stars attended countless award shows and wore countless blazers!
2013: Patterned shirts at London Fashion Week
In 2013, it was clear that 19-year-old Harry was beginning to break the boyband mould. The teen heartthrob was expressing himself with the occasional patterned shirt, Chelsea boots and skinny jeans. Harry sat front row at London Fashion Week and even won a British Fashion Award!
2014: Long hair and bigger hats
As One Direction embarked on their worldwide stadium 'Where We Are' tour, Harry continued to experiment with his fashion and was well away from his teenage 'laid back' style. Harry was rarely seen without a hat for his longer locks.
2015: Harry Styles in THAT suit
In March 2015, One Direction announced that Zayn Malik would be leaving the band and subsequently breaking Directioners' hearts all over the land. Luckily, Harry remedied this by continuing his fashion evolution and wearing more prints, patterns and distinctly different looks to the rest of the band. No one will ever forget this Gucci suit the singer wore to the 2015 American Music Awards.
2016: Harry with long hair in Los Angeles
One Direction announced their hiatus in 2016 and released their fifth studio album 'Made In The A.M.'. Harry was pictured at LAX Airport in January 2016 wearing his favourite Saint Laurent camel boots.
2017: Harry's debut album and new style
2017 saw the birth of Harry Styles as a solo artist and the singer's now signature style. After cutting his hair for his acting role in 'Dunkirk', Harry embarked on the promotional tour of his debut album wearing more colour, and heavily aligning himself with the brand he is now synonymous with, Gucci. At the 2017 Aria Awards, the 'Sign Of The Times' singer wore a patterned metallic suit and gold heeled boots.
2018: Harry Styles walking in the footsteps of music legends
In 2018, the 24-year-old was announced as the new face of Gucci's tailoring campaign which was shot in and around a North London chip shop. Later in the year, Harry performed with Fleetwood Mac and also attended a Halloween party dressed as a young Elton John!
2019: Harry Styles at the Met Gala in New York
In 2019, Harry Styles solidified himself as a young fashion icon by co-hosting THE fashion event of the year, the Met Gala. Harry Styles expressed his interpretation of the theme, 'Camp: Notes On Fashion', by confidently flouting stereotypical gender norms (for which he is now famous) on the red carpet in a bespoke Gucci look.
2020: Harry Styles in a trio of looks at the Brit Awards
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, Harry Styles attended the 2020 BRIT Awards and wore a trio of perfectly put together outfits during the course of the evening. The 'Fine Line' singer wore a brown suit on the red carpet, a custom-made Gucci lace jumpsuit for his performance of 'Falling' and a bright yellow Marc Jacobs suit to finish the night.
The year concluded with Harry appearing on the cover of Vogue!
2021: Harry Styles at the Grammys
In March, Harry Styles wore custom Gucci to the 63rd Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. He wore a purple feather boa on the red carpet and all leather with a green feather boa on stage as he opened the ceremony with a performance of 'Watermelon Sugar'. He won his first Grammy Award for 'Watermelon Sugar' later on in the ceremony.
2021: Harry's suit at The Brit Awards
At The BRIT Awards 2021, Harry repped a brown and cream 70s-inspired Gucci suit, with a matching handbag and trainers. The singer, who picked up the award for Best Single that night, clearly has great taste, as Friends superstar Jennifer Aniston even wore the same outfit as she posed for her cover shoot for InStyle's September issue.
2021: Happy Harryween!
Harry Styles celebrated Halloween 2021 in style, as he performed at his Harryween Fancy Dress Party at Madison Square Garden. The singer donned various styles, from Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, to Pennywise the clown from IT.
2022: Harry Styles headlines Coachella
Harry took to the stage at Coachella festival in California, in April 2022, wearing a rainbow, sequin jump suit.
2022: Harry Styles at the Venice Film Festival
In September 2022, Harry appeared at the 79th Venice International Film Festival to promote his new film Don't Worry Darling. He arrived on the red carpet wearing a navy suit with a light blue shirt with elongated collars.
2022: Harry at the Don't Worry Darling photo call
For the Don't Worry Darling photo call in New York, Harry opted for a smart double-breasted velvet blazer teamed with striped trousers.
2022: Harry at the LA My Policeman premiere
Harry looked dapper in a suit at the Los Angeles premiere of My Policeman, which sees Harry take on the role of Tom Burgess.
2023: Harry at the Grammys
Harry is the king of red carpet looks and his Grammys attire certainly didn't disappoint. He looked flawless in a crystal-covered rainbow jumpsuit for the 2023 ceremony.
2022: Harry performs at the Grammys
For his Grammys performance, Harry donned an incredible Gucci silver fringe sparkling jumpsuit.
2023: Harry with his Grammy Awards
Another 2023 Grammys fit from Harry! He looked cool posing with his awards for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance, as he teamed a sparkly top with a blazer and beige trousers.
2023: Harry Styles at the BRIT Awards
Harry wowed on the red carpet at the 2023 BRIT Awards by wearing a black peplum blazer, flares and an oversized flower choker. The ceremony proved to be an incredible night for Harry, as he scooped four awards - Song of the Year, British Album, Artist and Pop/R&B Act.
2023: Harry performed at the BRIT Awards
Harry delivered an incredible performance at the BRIT Awards as he sang his smash hit 'As It Was'. Harry opted for a sparkly red Gucci jacket for his performance.
2023: Madame Tussauds unveils seven new waxworks of Harry
Madame Tussauds unveiled seven new waxworks of Harry Styles in July 2023. The waxworks feature some of Harry's most iconic outfits and are available to view in Madame Tussauds attractions around the world.
His London waxwork wears an outfit inspired by his fashion choice at the My Policeman premiere in 2022. In Madame Tussauds Berlin, Harry's waxwork sports a pink leather waistcoat and oversized pink fur coat, whilst in New York, he is wearing a rainbow sequined jumpsuit that was made famous by his 2022 Coachella performance.
Harry's 'Love On Tour' looks have provided the inspiration for the outfits in Madame Tussauds Amsterdam, Los Angeles, Singapore and Sydney. In Amsterdam, Harry's figure sports a pink embroidered, double-breasted suit, in LA he wears a bronze-fringe sequin vest.
Meanwhile, the Singapore attraction sees Harry wear a blue and yellow outfit from the Glasgow 'Love On Tour' show, whilst he sports an electric pink shirt and feather boa from his San Jose concert in Sydney.
Now read:
Harry Styles' biggest career moments so far
Harry Styles: Everything you need to know about the 'Watermelon Sugar' singer
Harry Styles debuts TWO new songs on stage at Coachella