It’s April Fool’s Day, and we’re waking up to a new Harry Styles synth-pop bop. But this is no joke, as the former One Direction lad and “Sign of the Times” stylist rolls a fresh kind of new wave flair that sounds like something between ’80s pop, late-’10s bedroom indie, and what a dude from The Strokes usually sounds like when he releases a solo project. And that’s high praise coming from us; “As It Was” is a feathery tune that floats and goads along a springtime carefree, lavender breeze, and it’ll be featured on Styles’ forthcoming third solo album, Harry’s House, set for release on May 20.
When Liam Gallagher says “As You Were,” Styles is here with “As It Was.” And so it goes.
But we also can’t take our eyes off the colorful video, directed by Ukrainian filmmaker Tanu Muino, who says in a statement: “Directing a Harry Styles video was a bucket list dream come true for me as he’s my favorite performer. Shooting him was bittersweet as it was one of the happiest days of my life, but on the second day of the shoot, my country Ukraine was invaded so you can imagine the insane emotions we had while shooting. Me and my team from Ukraine poured so much love into this video and you can see it on screen. It will be a music video I will never forget and now I can happily retire.”
Styles is set to perform at Coachella later this month; perhaps he’ll be that new Friday night headliner at Boston Calling after Foo Fighters withdraw earlier in the week. At least that’ll make for a fun interaction with The Strokes, who headline on Saturday.
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