After the disheartening and what seemed impossible break up of the insanely popular pop boy band One Direction, many loyal fans lost hope in some of their favorite members. To many Directioners’ surprise, three out of five band members have continued on with their own solo careers after the split.

Harry Styles grew up in Holmes Chapel, Cheshire in England. Harry began his singing career as a teenager as the lead singer in his band “White Eskimo.” At 16 years old he auditioned for the X Factor UK, which eventually led to Simon Cowell pairing up five boys who were not quite ready for their own solo careers. Together, One Direction gained an immense fan base which would ultimately come in handy when their voices were ready to be on their own.  

Up until April 2017, only members Niall Horan and Zayn Malik had released their own singles. When Zayn’s song “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever” became a popular pop hit, many began to believe he would be the one to carry out the most successful music career.

On April 7, this assumption quickly changed when the beloved Harry Styles dropped the first single out of nowhere, starting his solo career.

Styles’ first single “Sign of the Times” presents a refreshingly alternative sound from most common songs found on the radio. Throughout this song, Harry’s incredibly musical voice reveals a more soulful tone that brings joy to his fans who have always believed in his music. This single offers a somewhat old school sentiment with deep, meaningful lyrics that ultimately sound apart of a 70’s slow rock song.  

This song has already blown the minds of both dedicated 1D fans and even those who never preferred their sound.

On May 2nd, Harry once again came through with  another release, a sneak peak of the album itself. “Sweet Creature” veers away from the rock music vibes established by Harry after his first single. This song follows a more sweet sounding direction through acoustic guitar and soft serenading vocals. While this song sounds similar to a lullaby, Harry maintains his newly designated alternative sound.

His full album released May 12.

Harry Styles’ self-titled album consists of ten songs, each of which accurately showcase how his voice has matured over the years. While each song manages to carry out his newly instituted sound, they all represent a different side of Harry through the highs and lows of his melodic voice.

“Only Angel” follows Harry’s alternative rock sound with a song that seems only fit to be background music in a late 1970s film. With a distinctive baseline and strong vocals, this song makes an excellent addition, adding an element of variety to the entire album.  

“Ever Since New York” is a slow-paced song that exhibits Harry’s strong and soothing voice, one that  sounds completely effortless to him. This song is a perfect listen when winding down from the day or when wanting to hear a song with clear and meaningful lyrics.  

“Carolina” is the last song Harry wrote for this album and is what he calls ‘the song that the album needed for it to feel complete.’ This song incorporates a groovy sound and continues to show how well Harry’s voice can adapt in many different melodic scenarios.

Each and every song on this album is incredible and effectively shows all that Harry can do with his voice. The sound he has created for himself throughout this album is unlike most modern music, which sets him aside from other artists.

The 1970s style music is the throwback that every alternative music listener and Harry Styles-lover needs. It is guaranteed not to disappoint, as every song tells Harry’s life experiences through important lyrics that compliment the music in each track.

Due to the positive feedback, fans of Harry Styles are excited about the smooth start of his career and eager for future albums.