Harry Styles performed for the first time in nearly three years at the BRIT Awards on Saturday night, marking the live debut of “Aperture” amid his “Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally” era.
The performance set off the award show and began with BRIT host Jack Whitehall in a barbershop, reading on his phone that Styles would be taking a break from music in 2023. What followed was a montage of Whitehall pining after Styles in various iterations — thinking he happened upon Styles while jogging, embracing Styles’ wax figure at Madame Tussauds — before finally making it to the BRIT Awards in time for Styles’ performance.
Styles then began the live debut of “Aperture” on a set of bleachers, flanked by dozens of dancers wearing black shades and T-shirts with snails on them. The singer, dressed in high-waisted dress pants and a shirt with a tie, led the choreography before strutting down the stage to join a backing band and gospel singers. His dancers then met him in the middle of the venue for a finale, surrounding him as they waved their hands in synchronicity.
Styles’ fourth studio album, “Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally” will debut on March 6. Its lead single, “Aperture,” was released Jan. 22 and debuted at No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and U.K. singles chart. Styles has promised that his new record will be synthesizer-heavy, with inspiration including LCD Soundsystem and his time living in Berlin.
After performing a one-night-only album release show at Manchester’s Co-op Live on March 6, Styles is setting off on a world tour with multi-night residencies in seven cities. Titled “Together, Together,” the tour kicks off on May 16 with 10 shows in Amsterdam and includes 12 nights in London, where he’ll break two Wembley Stadium records; four shows in São Paulo, Brazil; six nights in Mexico City; 30 shows at New York City’s Madison Square Garden; three nights in Melbourne, Australia and two in Sydney. Styles’ “Love on Tour,” which spanned the releases of both “Fine Line” (2019) and “Harry’s House” (2022), began in September 2021 and concluded in July 2023.
Styles is next slated to serve as host and musical guest of “Saturday Night Live” on March 14. It marks the second time he’s pulled double duty on the NBC sketch comedy series. He was also recently tapped to curate Meltdown at London’s Southbank Centre, where he’ll perform as a headliner. The festival will take place from June 11-21.
This year’s BRIT Awards, which celebrate the best in British music, is taking place at Manchester’s Co-op Live. Olivia Dean and Lola Young lead this year’s nominees, with each up for five awards. Styles is no stranger to the awards show, having last performed at the 2023 ceremony, where he also took home four trophies for “Harry’s House.”
