Harry Styles Drops His First Single: The Epic ’90s Jam “Sign of the Times”

The 1D boys are all going in vastly different directions in their post-breakup careers: Zayn is an R&B crooner, Niall is all acoustic and Ed Sheehan-y, and now Harry… well, Harry is off on a ’90s supergroup tear. His first single “Sign of the Times” debuted his morning and listening to the 5+minute jam, one can’t help but be reminded of ’90s rock ballads Oasis‘ “Champagne Supernova,” Space Hog‘s “In the Meantime” …or maybe we go back further to late ’70s Bowie (YES, I SAID IT).

Says The New York Post:

It sounds like a vintage Elton John track, complete with string section, grand harmonies, and clocks in at almost six minutes long. It’s a clear, but nervy, step away from the 23-year-old’s bubblegum past.

Co-written by Styles, the lyrics hint at a relationship break up (“We don’t talk enough/We should open up”), but could just as easily be about the strained relations in his old band. One Direction has officially been on hiatus since 2015, but are strongly rumored to have split for good due to internal tensions.

The classic rock influences on “Sign of the Times” won’t be a surprise to any long time devotees. Even in his One Direction days, he would show his rock leanings by wearing KISS and Ramones t-shirts. More recently, he’s been linked to a role playing Mick Jagger in an upcoming Rolling Stones biopic, and spotted at a Kings of Leon show in Los Angeles.

Listen below. Video coming soon, and you KNOW we’ll be ALL over that!