Nearly four years since “Harry’s House,” Harry Styles has released his fourth studio album, “Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.” Fans eagerly anticipated the release, wondering what direction Styles’ ever-changing style would take next. The meaning of the album was also heavily theorized about as fans wondered if Styles would incorporate elements of memorial to his friend and former One Direction member, Liam Payne. 

The title of the album describes Styles’ personal balance between intense love and fun. The album blends these two feelings and blurs the boundaries between carefree emotional escapism and vulnerability. 

“Aperture,” the album’s first single, released on Jan. 22, immediately had fans questioning what the rest of the album was going to sound like. It was the perfect balance between a typical dance track with a touch of alternative rock and strong lyricism. “Aperture” set the tone of the album — a disco dance with a hint of indie rock. 

But Styles isn’t scared of getting emotional. 

“American Girls” has a groovy tone that makes you want to move your feet around. Styles reflects on his romantic relationship while his three best friends get married, but the upbeat melody distracts from the true meaning. 

“Ready, Steady, Go!” has an alternative rock style, with heavy bass and strong guitar riffs, and describes the intense feeling of a new relationship beginning — the anxiety and newfound confidence. 

“Coming Up Roses,” however, changes the entire vibe of the album for its four-minute and eight-second length. It stands out with violin riffs and a classical melody, but this works in Styles’ favor. 

Although it temporarily pauses the upward emotions of the album, Styles accurately depicts what true self-reflection feels like — a temporary pause. Styles delves into the back and forth between his public and personal identities.

In “Harry’s House,” Styles’ previous album, he fluctuated between vibrant and melodramatic tones. But “Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.” keeps an upbeat tone throughout the whole album. 

It’s apparent through the different mood shifts of the album that Styles refuses to repeat himself and continues to hit new genres, especially following other artists’ styles. Styles revealed that Radiohead and LCD Soundsystem were both big influences on the style of the album. He also said the album was partly inspired by being an audience member and experiencing the music while dancing in the crowd.  

Fans speculated that the song “Paint By Numbers” is an ode to Payne, who passed away more than a year ago. The song discusses the struggle of maintaining a life in the spotlight while dealing with personal issues. 

Although Styles hasn’t confirmed the connection to Payne, the song still provides a sentimental reflection on Styles’s career, accomplishments and hardships. 

This album reinvents Styles’ genre and musical interpretation. As he matures, his music does too. The album’s strengths lie in the hidden meanings of each song. If you focus simply on the beat and melody, you would have a completely different perception of the album. But when you focus on the lyrics combined with the tone of each track, Styles’ emotional development becomes apparent. 

“Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.” is the perfect album for the now-adult generation of Styles’ fans who grew up listening to One Direction, pairing a modern disco sound with the emotional complexity of adulthood.