What does “Shibori” mean? Lyrics of Harry Styles’ new song explained

Harry Styles fans have new music to dance to.

The British singer-songwriter released the dreamy electronic dance track “Aperture” on January 22nd, announcing the release on Instagram with a photo of her wearing a patch under her eye and sipping on a Big Gulp. This is the first song from his fourth album, Kiss All the Time. Disco, sometimes. — scheduled for release on March 6 — and his first single in three years.

In addition to the much-anticipated new music, the former One Direction star also announced a seven-city residency titled Together, Together. Starting in May 2026, Styles will perform in 50 cities around the world, including 30 shows at Madison Square Garden in New York City. “Aperture” reflects the experience he wants his fans to have on his upcoming album and tour.

“I just want them to be ready to dance,” he told Capital Breakfast in January 2026. “I want them to be ready to be with their friends, close their eyes, open their eyes, dance, let go, be whatever and whoever they are in that moment. And I think it’s fun and I’m going to be there with them.”

So what does “aperture” mean? Here’s everything you need to know about the inspiration behind Harry Styles’ latest single.

What does aperture mean?

In case you don’t know the word Styles used for the title of the first song on Kiss All the Time. Disco, sometimes it is a term borrowed from photography. Aperture refers to the camera setting that controls the amount of light that enters the lens, which affects the brightness and depth of field of the image.

The singer references this setting in both the title and the song’s lyrics, singing in the pre-chorus, “It’s best to know what you don’t know/An opening lets in the light.”

According to Oxford Dictionaries, Aperture can also mean “an opening, hole, or gap,” and has become a running joke among fans.

What are the lyrics of Harry Styles’ song “Aperture” about?

In an interview with Capital Breakfast, Styles revealed that “Aperture” was inspired by an adventure he had while taking a much-needed break from touring.

“I was so used to saying no to things just because I just couldn’t go,” he explained. “Last year, I just really started the year like, ‘This year I’m going to say yes to everything.'”

During that time, Styles traveled to places such as Ibiza, Italy, and Berlin, where he experienced “being on the other side of the audience experience.” That feeling of being “out there” influenced the sound behind the track.

“I felt like it reminded me of how special it is to be in a crowd experiencing live music, to be in a dark hole-like place where people are dancing,” he said, adding that the new music he was listening to began to influence the music he was making. “The goal was to make an album that was as fun to play as it was to make.”

Styles continued, “Just being able to be in a crowd and be in a space where I feel safe enough to relax a little bit and dance.”