Harry Styles: influences, peers and legacy

Every connection with its receipt

Harry Styles built a solo career out of 1970s rock worship, boy-band discipline and a magpie's eye for fashion and film, turning stadium pop into a costume drama. This mix traces the classic-rock records he cites constantly, the Cheshire/Manchester air he grew up in, the fashion houses and glam cinema that shaped his stagecraft, and the collaborators who gave Fine Line and Harry's House their warmth.

The Kynda mix for Harry Styles

• Key Influence · Rumours by Fleetwood Mac (1977). Styles has named Fleetwood Mac repeatedly as his favourite band, covering "The Chain" on tour and duetting with Stevie Nicks on "Landslide" at her Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction; he also inducted her in 2019. Rumours' template — soft-rock gloss carrying raw romantic wreckage, harmonies as emotional cover — underwrites the confessional sheen of Fine Line and the Californian ease of Harry's House.""
• Influencia Obscura · Blue by Joni Mitchell (1971). Styles has told the story of buying an Appalachian dulcimer specifically because Mitchell played one on Blue, then writing "Canyon Moon" with it — a direct instrumental transplant from a 1971 confessional record into a 2019 pop album. Mitchell's open tunings and unguarded first-person writing shaped the Laurel Canyon atmosphere that saturates Fine Line's gentler corners.""
• Local Roots · The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths (1986). Styles grew up in Holmes Chapel, Cheshire, within commuting distance of Manchester, the city whose guitar lineage he absorbed before fronting the school band White Eskimo. The Smiths' jangling melancholy and Morrissey's flamboyant, gladioli-waving frontmanship established the North West template of the pop singer as self-aware performer — a template Styles inherited and glittered up.""
• Beyond the Medium · Gucci Cruise 2017 collection by Alessandro Michele (2016). Michele's maximalist, gender-blurring Gucci — pussy-bow blouses, embroidered suits, pearls on men — became Styles's visual language; he fronted Gucci campaigns, wore bespoke Michele pieces on tour and in the 2020 Vogue cover dress that made international news. The house's romantic-dandy archive is as responsible for his public image as any record he has made.""
• Peer · Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves (2018). Musgraves opened Styles's 2018 Live on Tour dates in North America, and the two became visible mutual admirers, appearing together onstage. Golden Hour's soft-focus, disco-tinged country was chasing the same thing as Fine Line: 1970s warmth, analogue textures and unguarded romance reframed for a streaming-era audience that expected neither from a former genre star.""
• From the Canon · Fine Line by Harry Styles (2019). Recorded largely at Shangri-La in Malibu with Kid Harpoon and Tyler Johnson, this is the record where the Fleetwood Mac and Joni Mitchell debts became method rather than reference — dulcimer on "Canyon Moon", the six-minute string climax of the title track, and "Watermelon Sugar" as a funk-pop hit that outgrew the album. It defines his sound more precisely than anything else.""
• Key Collaborator · Dance Fever by Florence + the Machine (2022). Tom Hull, known as Kid Harpoon, is the co-writer and producer behind the bulk of Fine Line and Harry's House, winning Producer of the Year at the Grammys for the latter. His work with Florence Welch on Dance Fever shows the same craft from another angle: live-room drums, theatrical dynamics and a singer pushed toward confessional directness rather than polish.""
• Legacy · Superache by Conan Gray (2022). Gray belongs to the generation of solo pop artists who grew up on One Direction and took from Styles the idea that a young male star can be openly tender, ambiguous about identity and theatrical in dress without losing an arena audience. Superache's heart-on-sleeve writing and vintage-leaning production operate in the lane Styles's solo pivot opened up.""

What influenced Harry Styles

• David Bowie by David Bowie (1947). Styles names Bowie among the musical performers he admired growing up. (also via Sign of the Times) “The people that I looked up to in music—Prince and David Bowie and Elvis and Freddie Mercury and Elton John—they’re such showmen. As a kid it was completely mind-blowing.” (Vogue)
• Fleetwood Mac. Fleetwood Mac is identified as an influence on Styles's debut solo album. (also via Rumours) “It was influenced by the artists he grew up listening to, such as Pink Floyd , the Rolling Stones , the Beatles and Fleetwood Mac , as well as the "honest" songwriting of Harry Nilsson .” (Wikipedia)
• David Hockney by David Hockney (1937). Styles expresses admiration for Hockney in an interview about sitting for his portrait. “For his Vogue cover shoot in 2020 , Styles wore a pair of hand-painted Bode cords that featured a talismanic illustration of Hockney by artist Aayushia Khowala.” (Vogue)
• Freddie Mercury by Freddie Mercury. Critics likened Styles's stage presence to Mercury's. “His stage presence has been likened to that of Freddie Mercury and Mick Jagger, [ 212 ] [ 213 ] while his charisma and playfulness have prompted comparisons to Rod Stewart .” (Wikipedia)
• Shania Twain by Shania Twain. Styles names Twain as an influence on both his music and fashion. “I think both music and fashion, [my] main influence was probably Shania Twain” (Entertainment Tonight)
• Rumours by Fleetwood Mac (1977). Rumours (Fleetwood Mac) — titan for Harry Styles (also via Fine Line) “Singer-songwriter Stevie Nicks likened his album Fine Line to Fleetwood Mac 's album Rumours (1977) and commented that she was inspired by him to write new music and poetry.” (Wikipedia)
• Mick Jagger by Mick Jagger. Jagger says he can see his influence on Styles. “He’s got it going on. I know him, he comes to see me in lots of shows and yeah, I can see [my] influence [on him]. But I don’t say anything to him, I just tell him he looks nice.” (Far Out Magazine)
• Elvis Presley. Styles cited Presley as an influence. (also via The Girl of My Best Friend) “Styles cited Freddie Mercury , Elvis Presley , and Paul McCartney (including his side project Wings ) as influences, while mentioning Shania Twain as his main inspiration both musically and in fashion.” (Wikipedia)
• The Course of Love by Alain de Botton. Styles said the novel affected his understanding of relationships. “when it comes to relationships, you just expect yourself to be good at it…[but] being in a real relationship with someone is a skill” (Vogue)
• Blue by Joni Mitchell. Blue (Joni Mitchell) — ghost for Harry Styles “Joni Mitchell 's album Blue (1971) inspired Styles to contact the album's dulcimer instrumentalist, with whom he worked on Fine Line .” (Wikipedia)
• Joni Mitchell (1943). Wikipedia states Mitchell influenced Harry Styles. (also via Blue)
• Rod Stewart. Styles's charisma and playfulness were compared with Stewart's. “His stage presence has been likened to that of Freddie Mercury and Mick Jagger, [ 212 ] [ 213 ] while his charisma and playfulness have prompted comparisons to Rod Stewart .” (Wikipedia)
• The Rolling Stones. The Rolling Stones are identified as an influence on Styles's debut solo album. “It was influenced by the artists he grew up listening to, such as Pink Floyd , the Rolling Stones , the Beatles and Fleetwood Mac , as well as the "honest" songwriting of Harry Nilsson .” (Wikipedia)
• Elton John by Elton John. Styles names Elton John among the musical performers he admired growing up. “The people that I looked up to in music—Prince and David Bowie and Elvis and Freddie Mercury and Elton John—they’re such showmen. As a kid it was completely mind-blowing.” (Vogue)
• Pink Floyd. Pink Floyd is identified as an influence on Styles's debut solo album. “It was influenced by the artists he grew up listening to, such as Pink Floyd , the Rolling Stones , the Beatles and Fleetwood Mac , as well as the "honest" songwriting of Harry Nilsson .” (Wikipedia)
• The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd. The Dark Side of the Moon (Pink Floyd) — titan for Harry Styles “It was influenced by the artists he grew up listening to, such as Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones, the Beatles and Fleetwood Mac, as well as the "honest" songwriting of Harry Nilsson.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Hunky Dory by David Bowie. Hunky Dory (David Bowie) — titan for Harry Styles “A glam rock-influenced soft rock power ballad, it drew comparisons to the work of David Bowie.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Wings. Styles included McCartney's band Wings among his cited influences. “Styles cited Freddie Mercury , Elvis Presley , and Paul McCartney (including his side project Wings ) as influences, while mentioning Shania Twain as his main inspiration both musically and in fashion.” (Wikipedia)
• Paul McCartney (1942). Styles cited McCartney as an influence. “Styles cited Freddie Mercury , Elvis Presley , and Paul McCartney (including his side project Wings ) as influences, while mentioning Shania Twain as his main inspiration both musically and in fashion.” (Wikipedia)
• Papillon. Styles's butterfly tattoo draws on a design inspired by the film. “Styles's primary tattoo artist Liam Sparkes stated the butterfly on his torso is "based on an old French prison tattoo inspired by the film Papillon (1973)."” (Wikipedia)
• Prince by Prince. Styles names Prince among the musical performers he admired growing up. “The people that I looked up to in music—Prince and David Bowie and Elvis and Freddie Mercury and Elton John—they’re such showmen. As a kid it was completely mind-blowing.” (Vogue)
• The Beatles. The Beatles are identified as an influence on Styles's debut solo album. “It was influenced by the artists he grew up listening to, such as Pink Floyd , the Rolling Stones , the Beatles and Fleetwood Mac , as well as the "honest" songwriting of Harry Nilsson .” (Wikipedia)
• Harry Nilsson. Nilsson's songwriting is identified as an influence on Styles's debut solo album. “It was influenced by the artists he grew up listening to, such as Pink Floyd , the Rolling Stones , the Beatles and Fleetwood Mac , as well as the "honest" songwriting of Harry Nilsson .” (Wikipedia)
• Camille Rowe. Rowe is identified as an inspiration for the album. (via Fine Line) “From 2017 to 2018, Styles was in a relationship with French-American model Camille Rowe , who inspired Fine Line .” (Wikipedia)
• Tapestry by Carole King. King's album influenced Styles's choice of recording studio. (via Fine Line) “He also chose to record Fine Line in Henson Recording Studios after being inspired by Carole King 's album Tapestry (1971), which was recorded there.” (Wikipedia)
• Gucci Cruise 2017 collection by Alessandro Michele (2016). Gucci Cruise 2017 collection (Alessandro Michele) — culture for Harry Styles “In November 2022, Styles collaborated with Alessandro Michele on a Gucci collection titled "Gucci Ha Ha Ha".” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Velvet Goldmine by Todd Haynes (1998). Velvet Goldmine (Todd Haynes) — culture for Harry Styles (themoviedb.org)
• Hedwig and the Angry Inch by John Cameron Mitchell (1998). Hedwig and the Angry Inch (John Cameron Mitchell) — culture for Harry Styles (wikidata.org)
• Nilsson Schmilsson by Harry Nilsson (1971). Nilsson Schmilsson (Harry Nilsson) — ghost for Harry Styles “It was influenced by the artists he grew up listening to, such as Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones, the Beatles and Fleetwood Mac, as well as the "honest" songwriting of Harry Nilsson.” (en.wikipedia.org)

Peers and kindred spirits

• Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Waller-Bridge appeared in a music video for Styles's song. “Harry and Phoebe worked with [choreographers] Paul Roberts and Jared Hageman. The four of them rehearsed all the time, remotely, wherever they were.” (British GQ)
• Alessandro Michele. Styles and Michele collaborated on a fashion collection. (also via Gucci Cruise 2017 collection) “In November 2022, Styles collaborated with Alessandro Michele on a Gucci collection titled "Gucci Ha Ha Ha".” (Wikipedia)
• ZAYN (1993). Fine Line (Harry Styles) — peer for ZAYN (via Fine Line) “The singer made his breakthrough rise to fame on the X Factor alongside Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson after they were brought together to create a band in 2010.” (The Independent)
• One Direction. Styles was a member of One Direction. “Styles's musical career began in 2010 as part of One Direction , a boy band formed on the British music competition series The X Factor” (Wikipedia)
• Jack Antonoff. Styles and Antonoff co-wrote the song. “Together with Jack Antonoff and Ilsey Juber , Styles co-wrote "Alfie's Song (Not So Typical Love Song)", performed by the band Bleachers” (Wikipedia)
• Ariana Grande. Styles co-wrote a song for Grande's album. “Styles also co-wrote the song "Just a Little Bit of Your Heart" for Ariana Grande 's 2014 album My Everything .” (Wikipedia)
• Melodrama by Lorde (2017). Melodrama (Lorde) — peer for Harry Styles “Artists such as SZA, Miley Cyrus, Elton John, Shania Twain, Olivia Rodrigo, Chris Stapleton, Mark Ronson, Halsey, Lorde, Matty Healy, John Legend, and Troye Sivan have all voiced their wishes to collaborate with Styles.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Hey, Soul Sister by Train. Styles sang Train's song at his audition. “Styles auditioned as a solo contestant for the seventh series of the British televised singing competition The X Factor , singing a rendition of Train 's " Hey, Soul Sister ".” (Wikipedia)
• Isn't She Lovely by Stevie Wonder. Styles sang a rendition of Wonder's song. “After Simon Cowell suggested that the track was not right for him, he instead sang a rendition of Stevie Wonder 's " Isn't She Lovely ".” (Wikipedia)
• Bleachers. Bleachers performed a song co-written by Styles. “Styles co-wrote "Alfie's Song (Not So Typical Love Song)", performed by the band Bleachers , for the soundtrack of the film Love, Simon (2018).” (Wikipedia)
• Cam. Styles co-wrote a song for Cam's album. “Styles co-wrote the song "Changes" for Cam 's album The Otherside .” (Wikipedia)
• Stevie Nicks (1966). Styles performed onstage with Nicks. “In July 2024, Styles joined Stevie Nicks on stage at the British Summer Time festival in London to perform " Stop Draggin' My Heart Around " and " Landslide "” (Wikipedia)
• Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves (2018). Golden Hour (Kacey Musgraves) — peer for Harry Styles “Through June and July, Musgraves was the opening act on the second North American leg of Harry Styles: Live on Tour.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• The Girl of My Best Friend by Elvis Presley. Styles recorded a cover of the Elvis Presley song. “the first song he recorded was Elvis Presley 's " The Girl of My Best Friend ".” (Wikipedia)
• Ilsey Juber. Styles and Juber co-wrote the song. “Together with Jack Antonoff and Ilsey Juber , Styles co-wrote "Alfie's Song (Not So Typical Love Song)", performed by the band Bleachers” (Wikipedia)
• Erskine Records. Styles launched Erskine Records. “Around this time, he also launched his own record label, Erskine Records .” (Wikipedia)
• Sabrina Carpenter (1999). Carpenter covered Harry Styles' 'Sign of the Times' with Jasmine Thompson. (via Sign of the Times) “she released covers of " Sign of the Times " and " You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch " with British singer Jasmine Thompson and violinist Lindsey Stirling respectively.” (Wikipedia)
• The Stone Roses by The Stone Roses (1989). The Stone Roses (The Stone Roses) — geography for Harry Styles (musicbrainz.org)
• Some Nights by fun. (2012). Some Nights (fun.) — collaborator for Harry Styles “His style was noted as "flamboyant", "fashion-forward", and "fun." Citing his use of the colour pink, Styles quoted English musician and The Clash's bassist Paul Simonon in a Rolling Stone interview: "Pink is the only true rock & roll co…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa (2020). Future Nostalgia (Dua Lipa) — peer for Harry Styles (musicbrainz.org)
• Licorice Pizza by Paul Thomas Anderson (2021). Licorice Pizza (Paul Thomas Anderson) — collaborator for Harry Styles (themoviedb.org)
• The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths (1986). The Queen Is Dead (The Smiths) — geography for Harry Styles (musicbrainz.org)
• Dance Fever by Florence + the Machine (2022). Dance Fever (Florence + the Machine) — collaborator for Harry Styles (musicbrainz.org)
• Definitely Maybe by Oasis (1994). Definitely Maybe (Oasis) — geography for Harry Styles (musicbrainz.org)

Who Harry Styles influenced

• After. The After novels are identified as inspired by Styles. “It's weird seeing him, because I have this character of him. So it's like, Where's your tattoos? Where's Tessa? What are you doing?” (Cosmopolitan)
• The Idea of You. The novel is identified as inspired by Styles. “There’s a little Harry Styles in there, but there’s a lot of other people that I actually know and have had experiences with who went more into making Hayes Campbell than Harry Styles.” (ELLE)
• Grace and the Fever. The novel is identified as inspired by Styles. “Novels inspired by Styles include the After series, [ 258 ] Grace and the Fever , [ 259 ] and The Idea of You .” (Wikipedia)
• Walls by Louis Tomlinson (2020). Walls (Louis Tomlinson) — legacy for Harry Styles “The group consisting of Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik practised for two weeks; Styles suggested the name One Direction to his colleagues which they agreed to.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Harry Styles-inspired Jumpsuit. A garment made in the special was explicitly described as inspired by Harry Styles. “Johannes Radebe 1 Candy Cane Outfit 2 Harry Styles-inspired Jumpsuit 22 December 2022” (Wikipedia)
• Superache by Conan Gray (2022). Superache (Conan Gray) — legacy for Harry Styles (musicbrainz.org)