English singer-songwriter Harry Styles has written tracks on all three of his studio albums — Harry Styles (2017), Fine Line (2019) and Harry’s House (2022) — and for an assortment of other artists. He has majority of shares in most of his songwriting credits.[1][2]
After co-writing several songs on the One Direction albums Up All Night and Take Me Home, Styles worked with Savan Kotecha and Carl Falk to write "Happily", and Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol and Jacknife Lee to write "Something Great", both of which appeared on Midnight Memories.[3] On this album, Styles also co-wrote the hit single Story of My Life, which peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart,[4] and sold over three million copies in the US.[5] Styles co-wrote the song "Just a Little Bit of Your Heart" with Johan Carlsson which was included on Ariana Grande's second studio album My Everything (2014). Grande went on to perform the song at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards as a then first-time nominee.[6]
Styles also co-wrote the song "I Love You" with Carlsson which was recorded by Alex & Sierra for their debut studio album. He co-wrote several songs on Four including "Where Do Broken Hearts Go", "Stockholm Syndrome", and hit single Night Changes. He also contributed to several songs on Made in the A.M. including the second single "Perfect", which peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart.[7] Styles co-wrote the song "Someday" with Meghan Trainor which was recorded by Trainor and Michael Bublé for the latter's Grammy nominated ninth studio album, Nobody but Me (2016). With Jack Antonoff and Ilsey Juber, Styles co-wrote "Alfie's Song (Not So Typical Love Song)", released as a single by Bleachers, for the soundtrack of the film Love, Simon (2018).
Styles worked with Jeff Bhasker, Mitch Rowland, Alex Salibian, Tyler Johnson, and Ryan Nasci on his first album, including the lead single "Sign of the Times", which peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart[8] and sold over two million copies in the US.[9]
For his second studio album, Styles partnered with longtime friend and standout producer Thomas Hull, who also had a small role in his debut record, as well as former collaborators Johnson, Rowland, and Bhasker. The record's first single, "Lights Up," peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart.[10] Another Fine Line single was Styles’ first Billboard Hot 100 number one hit "Watermelon Sugar",[11] earning him his first Grammy Award and second Brit Award.[12] Styles and Kid Harpoon were nominated for Songwriter of the Year at the UK's prestigious Ivor Novello Awards in 2021, which celebrate the country's great songwriting and composing talents.[13] Another Fine Line single, "Adore You", was named most performed song at the ceremony.[14]
Aside from the aforementioned artists, Styles has written for bands Augustana and Kodaline, as well as singer Gavin DeGraw. He's collaborated with OneRepublic lead singer Ryan Tedder, EGOT recipient John Legend, and Snow Patrol pianist Johnny McDaid. Colleagues of Styles have indicated that he's composed music with Taylor Swift,[15] Bruno Mars,[16] and Max Martin,[16] though no works have been registered as of yet.
- ^ "Global Music Rights". Archived from the original on 23 June 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "BMI Repertoire". Broadcast Music, Inc. Archived from the original on 10 July 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "Harry Styles Reveals the Secrets Behind 'Fine Line'". Rolling Stone. 13 December 2019. Archived from the original on 13 June 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100 :: 8 December 2013 – 14 December 2013". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "RIAA Certifications Gold&Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "Grammys: Ariana Grande Performs "Just a Little Bit of Your Heart"". The Hollywood Reporter. 8 February 2015. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100 :: 23 October 2015 – 29 October 2015". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100 :: 14 April 2017 – 20 April 2017". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 13 August 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "RIAA Certifications Gold&Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on 29 November 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100 :: 18 October 2019 – 24 October 2019". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 18 October 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ "Harry Styles' 'Watermelon Sugar' Surges to Top of Billboard Hot 100, Becoming His First No.1". Billboard. 10 August 2020. Archived from the original on 15 August 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ "Kid Harpoon reveals the secrets behind Harry Styles' BRIT-nominated smash Watermelon Sugar". Music Week. 10 May 2021. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ "Harry Styles, Lewis Capaldi, Dave, Celeste Top 2021 Ivor Novello Award Nominees". Billboard. 10 August 2021. Archived from the original on 22 November 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ "Harry Styles haunts Noel Gallagher with win at Ivor Novello Awards". BBC. 21 September 2021. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ "Cover Story: The Making of Taylor Swift". Hot Press. 23 May 2018. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ a b "Did Robbie Williams Just Reveal Harry Styles Is Working With Bruno Mars On New Music?". Capital (radio network). 29 November 2016. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2020.