Harry Styles's Quotes in Variety's Hitmakers 2020 Issue
Harry Styles Wants to Do the Right Thing: "I Don't Think I've Been Outspoken Enough in the Past"
![On his 2017 solo debut album, Harry Styles: "I love that album so much because it represents such a time in my life, but when I listen to it — sonically and lyrically, especially — I can hear places where I was playing it safe. I was scared to get it wrong."
On his hope for the future of live music: "There will be a time we dance again."
On how he makes music: "People within [the industry] feel like they operate on a higher level of listening, and I like to make music from the point of being a fan of music. Fans are the best A&R."
On being recognized both critically and with Grammy nominations: "It's always nice to know that people like what you're doing, but ultimately — and especially working in a subjective field — I don't put too much weight on that stuff. I think it's important when making any kind of art to remove the ego from it." Citing the painter Matisse, he added: "It's about the work that you do when you're not expecting any applause."](https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/7zPX5PRcpX1k8Zws8dwytst-58I/fit-in/1024x1024/filters:format_auto-!!-:strip_icc-!!-/2020/12/02/888/n/1922398/144ca117e7c247a0_Harry_Styles_Variety_2/i/On-his-2017-solo-debut-album-Harry-Styles-I-love-that-album-so.jpg "On his 2017 solo debut album, Harry Styles: \"I love that album so much because it represents such a time in my life, but when I listen to it — sonically and lyrically, especially — I can hear places where I was playing it safe. I was scared to get it wrong.\"
On his hope for the future of live music: \"There will be a time we dance again.\"
On how he makes music: \"People within [the industry] feel like they operate on a higher level of listening, and I like to make music from the point of being a fan of music. Fans are the best A&R.\"
On being recognized both critically and with Grammy nominations: \"It's always nice to know that people like what you're doing, but ultimately — and especially working in a subjective field — I don't put too much weight on that stuff. I think it's important when making any kind of art to remove the ego from it.\" Citing the painter Matisse, he added: \"It's about the work that you do when you're not expecting any applause.\"")
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