And now, for something more serious: Harry Styles has dramatically walked away from the sunny, upbeat Brit-pop sound of his boy band, One Direction.

On "Sign of the Times," the singer's debut solo single, which premiered early Friday morning (April 7) on BBC's Radio One, Styles postures himself as a devoted disciple of John Lennon and David Bowie on a slow-burning, swirling, sweeping '70s rock ballad.

"It’s the song I’m most proud of writing, I think," Styles told the radio station before premiering the song, adding, "I wrote most of the album in Jamaica, I was in Jamaica for two months. I just wanted to not be distracted… I really liked being away from everything."

Listen up top, and catch Styles on Saturday Night Live on April 15.

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