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harry's new direction

Dramatic pictures show Harry Styles dangling in mid-air during new music video shoot… as we reveal secrets of debut single

IT’S been 479 days since Britain’s most successful ever boy band One Direction took their final bow.

But now the group’s breakout star Harry Styles is preparing for the biggest pop launch of the decade with the release of hugely anticipated debut single Sign of the Times.

 Harry Styles dangles from a helicopter during a shoot for his new music video
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Harry Styles dangles from a helicopter during a shoot for his new music videoCredit: Fame Flynet

And these incredible pictures show the 23-year-old intends to make his entrance in the most dramatic of fashions.

Floppy haired heartthrob Harry is winched from a helicopter above remote farmland shoreline in a secret location in Scotland earlier this week.

In fact, everything has been secret about this project…until now.

 The former One Direction star is preparing for the biggest pop launch of the decade
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The former One Direction star is preparing for the biggest pop launch of the decadeCredit: Fame Flynet
 Harry was on set on a remote farmland in a secret location in Scotland earlier this week
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Harry was on set on a remote farmland in a secret location in Scotland earlier this weekCredit: Fame Flynet
 The shoot has been kept a secret until now
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The shoot has been kept a secret until nowCredit: Fame Flynet
 He was shooting the new music video for debut single Sign of the Times
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He was shooting the new music video for debut single Sign of the TimesCredit: Fame Flynet
 Harry now wants to be taken seriously as a songwriter and musician
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Harry now wants to be taken seriously as a songwriter and musicianCredit: Fame Flynet
 The star was winched from a helicopter during the dramatic shoot
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The star was winched from a helicopter during the dramatic shootCredit: Fame Flynet
 And hung in mid-air as another chopper flew nearby
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And hung in mid-air as another chopper flew nearbyCredit: Fame Flynet
 The entire project had been kept a secret until now
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The entire project had been kept a secret until nowCredit: Fame Flynet
 Harry spent months ensuring his new single had a 'timeless quality'
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Harry spent months ensuring his new single had a 'timeless quality'Credit: Fame Flynet
 And these new snaps reveal just how much effort has gone into the new video
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And these new snaps reveal just how much effort has gone into the new videoCredit: Fame Flynet
 One source has described the new release as an 'art rock project'
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One source has described the new release as an 'art rock project'Credit: Fame Flynet
 Quietly determined Harry has been involved in every aspect of the music
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Quietly determined Harry has been involved in every aspect of the musicCredit: Fame Flynet
 The star is winched along the Scottish coast
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The star is winched along the Scottish coastCredit: Fame Flynet
 His new single will draw on Prince and David Bowie
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His new single will draw on Prince and David BowieCredit: Fame Flynet
 Many who have listened have been asked to sign legally binding non-disclosure agreements
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Many who have listened have been asked to sign legally binding non-disclosure agreementsCredit: Fame Flynet
 Harry is winched above another chopper
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Harry is winched above another chopperCredit: Fame Flynet

I can reveal the meticulously planned debut of the single at 8am on Friday will kick off an Adele-style campaign to establish Harry as the world’s biggest male star.

The superfan of David Bowie, Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney wants to be taken seriously as a songwriter and musician – and will distance himself from the teen pop direction of his former band.

A source close to the star tells me: “Harry isn’t a typical popstar. This is an art rock project – and he wants to let the music do the talking.”

Harry has spent months secretly ensuring that the music has a timeless quality reminiscent of Bowie and Prince at their peaks in the 70s and 80s.

He has rejected the current move towards dance music and his first release will, in fact, run to five minutes long.

The song is so shrouded in secrecy that it is on just two iPods, which have no internet connection to stop hackers leaking the tune.

Many who have listened to the song have been asked to sign legally binding non-disclosure agreements.

Quietly determined Harry has been very personally involved in every aspect of the music, which has been produced by Jeff Bhasker who was behind the international smash hit Uptown Funk.

My source adds: “Harry has written the songs and the meanings are very personal to him, based on his life.

 These snaps reveal Harry's huge ambition for the project
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These snaps reveal Harry's huge ambition for the project
 The choppers hovered above remote farmland in Scotland
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The choppers hovered above remote farmland in Scotland
 Access to Harry is going to be severely limited during the international campaign
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Access to Harry is going to be severely limited during the international campaignCredit: Fame Flynet
 The headline-grabbing star is desperate to avoid attention of his personal life
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The headline-grabbing star is desperate to avoid attention of his personal lifeCredit: Fame Flynet
 He wants to avoid discussing relationships with One Direction members
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He wants to avoid discussing relationships with One Direction membersCredit: Fame Flynet

“He has also been playing the guitar and the piano as well. He’s a very modest guy, but it was important to him that this music represented him totally.”

Access to Harry is going to be severely limited during the international campaign.

The headline-grabbing star is desperate to avoid discussion of his personal life, especially romances with celebs such as Taylor Swift, Kendall Jenner and Caroline Flack.

And he also wants to avoid any discussion about his relationship with his 1D band members, who he has seen just a handful of times in the year-and-a-half since the split.

Harry has agreed to appear on BBC1 favourite Graham Norton – but he will only perform and not join the other A-listers on the sofa of the hit chat show.

 They may be living in Harry's shadow for a while
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They may be living in Harry's shadow for a whileCredit: Fame Flynet
 Considering the enormity of his latest project
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Considering the enormity of his latest projectCredit: Fame Flynet
 Harry prepares for take-off during the dramatic shoot
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Harry prepares for take-off during the dramatic shootCredit: Fame Flynet
 The crew look on as Harry laughs in anticipation
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The crew look on as Harry laughs in anticipationCredit: Fame Flynet
 Harry hopes to distance himself from One Direction's pop sensibilities
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Harry hopes to distance himself from One Direction's pop sensibilitiesCredit: Fame Flynet
 The star is tied to a crane before being winched away
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The star is tied to a crane before being winched awayCredit: Fame Flynet

He’ll also appear on US TV institution Saturday Night Live and give one in-depth interview to his BFF Nick Grimshaw on Radio 1 to coincide with the single release.

The source explains: “Harry doesn’t want to talk about his personal life or be asked constantly about One Direction. It’s not his style.

“He’s spent his entire life having his every move scrutinised. He doesn’t feel the need to do interviews or the promo circuit.

Harry’s idols are people like Bowie and Jagger. He’s closely studied their careers

“There will be a couple of very big appearances to keep TV and radio on board, but it will be very limited and he’s learnt how to say very little.

“Harry’s idols are people like Bowie and Jagger. He’s closely studied their careers and that’s the direction he is heading in.

“He loves the sense of mystery they maintained around them.”

Harry’s small team of advisers is led by his manager and close friend Jeff Azoff, the son of music giant and Eagles manager Irving.

 Harry consults the crew during the video shoot
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Harry consults the crew during the video shootCredit: Fame Flynet
 Harry is helped up by a crew member after landing
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Harry is helped up by a crew member after landingCredit: Fame Flynet
 Cars and personnel gather at the bottom of the hill during the shoot
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Cars and personnel gather at the bottom of the hill during the shootCredit: Fame Flynet
 The star hovers over the ground before being flown away
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The star hovers over the ground before being flown awayCredit: Fame Flynet

Also intimately involved are Sony Music Entertainment chief executive Rob Stringer and Sony Music UK chairman Jason Iley – a sign in the importance of Harry’s success to the future of the company.

He is being advised on PR by Dawbell, the company that also represents Harry’s close friends and personal mentors James Corden and Gary Barlow.

Stringer has said of the project: “We obviously want everything to be beautifully done, because we think he’s here to stay. Harry has stepped up with the vision of someone who’s authentic.”

Harry has stepped up with the vision of someone who’s authentic

Harry’s release is somewhat awkwardly timed as it means he will be directly competing with all four of his bandmates who are all releasing new singles over the next two months.

Zayn Malik, who launched his solo career after quitting the band in 2015, has got in first.

But his new single Still Got Time – featuring Canadian rapper Party Next Door – struggled in the charts last week, limping in at No24.

 Harry gives crew members a thumbs up after the chopper gets back to land
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Harry gives crew members a thumbs up after the chopper gets back to landCredit: Fame Flynet
 He is still eager to keep a sense of mystery around the new release
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He is still eager to keep a sense of mystery around the new releaseCredit: Fame Flynet
 The singer is greeted by crew members after landing
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The singer is greeted by crew members after landingCredit: Fame Flynet
 The star struggled to keep his balance during the demanding shoot
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The star struggled to keep his balance during the demanding shootCredit: Fame Flynet

The first to follow Harry is likely to be Niall Horan, who will release the follow up to his debut single This Town some time next month.

The top ten hit received positive reviews and was popular in the US because it followed the formula of 1D’s popular guitar ballads.

In June, Louis Tomlinson will follow up his massive first single, dance track Just Hold On, which was a No2 hit.

 Harry gives a thumbs up after the successful winch
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Harry gives a thumbs up after the successful winchCredit: Fame Flynet
 He looked relatively calm during after the operation
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He looked relatively calm during after the operationCredit: Fame Flynet
 Harry sits in a van as the crew prepare for the dramatic shoot
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Harry sits in a van as the crew prepare for the dramatic shootCredit: Fame Flynet
 The star will be competing with his old bandmates who are releasing singles over the next two months
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The star will be competing with his old bandmates who are releasing singles over the next two monthsCredit: Fame Flynet

He bravely went ahead with the launch of his solo career during the final of The X Factor in December, fulfilling the dying wish of his mum Johannah Deakin who succumbed to cancer days earlier.

Also in June, Liam Payne, the last of the five members to go solo, will release his first single, which is expected to take a more urban direction.

There is excitement around Liam’s launch so soon after he became a dad, with girlfriend Cheryl giving birth last month.

He has signed David Beckham’s long-time PR Simon Olivera to manage him and has already started the hype campaign with a topless shoot for Rollercoaster magazine, where he pleased 1D’s large female fanbase by posing topless.

But right now, all four rival 1D members are going to have put up with being in the shadow of Harry for a while yet.

New material from Harry and his bandmates

Harry

 Harry recruited James Corden’s PR reps Dawbell
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Harry recruited James Corden’s PR reps DawbellCredit: PA:Press Association
Label: Columbia
Release date: This Friday
Team: Managed by best friend Jeff Azoff. Recruited James Corden’s PR reps Dawbell. Mentored by Sony US boss Rob Stringer and UK chief exec Jason Iley.
Louis Tomlinson
 Louis' second single is due out in June
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Louis' second single is due out in JuneCredit: Getty Images
Label: Syco
Release date: Second single released in June
Team: Only member to stay loyal to Simon Cowell. Signed to Ant and Dec’s management James Grant. Still repped by 1D’s PR Simon Jones.
Niall Horan 
 Niall is the only member to stay with 1D’s management team Modest
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Niall is the only member to stay with 1D’s management team ModestCredit: Getty Images
Label: Capitol
Release date: Second single released in May
Team: Only member to stay with 1D’s management team Modest, where he has his own golf firm. Also repped by the band’s PR Simon Jones.
Liam Payne
 Liam teamed up with David Beckham’s manager and BFF Simon Oliveira
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Liam teamed up with David Beckham’s manager and BFF Simon OliveiraCredit: Rex Features
Label: Capitol
Release date: First single released in June
Team: Joined up with David Beckham’s manager and BFF Simon Oliveira. Chose the same publicist as Robbie Williams and Elton John in Murray Chalmers.
Zayn Malik
Label: RCA
Release date: First single from new album released last month.
 Zayns first single was released last month
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Zayns first single was released last monthCredit: PA:Press Association
Team: Managed by Sarah Stennett at Turn First Artists, the brains behind Ellie Goulding and Rita Ora, and represented by Adele and Beyonce’s UK publicist Carl Fysh at Purple PR.
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