Joni Mitchell Approves of Harry Styles Naming His Upcoming Album ‘Harry’s House’
Joni Mitchell approves of Harry Styles naming his upcoming album Harry’s House. Mitchell is one of Styles’ idols, and he’s proved that his influences are never far away in his music. Harry’s House might be a nod to Mitchell. At least she took it that way.
Joni Mitchell approves of Harry Styles naming his upcoming album ‘Harry’s House’
On March 23, Styles announced that his third studio album is called Harry’s House. Mitchell was quick to respond. On her Twitter, she retweeted Styles’ announcement and wrote, “Love the title.”
According to Billboard, Mitchell’s reaction makes sense for two reasons: Mitchell has a song called “Harry’s House” off her 1975 album The Hissing of Summer Lawns. Harry’s House also reminds fans of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s 1970 hit, “Our House,” written by Graham Nash about the house he shared with Mitchell in LA’s Laurel Canyon from 1968 to 1970.
Mitchell dated Nash for years, and Crosby, Stills & Nash are also one of Styles’ idols.
Styles has yet to reveal whether his upcoming album is a nod to his influences despite the connections. Mitchell seems to think so, though.
Styles once fell into a huge Joni Mitchell hole
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Styles said Mitchell’s Blue and Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks are some of the best albums, in his opinion. At least in terms of songwriting.
“Blue and Astral Weeks, that’s just the ultimate in terms of songwriting,” Styles said. “Melody-wise, they’re in their own lane. Joni and Van, their freedom with melodies — it’s never quite what you thought was coming, yet it’s always so great.”
Styles became so obsessed with Blue that he fell down a Joni Mitchell hole that ended up a pilgrimage. He explained the story in a 2019 interview with Rolling Stone while explaining his song “Canyon Moon” and the rest of his second studio album, Fine Line.
“I was in a pretty big Joni hole,” Style said. Rolling Stone added, “Inspired by his Southern California surroundings — and his obsession with Joni Mitchell’s 1971 classic Blue — he tracked down Joellen Lapidus, the woman who built the dulcimer Mitchell plays throughout that album.”
In the 1970s, Lapidus introduced Mitchell to the mountain dulcimer. Mitchell wound up backpacking around Europe and writing some of her most classic songs on the instrument.
Styles and Tom Hull, who Rolling Stone wrote is Styles’ “musical wingman,” asked Lapidus for a lesson in the instrument when they tracked her down in Culver City.
The ex-One Direction singer loved the instrument’s sound so much that Lapidus built him his own. He used it on “Canyon Moon.”
‘Harry’s House’ will arrive on May 20
Styles’ Harry’s House will arrive on May 20. According to Billboard, it will have 13 tracks — more than any of his previous albums.
Styles fans noticed that he followed an Instagram account called You Are Home. There’s also a website YouAreHome.co, which shows nothing but a beige door that reveals something different each day. The door has changed to the Harry’s House cover art.
According to NME, Styles was also recently spotted filming a music video on a giant bed outside Buckingham Palace. Luckily, fans don’t have to wait too long to find out what’s happening with Harry’s House.
