Harry Styles pulled in a gang of heavy hitters when he was assembling the team to record the Bowie-esque “Sign of the Times,” the first single from his upcoming self-titled solo debut, due out on May 12. According to the song credits provided by Styles’ label, the track was co-written by the song’s producer, Jeff Bhasker, as well as his frequent collaborators and track co-producers Alex Salibian and Tyler Johnson.
There were a few other hands in the songwriting mix as well, including Bhasker compatriots Mitch Rowland and Ryan Nasci and, first in line, Styles himself. The former One Direction member clearly wanted to get away from the comforts of home as the track was laid down at Village Studios in Los Angeles (Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift) and Geejam Studio in Jamaica (Gorillaz, Drake, Katy Perry).
The song was mixed by the legendary Mark “Spike” Stent, who has logged time working on Grammy-winning albums by Beyoncé, Frank Ocean and Muse, as well as pitching in for works by Ed Sheeran, Selena Gomez, Grimes, Coldplay, U2, Oasis, Bjork and Madonna.
Rowland played guitar and drums, while Nasci laid down bass and Bhasker is credited with the piano, keyboard and lap steel parts. There is also a pretty extensive list of choir vocalists on the tune, check it out:
Gospel Choirmaster: Edie Lehmann Boddicker
Sopranos: Diane Reynolds, Allie Feder, Keri Larson, Monique Donnelly, Charlean Carmon, Carmen Carter, and Julia Waters
Altos: Baraka Williams, Clydene Jackson, Eyvonne Williams, Aretha Scruggs, Edie Lehmann Boddicker, Kala Balch, and Laurhan Beato
Tenors: Jamie McCrary, Fletcher Sheridan, Johnny Britt, Taylor Graves, David Loucks, Oren Waters, and Carmen Twillie
Bari-Basses: Jim Gilstrap, Alvin Chea, Reid Bruton, and Will Wheaton