Shortly after finishing up my final midterm (by shortly, I mean walking straight from my exam room to the Ram Van) on March 6, I set off for my reward: the Harry Styles pop-up event in Brooklyn. After staying up late into the night to celebrate the release with friends, I figured that I should make the most of my experience in New York City by attending one of the few exclusive pop-up events being held around the world. Since the dates for the event were announced just days before spring break began, I was ecstatic that I could make it for opening night.
After racing against the clock to make it before the pop-up opened at 4 p.m., I exited the Bedford subway station and claimed my spot in line just 10 minutes before doors opened. My spot was not ideal given that I was in the back of a line that wrapped around multiple blocks, but this was to be expected considering the popularity of the event, so I prepared myself for the hours ahead of me in the best way possible: making new friends.
My favorite thing about this event, outside of the pop-up itself, was how fun and friendly the environment was. This turned out to be especially meaningful to me as I waited in line for over four hours. As soon as I arrived, I got compliments on my outfit, was asked about my opinions on Styles’ new album “Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally” and questioned if I won the Ticketmaster war of getting concert tickets. These experiences, among many others, not only made my experience of being able to attend the pop-up itself special, but also gave me a newfound appreciation for the Harries (Styles’ fanbase), being able to socialize with kind and enthusiastic people all night.
Another fun addition to standing in line was being chosen as one of the attendees “street interviewed” by TickPick. I have always seen the street interviews go viral on TikTok and thought it was very fun to be chosen as a participant at this event. The interviewer’s questions were ideal for me, given that they all related to Styles.
After a long, early evening filled with excitement and conversation, I was able to enter the doors of the pop-up beside my newly-formed group of friends. The doorway transported us from the lively streets of Brooklyn into an upbeat, disco-inspired space. Coming face-to-face with a giant portrait of Styles on the wall provided a perfect photo opportunity to kick off our journey through the experience. While more images of Styles were scattered throughout the room, the space was also heavily inhabited with tomato visuals, including tomato wallpaper and a greenhouse with real tomatoes inside.
The visuals greatly captured the album’s theme and energy between its two distinctive moods: kiss and disco. On one hand, the “Disco, Occasionally” album influence was prominent throughout the space with the inclusion of neon lights and a massive disco ball. They echoed the record’s synth-heavy, danceable melodies. Still, this high-energy duplicity was grounded by the more intimate “Kiss All the Time” aesthetic. This was demonstrated through the warmth of the tomato-filled greenhouse and the tactile charm of the kitchen set-up. These visuals mirrored the way the album flutters between upbeat, angsty anthems and raw vulnerability. Walking through the venue felt like stepping inside a physical manifestation of Styles’ subconscious, where the vulnerable and electric coexist in a chaotic, yet beautiful harmony.
Beyond the pop-up’s stunning, representative visuals, there were fun activities to partake in through the space. One of my favorite aspects of the pop-up was that after purchasing exclusive merchandise including baby tees and tote bags (although this wasn’t required to enter), the waiting room was a real disco space, complete with a disco ball, fun lights and Styles’ “Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally” album playing loudly. I additionally enjoyed the “portal” experience where guests got to interact with other pop-ups around the world through a screen, posing within a kitchen set-up as Styles was depicted in the images and taking photos at a photobooth on my way out.
This pop-up further enhanced my already high opinion of Styles’ new album. Creating unique, exclusive experiences around the world for fans to experience upon the release of an album not only increases promotion for the album itself but also connects fans on a deeper level. I believe that the success of this pop-up will only encourage artists to continue hosting experiences of their own for fans to enjoy and bond at.
