Harry Edward Styles, born 1 February 1994 (age 20),[32][33] is from the village of Holmes Chapel, Cheshire, England.[34] He is a former pupil at Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School, a state comprehensive school.[34] Born to Anne Cox (née Selley) and Des Styles,[1][32][35] he has one sibling, his elder sister Gemma.[4] He was seven when their parents divorced; his mother subsequently remarried.[36] Following the divorce, Styles, his older sister and mother moved further out into the Cheshire countryside.[8] At the age of 12 he moved back to Holmes Chapel.[8] Prior to participating in The X Factor, the then 16-year-old Styles had a part-time job at the W. Mandeville Bakery in Holmes Chapel.[37]
Styles was the lead singer for the band White Eskimo with band members lead guitarist Haydn Morris, bass guitarist Nick Clough and drummer Will Sweeny.[34] They had once entered a Battle of the Bands competition, which they won. As a child, Styles loved singing, noting Elvis Presley as one of his influences. He also cites Presley for his musical beginnings.[8] Styles cites contemporaries such as Foster the People, Coldplay and Kings of Leon among his influences.[11] Styles stated that "The X Factor gave him 'a lot more' [confidence]" as a performer.[8] He often looks to Coldplay front man Chris Martin for inspiration when performing on stage.[31] Styles has stated that The Beatles had an influence on him growing up, as his father often played their music.