Calvin Harris ditches clean-cut image as he sings for first time in 11 years 

Calvin Harris is in his mountain-man era (Picture: Instagram/calvinharris)

Calvin Harris is one of the best-known DJs and producers of the past decade but for the first time in 11 years, he’s singing on new music.

That’s right, the We Found Love hitmaker is back and has shed his electronic image for something much more rugged.

Calvin, real name Adam Wiles, has released teasers of his new song Smoke The Pain Away and he looks like he’s spent three days in the wilderness with Hozier.

Fans got a glimpse of this reborn look at the 2025 Brit Awards, which he attended with his radio presenter wife, Vick Hope.

A full bushy beard, long unkempt hair, and a mountain man vibe — his overhauled look isn’t the only thing different about this new Calvin era.

For the first time since 2014’s Motion album, he is singing on the track, which appears to be from a country-inspired album.

He’s ditched the dapper suits and close cropped hair (Picture: TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images)

‘SMOKE THE PAIN AWAY. It’s coming,’ he wrote on Instagram with a short clip, featuring a stripped-back cabin studio and him playing guitar.

Supporting his return to singing, Vick, 35, commented: ‘Those vocals ????‍???????? YEEEESSSSS!!!’

‘Love this!! ????????’ praised Tom Grennan as Davina McCall enthusiastically said: ‘I LOVE IT WHEN YOU DO THE VOCALS ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????.’

Fans from his early career will remember how the 41-year-old musician used to regularly feature on his songs.

On his debut album I Created Disco in 200,7 and follow up Ready For The Weekend in 2009, Calvin’s vocals could be heard throughout.

However, in 2010, Calvin said he would be ‘retiring’ live vocals, writing on X: ‘It’s not a joke. All the best bits of my songs are other people singing them anyway!’

He told Australia’s Herald Sun that he wanted to focus at the time on producing and making music with other artists.

‘I’m not a singer. I’m not trained,’ Calvin said. ‘Taking it onto the stage in front of people was terrifying. I got much, much better at it but I never lost the terror.

Calvin’s look has come a long way (Picture: Getty Images) Calvin debuted a slightly more rugged look at the Brits (Picture: Ash Knotek/Shutterstock)

‘Looking after your voice on tour is such a priority and such a nightmare. If I had a night out the night before a show it’d be awful and I’d feel for the audience.

‘I’ll do some studio singing for sure, but never live. It’s not worth the risk for anyone, for the people in the audience or me, my pride.’

It’s unclear if Calvin will be bringing his new country sound on the road but his fans are already beyond excited for this new version of the DJ.

Calvin Harris’ new song Smoke Away The Pain is out on Friday.

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