In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Oasis co-founder Noel Gallagher called Ed Sheeran and Harry Styles “fake songwriters.” According to the musician: “I was never a fan of the Beach Boys. I was watching a documentary once and thought to myself, “Wait a minute.” Who the hell is Van Dyke Parks? Is he the lyricist? What are you talking about? Did Brian Wilson even write the lyrics? So, what the f*ck happened? What makes him a brilliant songwriter? I’m sorry to Harry Styles, Ed Sheeran, and the rest of them.”
He also addressed his aversion to working with co-writers: “Once you hire outsiders… they’re solo artists.” How can someone be a solo artist when someone else is [co-]writing your songs? But how is it different from working with a bandmate? If you’re going to write songs with a guy, join a band with that f*cking guy!”
Noel has previously stated that he dislikes Harry Styles’ musicianship and songwriting abilities. During an interview with Absolute Radio last year, he stated that he did not believe the former One Direction member to be a true songwriter. Gallagher elaborated: The X Factor is a TV program; it has nothing to do with music, nothing to do with music at all, and whatever that has resulted from it has nothing to do with music.” Noel Gallagher demonstrated his songwriting abilities as Oasis’ principal songwriter, but he is embarrassed to be complimented for it, as he admitted last year in an interview with Cerys Matthews. As a solo artist, the singer continues to write his own songs with his band, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, most notably in their latest album ‘Council Skies.’
