He didn't totally cringe at the subject!

Harry Styles opened up about his short-lived relationship with Taylor Swift in a new Rolling Stone interview, and it sounds like the former boybander didn't think the romance was all bad.

"Certain things don’t work out. There’s a lot of things that can be right, and it’s still wrong. In writing songs about stuff like that, I like tipping a hat to the time together. You’re celebrating the fact it was powerful and made you feel something, rather than, ‘This didn’t work out, and that’s bad.’ And if you run into that person, maybe it’s awkward, maybe you have to get drunk … but you shared something. Meeting someone new, sharing those experiences, it’s the best s— ever. So thank you," he explained.

As for getting photographed on that famous second date in Central Park, thus kicking off a media frenzy?

"When I see photos from that day, I think: relationships are hard, at any age. And adding in that you don’t really understand exactly how it works when you’re 18, trying to navigate all that stuff didn’t make it easier. I mean, you’re a little bit awkward to begin with. You’re on a date with someone you really like. It should be that simple, right? It was a learning experience for sure. But at the heart of it – I just wanted it to be a normal date," he continued.

So does he mind if T-Swizz wrote tunes about him?

"I mean, I don’t know if they’re about me or not … I’m lucky if everything [we went through] helped create those songs. That’s what hits your heart. That’s the stuff that’s hardest to say, and it’s the stuff I talk least about," he mused.

The British hunk's first solo album is set to drop on May 12, and he says a certain lady love was a huge part of his inspiration. The only person we can think of that he could be referencing would be Kendall Jenner, who he dated on and off last year.

"She’s a huge part of the album. Sometimes you want to tip the hat, and sometimes you just want to give them the whole cap …  and hope they know it’s just for them," he hinted.

Take note, John Mayer! This is how you discuss an ex.