“I never said it’s a pop album, I just said it’s not an angry one, and thank god I sat down to write and realized I wasn’t angry anymore. It feels good to have that weight off my chest,”Halsey tweeted after news came out that her next album will not be as dark as her previous single and girl power anthem, “Nightmare”.
Halsey – AKA – Ashley released a new single titled “Graveyard” last week. Although the name sounds quite ominous and blends in with her melodic cryptic poetic pop, “Graveyard” is deep and it’s real. The New Jersey native shed some light on the new song with Zane Lowe, saying, “In some ways it’s a metaphor. It’s about like loving someone to death, kind of. And then in other ways it’s actually pretty literal. There’s a lot of moments in the song that are pretty literal, which was kind of scary to write about. But you know me, I find the scary thing and I do it.”
The song feels more at ease than “Nightmare“. Halsey gives us a deeper look at love and how it affects her, how it becomes her, and how she lives through it. She sings with ease, “they say I may be making a mistake, I woulda followed all the way, no matter how far. I know when you go down all your darkest roads, I woulda followed all the way to the graveyard.” The chorus is light and follows a steady drum beat as Halsey tells her own honest story. If the rest of the album is this colorful and cohesive, then sign me up.
In case you didn’t know, Halsey is also a talented artist (shocking…she can do it all). She took on the challenge of painting her own album artwork and filmed herself live while she did it. Check out the finished product here:
The New Jersey-native released her Romeo & Juliet inspired album last June, titled, hopeless fountain kingdom. Brimming to the surface with themes of love, betrayal, friendship, and so much more. Each song spoke to a different piece of the puzzle we call love.
Halsey appeared from behind a large white sheet, ethereal in an all-white getup decked out with a lace veil. The crowd of twenty-somethings screamed in admiration as she belted the opening track, “Eyes Closed”. Her bright blue hair bobbed around as the dramatic visuals behind her set the mood.
Image via https://www.instagram.com/donslens/
She sings, “I can put on a show” from “Heaven In Hiding” and boy, can she ever put on a show. Massive screens behind the singer showcase various artistic elements that enhance the themes we hear in each powerful song. Buzzing bugs, kaleidoscope colors, and religious symbols illuminate the stage. Halsey has remained the same throughout the years; a lyrical mastermind who knows how to execute beautifully. She twirls, stomps, and dances around to tracks you forgot you could even dance to (listen to “Don’t Play” with the bass up as high as it’ll go). hopeless fountain kingdom’s“Alone” had the crowd bouncing as if there were trampolines beneath our feet.
A sense of female empowerment could be felt miles away from the stage. With Halsey recently breaking the news of her relationship with rapper G-Eazy ending, she seemed to give fans a dose of her current reality. “I want you to know, it’s okay to be alone,” the singer confidently says into the mic, “I’m learning it again this week.” She went on to give a supercharged performance of “Don’t Play” featuring a choreographed stomp in shallow water, and a call & response exchange with the loud crowd; “WOMEN, DON’T PLAY NO GAMES!!” over and over. Hand me the torch, I’m ready to run around the world chanting that.
Halsey’s voice is already unique, but hearing her live is a different story. Frequent harmonic interludes and prolonged outro’s made the singer seem even more of a pop star by the second. Her drummer (tucked in by the corner of the stage) amplified each track to feel more organic and less like a guy in the back hitting a play button on a soundboard. Songs like, “Closer” (by The Chainsmokers), “Now Or Never”, “Bad At Love”, and “New Americana” had fans screaming from the rafters. It felt as though she couldn’t have done more if she tried – she did it all and has mastered this tour.
Njomza: Minimalist comfy vibes with a hint of modern slang mirror Njomza’s lyrics and sound (Check out her lead single “Sad For You”). Cropped hoodies, comfy sweats, and basic hats all under $35. GIMME!
Blackbear: The Bear is always on top of what’s trendy. Distressed, oversized tees, small logos, etc. Most are basic colors while some items come in the custom Blackbear orange we all know and love.
Ariana Grande: Mixing street graffiti with classic color blocking. Each piece feels curated from the pop Queen herself. Sweatshirts, tees, bracelets, medical masks. Yes, you heard me right.
Harry Styles: Romantic nostalgia and feminine florals are sprinkled on every article of clothing. Not only does Harry spread happiness with his music but also a positive message on his merch that says, “Treat People With Kindness”.
Halsey: The official merch for the Hopeless Fountain Kingdom tour isn’t released yet, but it is absolutely going to be dope. Renaissance themes and bright lively colors are already flooding her HFK tour. Right now there’s a cute royal t-shirt and a gorgeous gold choker that reads “Hopeless”.
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