Halsey has revealed that she’s ‘not allowed’ to make another album for the time being, telling fans: ‘It’s the reality.’
Joining Apple Music’s Zane Lowe in a brand new interview, the singer-songwriter, who uses she/they pronouns, revealed that their 2024 album The Great Impersonator ‘didn’t perform’ well enough, which has prevented them from releasing new music.
Halsey is currently signed with Columbia Records after leaving Capitol Records in 2023.
‘If I’m being honest with you, the album sold 100,000 f***ing copies first week. That’s a pretty big first week, especially for an artist who hasn’t had a hit in a long time,’ Halsey said.
Explaining that her label was hoping she’d match the success of her 2020 album, Manic, the 30-year-old added: ‘It would be considered a success for most artists, 100,000 albums in the first week, in an era when we don’t sell physical music.
‘But it’s a failure in the context of the kind of success I’ve had previously. And that’s the hardest part of having been a pop star once, because I’m not one anymore, and I’m being compared to people that I don’t consider lateral to me.’
It’s not the first time Halsey has lifted the lid on goings-on behind the scenes in their career.
She previously hit headlines in May 2022 after claiming her then-record label wouldn’t release her new song until she went viral on TikTok, which – ironically – this video then did. She was later able to release track So Good the following month.
While Halsey, whose real name is Ashley Nicolette Frangipane, hasn’t been able to put out another album, the A-lister is gearing up for her Back to Backlands Tour, which commences in October, running until February 2026.
Ahead of their return to the stage, the music star has reflected on the 10th anniversary of her debut album, Badlands.
Speaking with Rolling Stone, Halsey mused: ‘I think I succeeded in the way that I did because I didn’t know what it was like to fail yet. I didn’t know what it was like to win, either, but I didn’t have the same pressures.
‘I made most of that record in someone’s bedroom and sat on the edge of a twin bed recording vocals through pantyhose because I couldn’t afford a pop filter — they’re like $9, for the record.’
‘Badlands was so pure because I only had what was available to me,’ she continued. ‘All I had going for me were my ideas, so they had to be good and I had to depend on them.’
After releasing Badlands in 2015, Halsey followed up with four more albums, including Hopeless Fountain Kingdom, Manic, If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power and The Great Impersonator. The latter, which was described as a concept album, was written by Halsey during her struggles with lupus and a T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder, after giving birth to her son, Ender Ridley Aydin.
Teasing music from The Great Impersonator in June 2024, Halsey shared several photos and videos from the hospital on Instagram, writing: ‘Long story short, I’m Lucky to be alive. Short story long, I wrote an album. It begins with The End. Out now.’
The singer also tagged the non-profit organisations, Lupus Research Alliance and the Lupus Foundation of America.
Later, Halsey told fans that her symptoms were ‘under control’, after holding in her diagnosis for a ‘really long time’.
‘In 2022, I was first diagnosed with Lupus SLE and then a rare T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder, both of which are currently being managed or in remission, and both of which I will likely have for the duration of my life,’ she shared.
‘After a rocky start, I slowly got everything under control with the help of amazing doctors. After 2 years, I’m feeling better, and I’m more grateful than ever to have music to turn to. I can’t wait to get back where I belong: With you all. Singing and screaming my heart out.’
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